In March 2005, I joined dA under another account. I used to rely on it to showcase my terrible Danny Phantom fanart and such.

Just over two years ago, my time became sucked away by education and band activities. It was also the time where I befriended my boyfriend, Matt. He introduced me into his series (the "Bando Tales"). My laptop was also on the fritz then, so I had little access to dA and PSP. Instead, I used him and my "real life" friends to showcase my art, and eventually, relied heavily on Matt for improving and such. We were in a bit of a race, you see.

But, as some of you may know, I was almost completely focused on Hartman fanart for at least three or so years. I had little other influence, and my pictures were flat and unimaginative. Everything relied on that style, and it was difficult to move on and create something original. With Matt, I was able to actually move on and develop a style of my own, with some tidbits of other styles I've seen.

I came onto dA recently just to see what other people have been up to. I see some other members' new artwork. I see people still involved in the DP fandom and even some new members to it, and then I see others involved in different fandoms or gone completely, and some original work, too.

I just wonder, does dA really help people improve? I see a lot of impressive original artists on here, I really do. But I also see many fanartists who have improved within the style, but they are so limited to the confines of that style; they have a certain way of drawing the fanstyle, but they don't have much room to expand their horizons.

I'm not suggesting fanart is bad; but, for fanartists looking for an escape from that style (much like myself) but can't seem to, try befriending new people outside of deviantART, because once you start trying to move onto new things, watchers may start abandoning you because you're not drawing their favorite character from Danny Phantom in anime style. You won't get the critique you desire, and you'll find it hard to move on because no one seems to care anymore.

dA is not the only art community in the world, and you shouldn't treat it like it is.

--

I feel like I just wrote a short essay for my English class.