My DeviantArt Story

Although the badge makes for a nice little bit of motivation to write this journal, I'm actually really happy to have the chance more like the excuse to share my DA experience.
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<sub>The beginning of my story goes back six years, when I was in eighth grade. With me being in French immersion at the time, most of my classes were fairly small, and almost all of them were filled with the same, familiar faces. Now, I'm pretty awkward in social situations, but because of how often the lot of us saw each other, it goes without saying that even an oddball like me managed to make some friends. It was around this time that I met Chelsea-Chelsea (kibby666 at the time), the girl to whom I credit my being here in the first place. Chelsea was an AMAZING artist. Still is amazing, I'm sure, and she was a huge inspiration to me. Her talents, combined with the fact that I started to watch anime (beware the loser weeabo!!), were what really influenced me to start drawing more seriously. Up to this point all I'd ever doodled were dragons, so it was one rocky beginning!

Now that I was drawing Chelsea introduced me to DA, and following her advice, I signed up with my first account crazygal66. I posted infrequently and commented often (comments which I cringe at, when I read them again), but I had never really felt at home here. After a year or two I just...stopped coming on. For a while actually, I had lost interest in drawing.

But then my twin MelodicSoul (cuba888 at the time) had asked for a tablet for Christmas. My parents asked me if I wanted the same, to which I promptly replied "no", convinced that I would never use or even WANT a tablet. Let's just say that my answer changed when Jess actually got it.
I fell in love with her tablet- I stated to draw a little more, and would steal it, just so I could do some digital colouring. It was official; I wanted one of my own.

That summer, during a conversation between myself, my twin, and our best friend (SkyeThief), we had all decided that we wanted to come back to DA. But Jess and I wanted a fresh start. I deactivated my old account (which I now regret), and created the one that you all know me by today. And it was probably the best decision of my life.
I was hesitant to post at first, but I started to get compliments and helpful tidbits of criticism. People were actually taking the time to comment on my art! When I got my own tablet that December, I drew more than I ever had before. Sure my art wasn't that great to begin with, but I still moved forward. I even opened up commissions at one point, and people actually bought from me! I course I would fall (and still do) into those slumps of absolutely hating my art, but there were people who pulled me out of it by simply being there and encouraging me. I felt wanted.

I joined the One Piece fandom, made an oc, and met a ton of wonderful people. Eventually, because of this, I joined my first rp group (Poke-Village) and, well, look at all the applications and ocs I have now!

My art went from this: the very first sketches that I was actually proud of. (Fun fact: The girl on the right is Cross)


To this: the first time I put effort into using coloured pencils:


And then to this: My first time ever digitally colouring: (Cover your eyes!)


Now look where I am!!
    
I have come such a long way over the last six years! I know that my art's not anything amazing yet, but I am so proud of my improvement. And call me sappy, but I honestly don't think I'd be where I am today without the support of the amazing people here on this website.
I have been so lucky to meet so many wonderful people here, and am blessed enough to be able to call a good number of them friends. Of course I can't end this journal without listing a couple of them.

Whether I've known you all my four years as TheLostArts or only a couple of weeks, time plays no role in your importance to me.
MelodicSoul, ChemicalInk, TenshiAdes, FranCxual, erdbeermarmelade, emilyk949, Kyte-Rhima, Lemonthrower, Calyp-so, TissueCube, joek09, jellolas, and Roreri: I am grateful for each and every one of you. No matter whether we speak every day or once in a blue moon, just know that you all have a special place in my heart. <3 I really hope that I didn't forget anyone- //OTL

Thank you so much for such an amazing time on DeviantArt -I can only hope that future years match what I have now. Happy birthday DA!
And wow is this journal a whole ton longer than I was expecting. //OTL If you've managed to get from start to finish, you are a very, very strong person!</sub>