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I'm done with DeviantArt; new platforms being added
a year ago
General
Whelp, it’s day two and I’m still furious over this tweet from DeviantArt.
https://x.com/DeviantArt/status/176.....921148662?s=20
Let me preface this by saying that I try very hard to avoid using my platforms to air my grievances. I do my best to focus on the art and spread positivity instead. I hope that I’ve proven that over the few years that I’ve been around. But in this case, I can no longer be passive. I need to do what I can to protect artists and our future.
It makes me absolutely sick that this AI artist who pumps out thousands of AI images in one year is now being celebrated on their massive platform. “Wow, look at how much money they’re making!” Since this AI art account was made about a year ago, they have almost three thousand (!!!) pieces in their gallery. It is abundantly clear that their focus is quantity over quality, and they have nothing new or interesting to share. Meanwhile, I’m over here giving so much of my life to Wastelanders, my own time (and money) and art expertise being invested over two years. You know what would be nice? A shout-out for MY hard work.
I’m quite tired of being punished for trying to do things the right way. Why bother working hard to tell stories with actual human heart and building actual characters? Why not pump thousands of images with nothing new to say onto DeviantArt and sucker people into buying a pretty rendered image instead?
Effective immediately, I’m pulling Wastelanders from DeviantAI. In it’s stead, I’ll be adding BlueSky, Newgrounds, and e621. I’m done with a platform that does everything it can to tell me that the work that I do is worthless.
https://wastelanderdrex.newgrounds.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/wastelande.....ex.bsky.social
https://e621.net/posts?tags=wastelander_drex+
https://twitter.com/WastelanderDrex
https://x.com/DeviantArt/status/176.....921148662?s=20
Let me preface this by saying that I try very hard to avoid using my platforms to air my grievances. I do my best to focus on the art and spread positivity instead. I hope that I’ve proven that over the few years that I’ve been around. But in this case, I can no longer be passive. I need to do what I can to protect artists and our future.
It makes me absolutely sick that this AI artist who pumps out thousands of AI images in one year is now being celebrated on their massive platform. “Wow, look at how much money they’re making!” Since this AI art account was made about a year ago, they have almost three thousand (!!!) pieces in their gallery. It is abundantly clear that their focus is quantity over quality, and they have nothing new or interesting to share. Meanwhile, I’m over here giving so much of my life to Wastelanders, my own time (and money) and art expertise being invested over two years. You know what would be nice? A shout-out for MY hard work.
I’m quite tired of being punished for trying to do things the right way. Why bother working hard to tell stories with actual human heart and building actual characters? Why not pump thousands of images with nothing new to say onto DeviantArt and sucker people into buying a pretty rendered image instead?
Effective immediately, I’m pulling Wastelanders from DeviantAI. In it’s stead, I’ll be adding BlueSky, Newgrounds, and e621. I’m done with a platform that does everything it can to tell me that the work that I do is worthless.
https://wastelanderdrex.newgrounds.com/
https://bsky.app/profile/wastelande.....ex.bsky.social
https://e621.net/posts?tags=wastelander_drex+
https://twitter.com/WastelanderDrex
It used to be a wonderful website to find new artists, interesting artstyles and fanart outside of the usual furry bubble here on FA.
But now with AI garbage not only to be allowed but also to be praised in such a way, I am angry what they did. They claim they have an AI-filter, but it does not work when the uploaded does not flag their content.
DA sold their soul when they allowed AI to be shared and monetized on their site.
Yeah I will admit though, it annoyed me when I saw AI art popping up everywhere on DA, even when I chose to use the filter. Something is messed up when somebody who's not even making their own artwork is getting such traction on an art website.
Gosh, makes me think of pulling my stuff from there too.
Side note, but wow...I completely forgot about Newgrounds. Forgot they were still around, and I had no idea they had an art section.
DA is (unfortunately) quite large so losing them in order to fight this battle is a loss for Wastelanders, but I'm hoping that diversifying into three different platforms in it's stead will help to make up the difference.
Shame that the site used to be one of the best places for artists to post art online. Now its all corporate and souless.
Sites like DA and Artstation hope that they can sweep instances like this under the rug. They're hoping that we'll be silent about it, so we have to MAKE them face these issues. Force them to have this conversation.
Keep going, keep creating. You clearly enjoy yourself.
For example, garbage like the new $70 AAA Suicide Squad game bombed, whereas the little $40 Helldivers 2 is a wonderful little game that does right by it's customers, and the two games are squad-based shooters that are from the same vein in terms of gameplay. Helldivers sold over 8 million (so far). People consuming art/media have the final say in what flies, so that's where I'm placing my faith in the time being.
Anyhow, *throws slime at you.*
So sorry you had to leave, but you can't help it if the site devolves into a cesspool from under your feet.