it been awhile since i submitted any work for deviantART. It's kinda refreshing actually. I remember the first account i created, i had in mind of never submitting anything. I would simply find favorites, save them, keep them, study them, but never submit any work...
boy was that stupid. how on earth was I going to survive in dA without posting any work? I mean, sure some people don't, but as a fellow artist, that's like, suffocating oneself. I only realized my stupidity two years later.

For two years, i had no motivation, no goal, no nothing to compel me to continue my works of art. Sure, i'd doodle, sure, i'd sketch, but I'd never have the urge, the necessary drive to create it a step closer to perfection. I would simply draw, and let them rot. For two years, they decayed, for two years, they starved, for two years they suffocated, and for two long years, they cried, within the heavy folds of my sketchbook. But it was upon a recent discovery of the art school I plan to transfer to, that I only did decide to open one. I mean, I thought, i might as well join the biggest online art community and share my works with others. Why not? I'm sick of being the audience, time for me to shine on stage.
Upon joining, i "closed" my first account, as i found it to be rather unsettling. It was full of favorites that I had saved two years ago, and as much as I thought it was dear, I decided the best way to start is with a clean state. So, i created a new account and decided to give it a rip.

That's right, I only opened it today (technically yesterday now), and at first, I didn't think I had much work to post, except for a character design I did. So posting that as my ID, i decided to cruise the dA world and find some good art pieces to favorite and to get me inspired.
Upon cruising, a thought came across my mind; an acquaintance I had met through a friend. I recalled that he had a dA account... so I thought. "why not?" and looked him up. Of course, to be fairly honest, I didn't think much of his work, as I had just seen some of the front cover stuff. I thought it was alright, not horrible, but nothing extraordinary. But as I began to cruise through his gallery, i became speechless...

He had drawn a series of comics, all in color, using dynamic story plotlines, angles, and the like.
There were people like this on dA? I mean, in my head, there were only two kinds of dA people:
-Really good, professional artists that draw extremely well, making ur eyes pop out, and
-the mediocre rest of the world, where all they do is watch the geniuses, attempt to draw, utterly fail, but deny that fact, and continue to look at the pro's artwork in awe.

But here I am, sitting in front of my computer, watching the artwork of some dude I met only months ago, and his artwork and angles were amazing! But I still hadn't realized that dA was full of budding artists until I saw the account of my underclassman.
She was alright when I first met her, not that great, but not too shabby. I mean, I do recall looking at her art and smiling, but I never really considered her much of a competition.
However, hours ago, i came across her dA account as well, and as I was looking, i became stunned the moment i saw her page.
deviations upon deviations of colorful, and invigorating artwork. She had improved tenfolds, whilst I was up on my "high and mighty throne" looking down upon the throngs and masses of mediocre cows.
But before I had realized, I had become the cows, and the cows had become the mighty ones. Unbelievable.
Now that's not the least to say that I look down upon every artist. No.
I just merely thought that not many of them would become a threat of surpassing my artwork. And yes, I am aware that my artwork isn't the best, but i did consider it much better than others. But lo and behold. My underclassman had shot waay beyond my reach. As i watched more and more of her artwork, the more it improved.
She was now spreading to different genres of artwork and trying out different styles! and all i had submitted were mere pencil works!!
i cudn't believe my eyes. My mind was frying.....

....it was then i realized, with a smile, that the world was still alive. As long as people continued to breath, talk, mingle, speak, share ideas, and breed, there was going to be generations and generations of thinkers, artists, philosophers, and writers. I feel a little old writing this, but to see a friend i considered a younger sister shoot past me made me realize, the world will always continue to change and continue to surprise the older generations.

With that, I set to work, and took one of my pencil works and decided to revamp it, not only with pencil work.... but with color. Lots and Lots of color :]

Thank you so much, dA, for showing me that art is a continuously changing and thriving thing, and shudn't be considered an aspect or abstract discipline, but rather, a living and breathing thing brought to life by those that partake in its daily rituals. As long as people draw, art will change. Now, time to draw me some ideas!