Looking to get more comments? Tired of feeling out of the loop?

Today I've decided to do a little public service thing for my watchers (Happy Valentine's Day!). A tutorial of sorts about getting noticed on DA through improving your art and becomming more active, since this seems to be a popular complaint lately. I see a lot of fussing about not getting noticed, but many of these people also have very little activity or actual involvement in the community- well that's half your problem right there!
I'll be adressing what are (from my experience and observations) the most important factors in getting yourself and your art known in the community in a positive way without completely selling yourself out. Not an easy task, but it can be done!

First off, the most important thing we'll address here:



Your artwork

A little effort goes a long way
Having a good gallery is arguably the most important part of establishing yourself on DeviantART. It is an art site after all. Now, if you've been here any amount of time, you'll notice that there is a vast range of styles, mediums and skill levels here. Keeping in mind that effort and skill are not the same thing! Whether you're a beginner or a pro, there are a few things most artists can do to improve their galleries:

Color- So you just got finished with that awesome lineart? Great! Now it's time to do it justice: While lineart can sometimes be considered the most important part of the piece, it usually just isn't as lively or interesting without some color. Be warned, however, that colors can be your friend or foe. There is truth in the old saying "too much of a good thing" and blaring neon colors have a tendency to overpower and completely ruin a piece. If you're going to use bright, powerful colors like neon greens or hot pinks, unless you really know what you're doing, it's usually best to use them sparingly. Colors like that may be fine for a small details, but they can be painful to look at on large areas.

Backgrounds- 99% of the time your picture is going to look better with some sort of background, even a simplistic one. Pieces without backgrounds have a tendency to look unfinished or halfassed, even when the subject looks well done. Taking the time to make a nice background can pay off greatly, and even if it's just a gradient or solid color, it's usually better than just leaving it blank.

Shading- While it can be hard to get the hang of at first if it's not something you're used to, shading can add a whole other dimension to your art. It's really worth investing some time into, because shading can make the difference between a flat, stagnant image and a figure that looks as if it's about to jump right off the paper. `Katmomma has an exellent tutorial for this that shows both the shading process and color theory: [link]

Neatness- Now that you've got your picture ready, you've outlined it, inked, colored and shaded, you're all set! ...Right? Not quite. Before you submit your final image, give it one good final look over: Are the lines smooth, or are they still haggard in some places? Have you colored inside the lines everywhere? Are there areas you've forgotten to shade? While it's understandable that you're excited and eager to share after five hours of hard work, Looking over the piece one final time with a critical eye for such things so that you can catch and correct them before submission is worth an extra ten minutes of your time.

Finding Your Style and Establishing Your Audience
Now that you've got your artwork ready, there comes the question of how to present it.

Where to Start- First thing's first, you need to get your art up. But before you submit, it's important that you read the policy and understand the submission process. Once you've selected the art you wish to show, be sure to submit it under the correct categories.

Yours and Only Yours- One of the first things you'll need to learn about DA is that it is NOT photobucket. It's an art gallery, meant to exhibit your own work that you created yourself. Even IF you give credit to the original creator or website, it is still considered a violation to submit such materials without the original owner's consent. There is no quicker way to lose respect among the community than to submit work that is not yours (aka, stealing).

Quality over Quantity- Contrary to what one might think, a small, well groomed gallery of twenty finished pictures with effort put into them is likely to gain more attention and respect than one of 300 sloppy sketches.

Trends and Temptations- Let's be honest, we all want attention, right? That's probably the very reason you joined up here, to get your work seen by the world. Very understandable. However, it's important that this need for attention does not make you lose sight of who you are as an artist. This may be the most important section covered here, because it addresses a few of the most common pit-traps I've seen artists fall into on their quests for fame and validation:

Fan Art- So that picture of Link or Naruto that maybe isn't even one of the best in your gallery mysteriously has 300 faves while your other works barely hit 30? Coincidence? Cruising around DA, looking at the today page and the popular deviants, you've probably noticed this trend. Many (probably the majority) of extremely popular artists draw mostly or only fanart. While it can be fun to pay tribute to our favorite series from time to time, don't make this turn you away from your original work. You can draw Death Note and Sonic pictures to kingdom come, but at the end of the day, you'll be famous for concepts that are not your own, with a fanbase that only cares about what you draw, rather than the actual art itself. It may be difficult, but getting known for your own ideas and characters, knowing that people admire and appreciate your artwork and imagination is far more gratifying and worth the extra effort.

Sex Sells- 'Artistic' Nude seems to be pretty popular here, yes? Perhaps you've done a nude piece yourself that's received more attention than usual? Like fanart, this is another guaranteed pageview generator, but it comes at a high price that shouldn't be worth a few extra zeros, that being your dignity. While the nude form can be a very beautiful and artistic thing, too many artists abuse and bastardize it as a way to gain attention, which is usually evident in the way they present it. This is one of those situations where you have to keep in mind that it's not just how MUCH attention your art receives, but also what kind of attention. Drawing women with breasts the size of watermelons in bondage situations may gain you a million pageviews, but you can rest assured these people aren't the types any sane individual would want to be famous with. Fame is not worth becoming what is basically the artist's version of a prostitute.

Utilize Your Scraps Section- So you've got some silly sketches you did at school you'd like to share, but you don't plan on finishing? Some old works in your gallery that maybe aren't your best anymore? But you still want to keep these things. Of course, just because they aren't your best doesn't mean you should delete them. That's where the wonderful scraps section comes in handy. A way to exhibit some of your less refined works without cluttering your main gallery. Every once and a while it's advisable that you skim through your gallery and find some things that can be moved to scraps, such as WIPs or works you no longer feel reflect your skill level. This will keep your main gallery as clean and attractive as possible.

Variety is Key- Most artists specialize in a certain theme. While this is okay, it's good to branch out and try different things too. So if you're an anime artist interested in landscapes or vice versa, it's always a good idea to look into expanding your horizons and experimenting with different media.

Laying Down the Rules- I highly recommend having the rules of your personal gallery and artwork clearly visible in your journal at all times. Mainly concerning your art trade, commission and request info. If you don't take requests, having that mentioned somewhere on your page is going to reduce the ammount of notes and messages you get asking about them a great deal, same with trades. If you're looking to get commissioned, the same applies- "Commissions Open" in bold text with a link to the prices and other information will help attract potential buyers. If there are certian things you are not willing to draw, it is a must that you include that along with the other information. While commissions are a great way to earn extra money, unfortunately they also have the tendancy to attract and entice some unsavory characters. Setting clear rules about what you are not willing to draw will reduce the ammount of creepy notes and akward conversations you are forced to go through with potential commissioners.



Commenting

The Tips and Tricks
Now that you're all set in the art department, it's time to cover the other crucial part of getting noticed on this site: Community interaction.

You Get What You Give- Even if you've got a great gallery, on a site with upwards of four million users it'll be hard to get noticed unless you actually put yourself out there so people can see you. The best way to do this is through commenting on others' work. Doing so on a regular basis will make artists more likely to comment on yours in return.

Helping Out- Aside from commenting on others work, there are other ways to make a positive impact and get noticed, such as suggesting DDs to your gallery directors. This not only helps give exposure to your fellow artists, but it will get your name on the front page for a day if said piece is chosen. Journal and News features are also a good idea.

Grammar is Your Friend- While we all make spelling mistakes and such, it is important to at least show you've put some sort of effort in your comments. This includes grammar. I'm going to give an example of two comments that mean the same thing, but are typed very differently:

User #1,"dis is rly gr8 i like it u did gr8"

User #2,"Very lovely piece. It's pleasant to look at and I can tell you put a lot of effort into it."


While both comments are fairly short and nothing extraordinary, what is your impression of these two when compared together? That user 1 is perhaps one beer short of a six pack compared to user 2, right? When you're online, such things as vocal tones no longer come into play. The way you type plays a huge part in how people perceive you and the impressions you give off. You don't have to be perfect, but hitting a few more buttons is worth the extra three seconds if it can make the difference between being taken seriously and looking like a blithering idiot.


Unknown or Famous- Why Not Both?- When selecting pieces and artists to comment on, one may think commenting on the most popular works on the front page, etc. will bring you the most recognition. Not true. While commenting on famous works may get you seen for a fleeting moment, a comment on a lesser-known deviant is far more likely to be appreciated and even reciprocated. That is not to say that you should never comment on popular artwork, but bear in mind that such works receive hundreds of comments a day and yours is one of many; less likely to be noticed and understandably so.

The Do's and Don'ts
Last, but certianly not least, I'll be adressing some of the common issues or 'troubleshooting' you may ancounter on DeviantART and how to handle it.

Advertising: The Time and Place for It- Feeling unnoticed can be frustrating. We've all been there. It's natural and understandable to want people to look at your work, but it's also important that you not be rude to other artists. That being said, other people's pages ARE NOT billboards for your personal advertisement. Leaving messages like "Hey, nice stuff! Come look at my page!!!" is a major turn-off to a lot of people since it's blatently obvious what you're doing. It can be considered rude by some to leave messages like "Thanks for the fav on [link]!!!" as well (it is a good idea to check the persons page before leaving such messages, some people consider this advertising and request that you not leave them). This isn't only restricted to people's front pages, but their deviations as well. Being sneaky about it doesn't make it any better or any less annoying to artists, so keep that in mind when you're commenting and avoid saying things such as "Hey, that's really good! It reminds me of my picture [link]!".

On the flip side- If you find someone advertising on your own page or artwork, it's important to be vocal about it and let the person know it is not apprectated. This not only tells them, but other potential advertisers who will see the comment. Wording is key: Saying "GTF OFF MY PAGE U **** AND TAKE YOUR SELF ADVERTISING CRAP WITH YOU", (though it may be what's going through your mind at the moment!) isn't going to earn you any respect and will only end in both parties being angry. This is not to say you have to be super nice to the individual either, just respectful. A simple "Don't advertise on my page, it's rude." Will usually get the job done and the message across.

Where TO advertise- It seems advertising on people's pages is frowned apon, so where to go? Well, DA has a thumbshare forum specifically for sharing your work. Two, actually. One for subscribers and one that's available to all users: [link] When going to these forums, the first thing you'll want to do is look at the the thread titles. You'll probably see some major hints right there, such as "Looking for Landscape Photographers!" or "Show me your Anime!". Once you see one that applies to you, take a closer look: Be sure to fully read the descriptions!- such threads will often be followed by a request word to make sure you've read the description where the OP will ask that you include a certian word or phrase with your thumbs to make sure you've read. If you do not include said word, your post will most likely get ignored, so this IS important. Having fully read the description, it's time to select your thumbs. Being sure they all apply to the thread and abide by the thumb limit (if there is one), you'll want to pick some of your best pieces to display, keeping in mind that if you play your cards right you could walk away with a few more faves and watchers. It pays to be picky! Post them and keep your fingers crossed.
As for creating your own thread, the most important thing to remember is it's not all about you. Generally, people respond well when you show interest in their work and give them positive feedback. Even if their pictures are poorly done or not your taste, you can usually find at least ONE good thing about them and elaborate on that in your comments.

Handling Harassment- Unpleasant though it may be, harassment is and continues to be an issue on DA and most other online communities. If someone's "flamming" you, or commenting in such a way where it's obvious their only goal is to get a rise out of you, it is best to not validate the behavior with further arguement or response and simply hide the offending comment(s) and/or block the individual. For repeat offenders or users who seek you out beyond your peronal page after being blocked it is important that you report them. Block evading or stalking will result in the offender being banned as it is not tolerated on the site. However, it is never a good idea to retaliate. DO NOT under any circumstances resort to spamming or flamming back at the individual or encouraging others to do so via callout journals or other such tactics. If the user seems merely a less-than-intelligent individual who perhaps is not aware their behavior is offensive, a firm but respectful warning from you is acceptable. (be wearly though, as trolls will sometimes masquerade as such individuals. You'll learn to distinguish them in time, so don't sweat it if you make a few slip ups!) For further information on harassment and reporting please refer to FAQ #238: How do I report people for abuse, harassment, or another issue I may think is a violation?

It applies to you too- Since we've covered being harassed, it's important that you yourself not harass other users either. If you come across a gallery or user that you find upsetting, offensive or just creepy (excluding art thieves and galleries that break policy) for whatever reasons, do not instigate things. Don't go onto their pages and purposely start trouble with them or encourage others to do so. Just move on and try to stay away from them. If you find such people comming onto your own page and don't like it, DA has a block feature. Your page, your turf, but keep it to that and don't go out looking for trouble with people.

Dealing With Art Thieves- It can be discouraging and downright infuriating to any artist having found their work or another artist's work stolen. While anger can't be helped, it's important that you not let it get the better of you in such a situation. I'm not going to say you should have to be polite with these people, but doing things like cursing at them or spamming their pages can actually end up getting YOU in trouble. Being firm and informing them they're breaking the rules is fine (though they may retaliate, it's to be expected). NEVER leave it up to someone else to catch them. ALWAYS report these people and be sure to provide links to the original works. If you see a gallery that looks suspicious but you aren't sure, you can still report it to the helpdesk and they'll handle it at their own descretion. If at all possible, you should provide links to the original stolen work. For further information, please see FAQ #8: What does deviantART consider to be Art Theft? I'd also recommend joining the *RippedArtTaskForce: a community on DA which helps deal with theft outside the site as well.

Respect the Critique Preferences- Though you may be just itching to comment on how an arm doesn't bend that way or the rocks could have used more shading, it is considered rude and inappropraite to do so on deviations labeled as "Critique Not Desired". Artists who label their work as such have given you fair warning that they do not wish to recieve critical or nit-picky comments and this needs to be respected. Conversely, if the piece is labeled as "Advanced Critique Encouraged" then they're looking for such comments, so it is with THESE individuals that you can break down and evaluate the art, pointing out percieved flaws, ect. (while still being respectful of course) and it will not only be accepted, it will be appreciated. It's always important to look above the comment box.

Don't Pester Artists- Before you go asking artists for requests or trades, be sure to look on their pages to see if they have any info on these. If they say requests are closed, that's it. DON'T hassle them over it- it's not unreasonable that they don't want to do free work for someone they don't even know. As for trades, if they're open for asking but the artist declines your offer, just leave it at that. Try not to take this personally, everyone has varying tastes in styles and if the artist wants to be selective about their trade partners they've every right to do so. Don't just randomly ask artists to 'be friends' either. Before you ask, think to yourself: would you ask this to someone on the street? Most of the time when people do this, they aren't actually interested in friendship as much as status and a watch. Have some respect for the artist AND yourself. Don't beg for friendship. If it happens, it happens, but it's not something that can or should be forced.


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That's it for now- I hope it's been of some help, it sure took a while to type out, but it addresses some things I've been asked before or have seen people confused about in the past. It's aimed at people who are new to the site, but hopefully even some of the vets can take something away from it too. Also, please be aware that this is my personal tutorial and does not necissarily reflect the beliefs of the DA staff. It is merely my own personal advice and tips.

_{*Please be aware that the artwork section mostly applies to visual artists. I do respect writing and photography as art forms, but unfortunately neither of these are feilds I'm experienced in or know enough about to feel capable of giving much advice on. I mean no disrespect to those artists. The commenting section applies to everyone though.}

Thanks for reading~

_{© =savagebinn- All rights reserved. Commercial use prohibited. The above image and commentary may not be used for any reason without expressed written consent.}


-Binny