Saturday kicked off Day 3 of Comic-Con, and the crowds poured onto the convention floor to start the weekend in Geek Style.

At noon, deviantART hosted our final panel: How to Supercharge Your deviantART Profile Like the Masters.  Moderated by none other than our fearless ninja, Angelo (aka +spyed), we were honored to have the following superstars share their deviantART experiences with the crowd:

- Adam Warren (*AdamWarren -- “The Dirty Pair,” “Empowered”)
- Mark Brooks (`diablo2003, from Marvel Comics)
- Jim Zubkavich (*Zubby -- Project Manager of Creative Services, Udon Entertainment)
- Dave Elliott (=DeevElliott -- “Heavy Metal Magazine”)
- Wenqing Yan (`yuumei, creator of “Knite,” “1000 W0RDS”)
- Kevin Eastman (=Kevineastman -- co-creator of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Chris Sanders (`alohalilo creator of “Lilo & Stitch”)

It was truly a remarkable and informative hour.  Brains were picked from every angle and our panelists described everything from the importance of joining deviantART, to how maintaining one's Profile Page can help launch a career.  (Fear not!  If you weren’t able to attend in person, word on the street is that video highlights may be showing up on #hq in the near future.)


^{+spyed hosts our "Supercharge Your Profile" panel.}

As things were winding down, each panelist was asked to summarize the best piece of advice they wanted to impress on the crowd.  The following is a quick soundbite of what each had to say.

Be persistent, relentless, and unstoppable, even when you want to stop. Especially when you want to stop.
-Adam Warren (*AdamWarren)

Thrive on criticism. 
-Mark Brooks (`diablo2003)

Create something that's genuine and something you like. 
-Jim Zubkavich (*Zubby)

Don’t be a lurker. Be positive and that will come back to you. 
-Dave Elliott (=DeevElliott)

Don't be afraid.  Everyone starts out not being awesome.  Immerse yourself in the process, and before you know it, you'll be great. 
-Wenqing Yan (`yuumei)

Whatever you think is art... is art. Period. 
-Kevin Eastman (=Kevineastman)

Whatever you do, try and put a story in your work.  It will make you a better artist. 
-Chris Sanders (`alohalilo)

With our last panel out of the way, we were free to focus our energies in other directions, while the deviantART booth in Artists’ Alley buzzed along like clockwork.


^{~DaneRot spends his downtime by sketching Hulk!}

Besides the myriad amazing reasons we had to be psyched about coming to Comic-Con, this year was especially exciting, because we just launched our Premium Content Platform earlier this week. It’s always a good feeling to launch a new feature that we know will enrich the lives of deviants, but to launch something that directly benefits artists and generates them real earnings, well, you can understand that we’d be brimming with excitement to spread that news to everyone we meet.

Friend of deviantART Uwe Maurer of Ambient Design brought +spyed and me ($Heidi) to The Art Department’s booth to talk about some really exciting things.  Most of them we have to keep hush-hush for now, but what we can say is that there may be some interesting ways for Premium Content to kick-start their students’ portfolios and careers.

We were also thrilled to hear that, while we were running around Comic-Con, Bleeding Cool wrote an article about the potential impact Premium Content offers independent artists.



Since we had a camera crew hanging around for some interviews we planned to do with artists, we thought we’d learn a little more about the artists that make up Comic-Con. Today, +spyed was able to make his way through the artists sitting in the Small Press section. As you can see, there were some pretty big hearts inside the artists in Small Press.



Walking around outside of Artists’ Alley also meant getting to spend time at some of the other booths we’d been rushing past, promising to return to for two days now. $marioluevanos and $LaurenKitsune took a few moments to dig through bins to recreate the deviantART logo on the giant LEGO wall!



Last year (which was deviantART’s first year sponsoring Artists' Alley), we offered two scholarships to artists emerging artists who'd always dreamt of going to Comic-Con.  It was such a success that, this year, we offered six scholarships, and set them up near the deviantART booth.

On Thursday, we hosted ~mleiv and *larkinheather, while Friday saw the arrival of ~UNDERANANGEL and ~SpyrosVerykios-ComiX. Today, we had super artists and deviants ~Mogorron and `sambees. Though weary from travel, they were excited to display their works in Artists' Alley, meet professionals in their industry, and have their portfolios reviewed by the experts!

Other Happenings

<sup>*chriscopeland and *jeffwamester use deviantART muro.


$damphyr and `megturney battle it out as Wolverine and Mulan.


The amazingness that is cosplayers attending Comic-Con.


Follow @deviantART on Twitter for the chance to win free swag...like Fella!</sup>

That about wraps up Day 3 of Comic-Con, and we all know what that means -- tomorrow is the final and saddest day of Comic-Con.    However, we're trying to make the good cheer last as long as we can before we start X-ing out the calendar days until Comic-Con 2013.

~$Heidi and $LaurenKitsune


Read more:
Comic-Con: Day 1
Comic-Con: Day 2
Comic-Con: Day 3
Comic-Con: Day 4

Comic-Con Day 2 was all about cosplay, fandom, and art, art, art!  

Before we get into the thick of things, we didn’t have a photo of our huge plasma screens hanging from the convention ceiling to share in our Day 1 recap, so we vowed to get that to you today!  The 11 foot wide screens stream amazing works of art from Artists' Alley participants to the whole convention floor!    



In Comic-Cons past, the foot traffic In Artists’ Alley got busier and busier as the week progressed, and this year is no exception. There’s something magical about speaking one-on-one with a deviant, learning their experiences, hearing how they started as an artist, and how far they’ve come. It’s an emotional connection to make with someone who was practically a stranger a few moments ago -- and then you realize you’re not really strangers when you’re part of such a welcoming community. We all start somewhere, learn and grow along the way, and then challenge ourselves to be better and meet new goals.


^{*EDWARDJCHUA draws Batman as a squirrel, as requested by $Ayame-Kenoshi!}

A steampunk-rock deviant named ~ye-ye, a member of deviantART for over 9 years, came to our booth today with exciting news to share. Not only was she thrilled to be at the convention and meeting fellow deviants, but she received her first ever Daily Deviation today! And it's no wonder she did. This steampunk-inspired mask is incredible!



Today’s deviantART-related panel was hosted by our very own Josh Wattles, aka $makepictures, who spoke to a rapt crowd on the topic of fan art law and copyright. It was sure to be a popular subject, because not only was the crowd comprised of those who love and create fan art, but also artists who create original works who wanted to learn to keep their intellectual property protected. Josh won over both sides with a Fan Art Copyright 101, seamlessly integrating basic definitions with explanations of the trickier facets of the law, peppered with humorous case studies involving Darth Maul, Harry Potter fan fiction, and bronies.


^{Josh's presentation featured a piece by  $kozispoon, who drew Josh in the style of a My Little Pony.}

The panel included an expert -- technically, he was a composite of artists who walk the fine line of producing fan art pre-professionally -- who, through the miracle of voice modulation to keep his identity a secret, spoke about his experience working for the comic industry while still being a fan art fanatic.


^{The mysterious guest.}

Because deviantART staff know how to play while they work, `megturney spent her day conducting interviews with Artists' Alley participants, all while cosplaying as Superhero Mulan. We were lucky enough to sit down for a moment with *AlexGarner, who only had a bit of time to spare before running off to finish a cover for a new DC comic. Work hard, play hard!


^{`megturney keeps *AlexGarner on the topic of DC, so he can brainstorm as he interviews.}

The cosplaying didn’t end with Superhero Mulan.  `megturney also organized her Superhero Disney Princess pals and anyone they could katamari over with them. See how many characters you can name!



In the midst of the whirlwind action of panels, interviews, and cosplaying, deviantART’s booth in the alley continued to be a popular spot for artists to sit down and create after all the inspiration they’d seen on the convention floor...which in turn inspired onlookers to wait for their turn to create, and it was basically one giant ball of creativity and awesomeness.


<sup>~greenestreet poses behind his clever Avengers/Justice League crossover.


Comic-Con has certainly influenced ~hokepalakiko as he draws the Man of Steel.</sup>

We know how difficult it may be for people in other countries and even as close as other states to make it to Comic-Con. Even though you may not be able to make it physically, we’re hoping these pictures are the next best thing. And if the inspiration you’ve seen here has moved you to create a drawing -- in deviantART muro or elsewhere -- post a link to it in the comments, because we’d love to check it out.

Before you go, a little Batman eye candy.  Just because!



That's a wrap for Day 2!

~$Heidi and $LaurenKitsune


Read more:
Comic-Con: Day 1
Comic-Con: Day 2
Comic-Con: Day 3
Comic-Con: Day 4

San Diego Comic-Con Day 1 is winding down to such wee hours, some sticklers might call it “Technically A Few Moments Into Day 2.” But we live by the belief that new days don’t technically start until after you’ve fallen asleep, and all of the deviantART staff in attendance are still buzzing with energy after such an amazing first day on the convention floor.

For those of you unable to make it to San Diego, allow us to paint a picture for you.


_{Try not to get hypnotized as our deviantART signage spins from the convention ceiling!}

The first thing you see as you walk in the door (provided you walk in at door G) is the radiant deviantART band of hope hanging from the ceiling like a beacon for artists and art lovers to join their devious brethren at the mecca of creativity: Artists’ Alley.

Like last year, deviantART is sponsoring the alley, offering comic artists comfy seats, slick carpeting, deviantART swag, and the contentment that comes from knowing how awesome deviantART thinks they are.

We've provided not one, but two huge display screens streaming art from artists within Artists' Alley -- one showcasing portrait-style art, the other rotated to feature landscape. The displays, measuring roughly 11 feet wide, are hung from the convention ceiling right over the alley for all to see, beckoning everyone to come closer and meet these legends in person.


_{$endosage and `mattdanna prepare the booth.}

The deviantART booth itself features kiosks with chairs for weary walkers -- and not the undead kind or those from Westeros. Six of the kiosks feature iMacs and Intuos tablets, ready for anyone who wants to play with deviantART muro. The seventh kiosk features a 24-inch Cintiq where newbies and pros alike can enter into the digital artist’s playground that is so much fun, it frequently requires a wipe-down after patrons and staff alike drool on it in amazement.


It didn’t take long for artists to flock to our humble corner and let their imaginations run wild. ~Darke-Imp and her friend took a few minutes to whip up a devilish Dante from the video game “Devil May Cry.”


~mejia29 stood by this piece he called “one of the best things he’s ever made,” and we were honored to be right there for the historic moment.


Comic-Con wouldn’t be complete without sassy Marvel characters, so ~xashe drew us one of the craziest of them all: Deadpool.


=MarceloBriseno stopped by Artists’ Alley again this year to whip up a quick “Empty Skull” portrait, and it looks amazing.


_{It's *Franchesco!}

One of our favorite things about walking through the alley and talking to the artists is that they each have a story. They each had a dream they pursued and the perseverance to hone their talent, and it’s truly an inspiration to all of us. There are many paths that they may have taken to end up in the alley, but the looks on their faces when a fan comes up for an autograph or to purchase some original art is so awe-inspiring and motivational, it reminds us staffers why deviantART loves Artists’ Alley.


_{$danlev agrees!  Comics are art.}

Day 1 is coming to a close (we still haven’t gone to bed yet! It’s still Day 1!), and we can barely wait to get going on Day 2. Who knows what the future will hold? More comic book purchases? New, awesome panels to attend? A shy deviant quietly creating a breathtaking masterpiece on deviantART muro as a crowd looks on in awe? Well, we can tell you that ALL OF THESE THINGS WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN, but you’ll have to tune in to our next Journal to see just how they go!

~$Heidi and $LaurenKitsune


Read more:
Comic-Con: Day 1
Comic-Con: Day 2
Comic-Con: Day 3
Comic-Con: Day 4

    

What is the Premium Content Platform?

The Premium Content Platform is a way for deviants to easily sell and buy digital content. The Platform is based on digital downloads, which removes all of the issues brought about by physical goods and their delivery; for example, printing and shipping products from one location to another. By selling digital products through downloads, sellers can easily connect to millions of potential customers. Once purchased, digital downloads can be accessed and enjoyed immediately. By using the deviantART Points system, sellers set their own prices for each download, opening up massive potential for purchases on a wide variety of items by the millions of people who use deviantART.

What are Points?

DeviantART Points are a virtual currency that can be used to buy virtual and real goods on deviantART — such goods include Premium Content Platform purchases, Premium Memberships, t-shirts and gear, Prints products, virtual badges, and more. Points can be purchased using a credit card or PayPal, and one U.S. dollar is the equivalent to 80 Points. A buyer making a Premium Content Platform purchase must use Points for the transaction. However, a seller's earnings are credited in U.S. dollars which can be withdrawn via PayPal or check, or converted into Points.

Get Points ››

Selling Premium Content

As a seller, you can make almost any content that can be placed in a digital file available for purchase. The content must be your original work or you must have full authority to make it available for sale. The content also needs to qualify under deviantART's Submission Policy and Etiquette Guidelines. The Premium Content Platform is designed for both ease of use and security. Deviants wishing to sell content are able to do so efficiently and ensure their high-quality content is put to its proper use, on their terms, while also generating profit for their hard work. Sellers are able to set their own prices for Premium Content Platform downloads and, once sold, a seller retains 80% of all revenue earned.

When making a Premium Content download available for sale, sellers are encouraged to provide a detailed deviation description about the content being made available for purchase in order to avoid misunderstandings or disappointments from buyers. For example, if the content is a brush that will work only in certain versions of software or if the content is a file that will only open in certain editions of Photoshop or Painter, the description should explain these nuances as much as possible.

To begin selling through the Premium Content Platform, go to the Submit Art page and follow these simple steps:

Earnings

Buyers purchase content using deviantART Points. Each time a buyer pays for a download, the seller will be notified about the sale through an Activity Message in the Message Center. DeviantART charges a fee on each download equal to 20% of the price set by the seller at the time of the download, and places the remaining 80% into the seller's My Earnings account in U.S. dollars. After a short holding period of approximately 14 days, the seller's earnings from the sale will be available to be withdrawn by the seller either as U.S. dollars (via PayPal or check) or as deviantART Points.

My Earnings ››

Buying Premium Content

Buying Premium Content is easy. Whether you're looking for tools to aid your latest photomanipulation or you are searching for the perfect desktop wallpaper, the Premium Content Platform is a fantastic way to fuel your creative mind. Buying Premium Content is a straightforward and user-friendly process.

Once you've identified Premium Content that you're interested in, click the "Purchase" button, enter your password, and agree to the Seller's Agreement. Your download will start immediately.

Rating Premium Content

In order to assist future Premium Content buyers, we encourage those who have purchased content to rate sellers on a five-star scale. In addition to rating sellers, buyers are also encouraged to leave feedback about the download in the comments section of a deviation. It only takes a moment to rate a seller and/or leave a comment and feedback is crucial in helping others make purchasing decisions.

Eligibility and Agreements

Selling on the Premium Content Platform is a privilege and not a right of membership. The launch of the Platform will be staged by selecting target groups of sellers before the Platform is extended to all members. People who have the ability to sell via the Platform will be notified with a Hot Topic notification in their Message Center. All members will be enabled to buy content on day one.

Sellers enter into an agreement with the buyer on each download. When making a download available for sale, sellers can use a standard Personal Use/Personal Non-Commercial Use License Agreement. Alternatively, sellers can insert a Custom License Agreement. These options are explained at the time the seller makes the content available for sale.

Important Information

Occasionally a dispute may arise between a buyer and a seller. The most likely issue will be a concern by the buyer that the download doesn't meet his or her expectations. This can be avoided most of the time with a good description of the content on the deviation page. The seller should accept responsibility for providing an adequate description and the buyer should accept responsibility for reading that description before deciding to make a purchase.

Buyers can request a refund within 7 days of their purchase using the refund button on the Order Detail page. Sellers are provided with a streamlined method to provide refunds within thirty (30) days of the request made by the Buyer. Sellers should always consider issuing a refund in the case of a Buyer who is unhappy.  Buyers and Sellers should always behave politely toward one another.

The deviantART Help Desk is available in the event that the buyer and the seller cannot resolve their dispute. Both the buyer and the seller should read the Terms of Use for the Premium Content Platform before using the Help Desk. However, in general, buyers should proceed at their own risk.

You can report content that should not be made available on the Platform using the Report Deviation button, the same way you would report a deviation for other issues. Should a fraudulent circumstance arise that requires the attention of deviantART staff, buyers should file a report within 7 days of purchase. To report a deviation, click the Report Deviation button and select "Premium Content Issues". You will then be prompted to select what the issue is, and to leave more information, so that staff can handle the situation as smoothly as possible. If deviantART staff find that fraudulent activity has occurred, appropriate action will be taken — ranging from suspending a deviant's ability to buy or sell Premium Content, to a permanent site ban.

As a reminder when purchasing Premium Content, the buyer is expected to abide to the agreements made when the content was originally purchased, the same way the seller is expected to abide by the Terms of Use and Seller Agreement.

‹‹ Back to Original Article

It's your special day, deviantART!

At the end of the day, deviantART has something for everyone.  Whether you're a professional artist looking to build a following, an amateur looking to hone your skills, an art appreciator looking for the latest art trends, or an Internet enthusiast looking to build connections with like-minded people -- deviantART has you covered.  No matter what you're passionate about or interested in, deviantART will help you find more of what you're looking for.  

During the last couple of years especially, deviantART has been at the forefront of championing the arts and working to make them important again -- helping to re-establish their relevance.  During my 11 years at deviantART, I've learned how art, and deviantART itself, can truly impact and inspire people.  It's rewarding to know that I'm part of a community that can affect people's lives for the better.

Thank you to everyone who has, and continues to, make deviantART the world's largest (and best) online art community.

BirthdAy festivities to partake in!

deviantART's 11th BirthdAy: Let's Celebrate!
Sunday, August 7th, 2011, marks deviantART's 11th birthdAy and in true devious style, we're taking one whole week to celebrate! Check out our schedule of events and see how you can participate in each day's activities. Is your body ready?

Skribble Contest: Let's Get Creative!
In our new Skribble Contest, we challenge you to create something incredible using a pre-made pattern containing a few simple lines. Artists of any skill levels can enter and we're giving away awesome prizes -- including iPads and Wacom tablets! Open to ALL deviants.

FREE: 11th BirthdAy JournalSKIN!
Normally reserved for only Premium Members, we're allowing all deviants the ability to use JournalSKINS.  During our birthdAy week, any deviant can install any JournalSKIN.  Though, we especially encourage you to use the official deviantART 11th birthdAy skin. ::wink, wink::

11th BirthdAy Shirt!
Our birthdAy shirts usually sell like delicious, wearable hotcakes, so be sure to grab this birthdAy artifact before its limited run is up.  Perhaps you're collecting all the birthdAy years.  Perhaps this was an especially great year for you on deviantART or in general.  Maybe you just really like the number 11.  Whatever the reason, it's reason to celebrate!


Happy birthdAy to all, and to all a good night!

~Heidi

P.S. - Check out `mattdanna's guns in that photo.  He's so dreamy.