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Introducing PE week: Getting the Most out of dAThis week marks the first ever Project Educate week on the topic of "Getting the most out of dA"! For this week I collected a small group of experts on the deviantART community and positive contribution. Together we will present you with articles and happenings, to inspire you and give you an overview of how you can contribute to the deviantART community.
From Monday to Saturday, each day will focus on a different topic. Topics will be introduced in an informative article. Then we'll go into it more in depth with you through interviews with gurus on the subject or through events where you get to experience the fun of contributing.
Then on Sunday we'll recap the entire week not only in a summary of articles but also in a chat event!

Please make sure you're watching #projecteducate to see all our articles and events

Topics to be covered
Commenting
Monday 4th
^3wyl
Running Groups
Tuesday 5th
:dev3wyl

Stories of Improvement IThrough the month you have seen some historic moments regarding Digital Art, some topics of discussion, interviews with talented digital artists and features with incredible art.
Today we'll take a look at the personal stories some deviants have to tell about how much they've improved over the years. So here is the first part of two! Each story is accompanied by a couple of thumbs, one old and one old so you can see how much the deviant has improved.
:iconmilotic1406: `Milotic1406
I started creating digital art just a few

A new era is about to startOr that's what the Maya said. According to most scientists, the 21st would be the first day of their new calendar cycle.
Does this inherently mean a new era? Perhaps not. But our future is in our own hands. Why not try?
Why not use this as an opportunity to start working towards a new time - towards a better world? Sure, none of us have the power to change the entire world as they please, and I have no illusions that those who do, will be reading this journal (if anyone has such power at all). But why not choose to do something within your and anyone's power, to make the world a little better for at least some of us? Or to make the future a little bit brighter for us all?
Some suggestions
Meditate. Small, simple. Meditating is known to have great positive effects on you personally. This will also reflect on others around you.
Donate. Even if you're not rich, there's a way to donate for almost

Everyday we're CV'ingAs a Community Volunteer - I do as much or as little within the community that I feel comfortable doing. We're not pressured to do this and that, we don't even have to give a Daily Deviation every day, we choose how we promote our selected galleries/chats and forums and we're not fixed to any specific rule on how much or how little we do. But I do believe that it's important to share with you just what the community volunteers do and why we do it. More importantly it's so easy to get lost on this site full of many people - and miss out on the awesome that's going on. So I'm going to share with you exactly what the latest awesome is...
Project Educate
Almost every week since October last year the Community Volunteers have been working hard both independently and as part of small teams to bring You Project Educate.
Project Educate is about bringing forward art forms whether they are popular or overlooked and giving

CR Newsletter - November/December 2012 Director of Community Relations :iconmoonbeam13: :
Table of Contents
1. Happy Holidays and Merry New Year
2. Volunteer Openings in Community Relations
3. Community Projects
4. Official Contests
5 Project Educate 2011/2012
6. Art History Project
7. News from the Chats and Forums
8. News from the Galleries
1. Happy Holidays and Merry New Year
As the old year begins to fade into the sunset, it is customary to reflect on the passing year and make plans for the upcoming one. Some do this in the form of resolutions, some people make action plans, some people just swing into the new year the same way they swung out of the old one

Whatever way you intend to welcome in 2013, I hope you're surrounded by love and that you do it safely!
I've been reflecting on the year and like many, with some focus on the unimaginable events of the last few weeks. Specifically, the shooting in Newtown. I know that it's "human nature" to want to find

PE: Giving and Receiving Quality Feedback

Giving and Receiving Feedback

One of the most useful things on deviantart is the option to give and receive feedback. There are different kinds of feedback. This article aims to inform you on how to give quality feedback and hopefully receive it.
Types of Feedback

Comments

One of the quickest ways to interact with others. From journals, to forums, to art, to profiles, comments are used everywhere. However, the quality can range from spam, to constructive.
Critiques

Any deviant can write them,(~,*,=,`,^ etc.) but only premium members can request them. Constructive comments can substitute for these. Critiques take some time to write, and really provide insight. If used correctly, can be a wonderful way to give/receive constructive criticism.

Giving Feedback
This is important to receiving feedback. If you give, you are l

Seniority Announcements - January 2013

This article marks the latest additions to the dizzy height of Senior members in our community. With just over 1000 deviants holding the highly saught after ` -- it's clearly a moment that deserves recognition.
:faq29:
So what does it take to become a Senior? That's a question many have asked and have never really been able to get a straight answer on. Some have gained Seniority as a thank you for their time spent as a Volunteer, or to recognise their contribution to a particular project or collaborative action. Some have gained Seniority because of their community spirit, providing help and assistance to many other deviants and taking time out to promote the work of others in the community. 
Some people have received Seniority because of their artistic endevours, having a positive influence on their peers by sharing resources, providing constructive criticism and by being a voice that stands out above the many other

Of Awesome ThingsTo start with the most exciting news!

Internship
Tomorrow will NOT be the last day of my internship at deviantART. I have been offered an extension of two months so I'll keep working for $Heidi, $Ayame-Kenoshi and other lovely people to serve this community

My end date has been moved to the end of March, when we'll be evaluating again. I am thrilled to stay around on the team and to keep working in this fashion for the community that's dear to my heart

Holiday
I'd also like to thank everyone that sent me cards or even gifts over the holiday period! I received around 30 Christmas/New Years cards (about as many as I sent myself), along with two deviantART Keychains, a Llama Keychain and even a lovely print that was on my w

Daily Deviation Suggestion Drive!Back By Popular Demand!
In January of 2012, the community was challenged by `thorns to do something about their complaints on dA. Thus was born this very group! But before the group, it was just a fledgling idea on `Kneeling-Glory's account that began with a DD Suggestion Contest. The results of that contest were overwhelming. And so, under the prodding of quite a few Community Volunteers, we're going to do it again!

UPDATE: Less than 1 week in and we've already got 100 suggested DDs and 2 accepted suggestions!!

Keep up the great work guys and gals. Please remember that you need to leave a link to every deviation you suggest in this journa

Is it a bug? Is it a feature?No, it's a bug feature.

Warning - contains insects and spiders.
I'll try to not make it too scary

Found on the Premium Thumbshare and normal Thumbshare +forums, and while browsing

So you want to be a CV...Sometimes I like to wander through the #communityrelations group, and I always come across comments from people so willing to become volunteers, (and a lot of comments from `phoenixleo ._.) specifically in the The Community Relations Team journal, where the opening positions are listed.
To those people: take this journal just as a personal opinion coming from a former volunteer, who currently is just a regular deviant (as in: non-admin of any sort) like you, from someone who, like you, love the community and is willing to contribute and give back the way he can:
I think is great that people is so enthusiastic and passionate about volunteering, it's something that shows. People constantly say "I so would love to help!", "I can't wait to be 18 to apply!", "I so want to be on the team!", there are some who list the complete CR roster in their personal profiles, who openly s

Older again!So, it's my 20th birthday today. How strange is that! Now I have to wait 80 years to have 1 at the beginning again (challenge accepted). It was a very nice year, I must say, many great things happened! I shall thank you all separately, but I'll do it here, too: thank you soooo much for all the wishes!
My poor watchers, you've been getting journal notifications really often lately, for all the articles I've written. Don't worry, I'll take a deeper breath in December, and I hope I'll post drawings more often. Yes, exactly: I wish I'd be able to draw more often the following year.
Now, take a look: I got birthday gifts around here!

From *Sieskja I also got sketches, and from *Ytril two other drawings that await posting - and a sketch from *erinclaireb. Thank you all so much!

*update*

Welcome Maytel, Arctoa and rydi1689!!^maytel, ^arctoa, and ^rydi1689!!
Please help us in welcoming the newest members to the Community Volunteers team!!!

:iconMaytel:
^maytel
Artisan crafts

:iconArctoa:
^arctoa
Abstract & surreal photography

:iconrydi1689:
^rydi1689
Manga/animne

International Women's DayWhat is International Women's Day?
The following is quoted from the IWD website:
"International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still

About #seniormentorsSome time back now, I was trusted by `lazybutt to step up as the founder of #seniormentors; a request I accepted as an honor. This group pre-dates the group platform of deviantART--I wanted to be a part of #seniormentors when it was `seniormentors. The purpose behind this group has always been focused on mentoring the community in creating quality work--by having all the tools they need to achieve their best potential. As the current founder, I would like #seniormentors to be the hub for seniors of the community to portray the best of dA and feature tutorials that help learning artists improve.
Through my years on deviantART, I have noticed how vital ticked off deviants can be if their "powers" (increased visibility in the community) are focused on positive growth. I've asked seniors why they think they're a senior and many have no clue why, some have an idea, but all have made an impact in the community. I'd like to give seniors more purpose through this

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Happy New Year

Journal Entry: Sun Dec 30, 2012, 6:11 PM

tl;dr: I've had an awesome year that's shaped my life and future in many ways. I wish you all a happy 2013.

2012 in review

Short summary

2012 in numbers:

Visited `Gwendolyn12 2x and spent ~7 weeks with her
Boarded 20 aeroplanes as I visited 6 countries on 3 continents (almost all trips to visit deviants)
Met at least 6 foreign deviants that visited my country
Changed roles on deviantART 3 times
Had 3 paying jobs and volunteered for 2 places
Visited about 10 universities and considered 3 majors (and after the summer I started at the University of Amsterdam majoring in Informatics)

This year, month by month, with the deviations I posted in those months:

January consisted of working. I'd been working in a supermarket full time for about half a year without break, and after a couple of months as CV for dA Related I felt at home in this role and ran Project Educate. Aside that I spent a lot of time preparing for...

...February which consisted entirely of my first trip to meet Ellen and had the time of my life.

This was followed by...

Paradox of Love - Valentine PoemI always think of you
despite, or maybe because
I feel for you too.

Be My ValentineHold your hand, blow a kiss
All these little things I miss
Hold your hand, share our love
All these things I'm dreaming of

Share a smile and share a tear
Closer than ever, yet not here
You may be far, but please be mine -
Will you be my valentine?

Valentine Exchange 6 word storyValentine's?

I love you every day.

...March which started with a weekend with `fritsvandersloot to Manchester to meet a lovely bunch of fellow Community Volunteers and $taff members. The rest of the month was much like....

...April which consisted of more working for two jobs and deviantART. My days off were all spent on visits to universities while trying to decide what to do next.

A ClicheI wish I could sing you a love song
about roses and stars and the rain
but I couldn't sing like the blackbird in spring
so I think I will simply refrain.

I wish I could tell you a story
about beauty and trust and my heart
but all I could say's what they say every day
So I don't even know where to start.

I wish I could write you a poem
'bout the birds and the bees and my bed
but all I would write's being said every night
So I wrote you a cliche instead.

May and June were much the same. Aside all the working, they did include a few significant events. First, two great volunteers, $haldron and $wreckling, took full time jobs to the knee and I took over Community Projects. $Moonbeam13 and I decided I'd focus on this and hand over dA Related to ^ladygagz. Then I made a one-day-trip to Paris where I met hundreds of deviants including many staff members (who are now colleagues, but I couldn't have known that at the time!)

I also I also decided on my university and major; more on that is to come.

For July and August I was off. I had just quit both of my jobs, and I used the free time to prepare for going back to university in September, for two unrelated trips to Scotland, and for another visit to Ellen. I told you all about this in early...

...September, when I started university and wrote lots about the Life of a Bart. Later that month my second role change happened; I was asked and accepted to become a Community Volunteer Mentor.

For the rest of September and...

Contacting the deviantART Help Desk

The unofficial tutorial
Also available in: Français: Contacter le service d'aide de deviantART.
Other language? Watch #InternationalFAQ • Can you translate? Please feel free!

Where to find the Help Desk?On any dA page, go to the very bottom and click "Help & FAQ" (which looks like this).To the left, click "Contact the Help Desk" (which looks like this).And that's it! There are more but this is the simplest way and it works from just about any dA page*.

Some tips
Reporting deviations;To report someone for submitting art theft, hate art etc. do NOT go here - instead click 'report deviation' on the deviation (unless you're the copyright o

...October I obviously spent a lot of time at university. So far I'm very much enjoying it!

November started with a big surprise. I was invited for an internship with dA! I was and am still incredibly happy and grateful for this and I'll tell more about it in a bit. I spent most of this month and...

...December combining my internship, university and some volunteering tasks that I can't resist doing still. The month ended with a wonderful Christmas with my family and grandma in a lovely place.