So I'm just going to let my feelings loose on something that has really been bothering me for a long time now. I hope some of you can take the time to read this because I feel like its really important.

Most of you have probably noticed. DeviantArt has become almost entirely fan-based, and its lost a lot of its artistic merit. I don’t even think 10% of the stuff making the front page deserves it.
I’ve been here less than a year, but I still remember it being really different even when I joined. And I was talking to last night, who, on her old account, has been a member of this website for a long time. She told me how deviantArt used to be a more “ prestigious” website, and there were lots of beautiful works.

Now, 75% of the shit that gets posted is crap that belongs on facebook, or on other websites. When people refer to deviantArt now, it’s the “free porn” website, its lost so much of its original intent.
Many of you reading this may be insulted, but this is my true opinion. I am a hypocrite by writing this too. I have, in the past, posted a few deviations that are more suitable for facebook. I sincerely believe that its okay to post lame photo ID’s, they ARE ID’s, but I’m getting sick of going to pages when there’s nothing BUT lame “Screenshots” stupid photos “desktop screenshots” that aren’t even their own artwork. And the porn!! PORN SHOULD NOT BE ON HERE. Again, I’m being a hypocrite, but there IS a difference between artistic erotica and blatant SEX SEX SEX SEX cheap ass porn. Give it a break people. Post your porn on other websites. Theres lots of them out there that are just as popular as dA. Fan-fiction for example. Or Y-gallery. Those are websites KNOWN for that stuff.

Im sick of the bad reputation dA is getting.
Stop posting explicit porn on DeviantArt. Period.
It.
Is.
Not.
Art.

I’ve come to realize that art is one of the few things that makes me happy. I love it to death, I want to improve as much as I can, I want to draw/ paint/create almost every moment I’m awake, I want to be a serious artist. So many people have had their amazing talent discovered on DA, or find wonderful inspiration when admiring the talented works of others. That’s what I’m here for. I know I am no where close to the level that I want to be at. Me? Discovered? Ya right, my art still sucks in comparison to many others. That’s because I’m still developing as an artist. I do NOT consider my sketches or anime drawings TRUE art. Any art college or university will NOT accept anime in a portfolio on most conditions unless it is masterfully done. My anime drawings are fun for me to do, and I love to try and develop new styles, because it inspires me to create more. And it drives me bonkers that my fan art shit gets the most views/comments/ favourites.

I was looking through my gallery and I was utterly shocked and offended that some of my most popular pieces are fucking lame “fan art drawings” or stupid joke comics that took me like 30 minutes to do, yet all the artwork that Im TRULY proud of, that I poured my heart into, has so little recognition because it is not fan Art.

I put a shit load of my stuff into scraps, I’ve deleted a bunch of stuff, and everything else is going to receive major editing. I’ve done this over the process of 2 weeks, which is why you probably haven’t seen a sudden drastic change, but oh yes, its been happening. Yes, much of my fan art and stuff will stay, but only the stuff that a) I spent a long time on and am proud of or b) because it has potential/I like it because I’m weird. I've even got rid of and scrapped some of my most favourited pieces, because im so ashamed that those pieces of crap got 100+ favourites. I don't care about that anymore. I'd rather have a good gallery with little recognition than a bad gallery with a lot of recognition.

edit: many people have mistaken my opinions presented here as a dislike for fanart, some have even thought that I do not consider anime a form of art. Let me say now, i love fanart when its well done or funny, and i think anime is a fascinating style. Im bashing the fanart in my gallery.


So now I will cease my angry rant. Im sorry if any of you were offended, and its okay if you disagree with me. This IS ONLY MY opinion after all, and there are millions of different views out there. But I just had to get it out. Thank you for reading.

~ Elizabeth

Ps. Im sorry for any of you I promised to feature, that will have to wait until my next journal.