4 Years Ago Today...

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Xero-J: 4 Years by Xero-J



...A newly signed on Deviant, believing that he could make a name for himself with a community he'd been watching from afar for quite a while, finally decided to bait this same community into asking one question...

Who Am I, You Ask?

Since that day, I got to work tirelessly on actively pursuing art as a hobby and a career, watched many artists begin their time as deviants (and watched almost as many leave for greener pastures on other sites), first attended and graduated from college, and pretty much settled into the art styles, mediums, and favorite subjects I've developed since before and after joining DA.

Each time I write this, there's a certain thing I feel I've learned from the year leading up to it.

The first year since I joined, I'd learned to focus my efforts in artwork primarily into the tried-and-true fanart category (which is why that same category on my gallery bears the most submissions to its name)...

The second year, was when I learned a simple tablet and computer were not my only means of creation; many mediums, programs, and tools that I still use today were adopted during this period, and to that end, it's a favorite tactic of mine to surprise people with something from another medium every now and then...

The third year, I'd firmly cemented my ultimate goal as far as my art was concerned; to become a Paragon in the art world; someone that people can reliably come to for help, advice, and support in art and life, both online and off. This was also the year I was more or less forced to become a member of many other sites such as Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. While currently, I'd gladly embrace social media as both a secondary vehicle for my art and a means to talk to people about everything else, I'll admit, if I wasn't required to do so as part of my college courses, my past self would have possibly spent YEARS before he'd ever gone near that stuff.

Now...I feel like this is the year that's taught me that there are actual people behind the usernames and avatars; that they have their own feelings and problems, their own ups and downs, their own vices and virtues...and this is the year I learned that about myself, too.

I'm not going to lie to you, this year in particular hasn't exactly been my best ever, mostly due to how unsure I've become about my age and my personal future, how little challenge in my life I've had to deal with since graduating college (the fact that it's hard to actually get a job as an artist doesn't help), and mostly how fast this year seems to be going by.

Some days I feel fine, some days I can crank out commissions hourly, other days I feel too lazy to work at all, and rarely, there are some moments I have to mentally keep a firm hold on the fact that I still have stories to tell with my art, just to have a reason to continue to live...

That's certainly not to say this new-found awareness is a bad thing at all, though. Since this past year and the year before, I've actually gotten to know a number of good people on this and other sites, connecting with them on levels other than talking about just art.

Indeed, some of those people's representations have now joined my little introspective artwork for this year, the rest of which I sincerely hope I'll get the chance to both know them better, and to continue my work with the original and tried and true characters as I have been for so long now...

Even though me, my ideals, and this site have all changed a fair amount since the day I first joined DA, I still do have much to live for, much to do, much to see, and many, many stories to tell with my artwork now, and into the near and far future.

I have no intention of letting go of my dream of finishing those stories...and for what it's worth, if you're someone without an account but hopeful about your artwork like I once was, and you're reading this before deciding whether or not you should click that big "Become a Deviant" button on the sign-up page...I hope you have no intention of letting go of your dream as well.
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TymanTy914's avatar
Hey there that's a great story my friend. I've been coming on Deviant Art since 2009 but without an account. So about 4 years ago in 2011 I made this account to check out people's artwork to show my support and to leave comments on their artwork, photos or stories. I'm not much of an artist but I do like to take pictures of my area or when I go to conventions. But I enjoyed your story and artwork. I wish you the best for you to follow your goals. Take Care now.