I’ve just read an article in emptyeasle that is somewhat critical of website such as deviantART.com
Yet deviantART continues to nab the attention of the press. Could it be that the media focuses too much on traffic and membership numbers instead of investigating how legitimate an art site is in the art world—like the connections it has or the opportunities it offers artists?
Sadly, I think that is the case.
In some ways I agree with what they’re saying. I doubt deviantART will ever be featured in a prestigious magazine and I doubt you’d find many of the best fine artists using it. However, there’s one thing which deviantART and similar ‘amateur’ services do provide and that’s a sense of community. I consider the fine art world, both in real life and online, to be a scary, big and sometimes hostile world. To have a place where you can show new work in a friendly environment is something that is needed.
