Sta.sh
The 3-month rule is now the 6-month rule, meaning that it must be at least 6-months since the last time an artist received a daily deviation. (This was an overwhelmingly popular suggestion from the community and I agree, it's a good one!)
>Table of Contents
1. Daily Deviations
2. Bi-weekly Critique Nights
3. Volunteer Openings
4. Share Your Opinions
5. Community Projects
6. Official Contests
7 Project Educate 2011/2012
8. Art History
9. News from the Galleries
1. Daily Deviations
Recently, I announced changes to Daily Deviations in this journal and I'm happy to say that the response has been favorable. To review, we have made the following changes:
a> The "3-month rule" is now the "6-month rule" meaning an artist cannot receive another DD if they have had one in the last 6 months.
b> Daily Deviation selectors are limited to a maximum of one selection per day. This has been put in place to focus on quality vs quantity.
The hard-coding of these new guidelines is now in place (special thanks to $ZombieCoder for that
). These changes are part of an ongoing initiative to better our Daily Deviation selection and ensure they are reflecting the variety and talent that exist here in the deviantART community.
What I would love to discuss next, is Daily Deviation descriptions! I have my own opinions that I wrote about here regarding them. However, I want to know how you, the deviantART community, feels about them.
I'd like some thoughtful discussion so we can really break down if they are helpful, required, a nuisance etc. So please think about the following questions and give me your input in the comments below:
Do you feel descriptions on daily deviations should be mandatory? If so, why? Do you find descriptions distract from the artwork? I believe that writing descriptions is an art form itself so if someone isn't comfortable writing something, I'd prefer they leave it black, agree or disagree? What makes a good description for you? What are you looking for when you read them? Any other thoughts or suggestions you have I would love to hear!I'm really looking forward to the conversations around this
2. Bi-weekly Critique Nights
Every other week the Community Relations team is going to gather in our chatroom #communityrelations and critique artwork! Each event will focus on a different genre/medium and this week - February 22, 2011 at 3pm Eastern/12pm Pacific/8pm GMT it will be Manga/Anime.
We've started a line-up that you can access here. Stay tuned for upcoming events!
3. Volunteer Openings in Community Relations
If you're interested in learning more about being a volunteer on deviantART please read FAQ #85: Can I be a volunteer on deviantART?
I'm currently looking for people in the following areas:
Chats & Forum Designs & Interface Fan-fiction Film & Animation Photography - Darkroom Pixel Art Space Art & Sci-Fi Stock & Resources Street Art & Graffiti Traditional Art Traditional Art - SculptureIf any of those sound like you, please check out this journal for information on how to apply
If there isn't a spot open please consider helping out from within the community. Read How to be a guiding light and shining example by the awesome ^RockstarVanity
4. Share Your Opinions!
I'm actively using my personal forum to try and connect more with the community and I have a series of threads:
Questions for $Moonbeam13 or Community Relations? Ask here Suggestions for deviantART Gallery Changes or Addition Requests Suggestions for Project EducateThese forums are all accessible from my profile page at $Moonbeam13 as well and I will be adding more. I encourage you to speak up and get involved! We're in this together
If you have a suggestion for a forum please send me a note! please do not create them yourself as it causes confusion on my page
5. Community Projects
Want to show your devious pride and get involved in ongoing Community Projects? Check out some of these!6. Official Contests
Love Is Contest - Deadline March 10, 2012 Collaborative Digital Doll Contest - Deadline March 19, 2012Please note that all contests end on the deadline stated at 11:59:59 PM PST
7. Project Educate 2011/2012
Project Educate: The Full Schedule Photography Week Round Up Body Art Roundup Community Week Project Educate: Conceptual Photography ScheduleWatch #projecteducate to learn how you can contribute and participate!
8. Art History
Full Schedule Archive - Articles submitted so far Street Photography - The Origins A Visual History of 3D Art Body Art - Ancient Body Art - Middle Ages Body Art - Modern Day Impressionism : Pissarro Impressionism : Monet9. News from the Galleries
Anime/Manga- General Update AnthroAnthro Artists & Featured Interview - Issue #3 with `Katmomma
Artisan Crafts
Body Art & Modification
Comics & Cartoons Community Projects Cosplay Customization Digital Dolls Emoticons
Handhelds & Icons Wallpaper Game Development Art DeviantART Related Digital Art 3-Dimensional Fractal Photomanipulation
Pixel Art Vector>Vector Vexel Fan Art Literature Photography
Abstract & Surreal Animals, Plants & Nature Architecture Artistic Nude
Conceptual
Fashion>Fashion Fetish
Horror & Macabre Photojournalism>Photojournalism Pinup & Glamour
Street
Urban & Rural Resources & Stock Images
Science Fiction & Space Art Text Art & Typography
Traditional Art Sculpture Street Art & Graffiti
>The Community Relations team exists to facilitate communication amongst deviantART's administration, volunteers and members. Our goal is to foster creative genius by encouraging artists to grow, collaborate and participate in a friendly and supportive artistic environment.
Watch
for up to date news and events! 
If some people feels it distracts from the work, they can choose not to read it. Pretty simple.
I feel that volunteers are chosen to represent a gallery that they have knowledge of and therefore there is no reason why they shouldn't be competent to write a description. I want to learn what they see when they feature something. I'm looking for both technical and conceptual descriptions, maybe even just one of the two. Something that reflects on why this piece of art is unique enough to be featured.
A DD without a description gives me the impression that the person who features it was either too lazy or indifferent to bother writing a few words about the artwork. So I definitely think there should be a presentment of the artwork in text form.
If I ever got a DD myself some day (far into the future) I'd probably prefer if it had a comment from the suggester or featurer but if it didn't I'd still be honored I got a DD at all
I have other thoughts, but one major argument to keep them: The medium of some artisan crafts is often difficult to tell. Often the glory of a piece (say, paper art) is that it looks like a photograph or some other medium. Having a little description can cue in someone to what it truly is and encourage them to click on the thumbnail and get a better look!
- I don't think they should be mandatory. But still I'd prefer if someone takes the time to write a few words
- No, not at all. Very often, they show me another point of view or another aspect I haven't considered yet, and I enjoy that!
- I agree. If someone doesn't know what to write or doesn't feel comfortable writing something, it's ok if they leave it blank. Still it would be nice if they take the time to at least try
- A good description tells me something about the art piece, the technical aspects or the meaning etc., or tells me about the emotions and thoughts the suggester or the gallery moderator had while looking at the piece.