Imagine that you are sitting at your computer, searching for a few good art sites to visit in your spare time. Among the usual search results is a link that looks as though its name has been misspelled. When you click on this link to go tell someone, however, you find yourself at a strange and interesting location.
Every sort of art style is available at your fingertips, fresh for your browsing and viewing pleasure. And not only do you see everything from wallpapers to industrial designs, but you can also learn something in return from its wide array of tutorials and hot forum topics. Too good to be true? Not if you visit Deviantart.com.
I can tell you from personal experience that the site is worth its length in pixels. Unlike galleries such as Elfwood, you can protect your identity by registering under a pen name instead of your real one.
Location is confidential as well. There is the choice of providing personal information for a subscription to the site, but on the other hand, it is not something you have to do.
You can also choose to follow any artistic path you want, be it pixel art, icon creation; and (if you have the time and the patience), Flash movies. When I put in my first fan-art piece, I received my initil comment almost immediately. This was a good change from the fan stories, which I would have to wait weeks to get feedback for.
And last, but not least, I was free to browse over art that interested me. Nowhere else was I able to see a beautiful scene of a futuristic city, complete with lifelike spaceships that looked as though they could really be zooming back and forth between buildings, and a brilliant sunset as its backdrop.
I could also see the wonders of computer wallpaper, such as the great examples for Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings, and the Matrix.
When added to the possibilities of me improving my own work, all of these examples amount to a truly educational, positive website. I can comment on good aspects of clean artwork, and sometimes get feedback in return. When given a choice between visiting Deviantart.com and the usual art museum, it’s no surprise that I’ll pick the online gallery every time.
Monday, July 14, 2025