So, doing this too, because I'm a sucker for dA badges. And it sounded fun.

I joined dA quite some time ago, with little knowledge of art at all. I was mostly a watcher, enjoying other peopels creations. But in time I made wasn't satisfied with that anymore. I decided I wanted more and started to draw. First redrawing photos or screenshots, but very soon creating own art.
I started out mostly cartoon styled, forst on paper and later I bought my first cheap graphic tablet which I used for years to come, before I managed to save up enough to buy my first Wacom tablet.

But even though I tried to draw every day it took me some time to draw my first image I was so unbelievable happy with (which also got a DD, which made it even better):


It was an illustration I made for a story I am still in the process of creating, which will eventually become a graphic novel.
In any case, I know from my point today it has a lot of flaws, but I discovered so many things while making this image, that it brought me far ahead at the time.
(and I still love it)

Also, that particular image got me into drawing anthropomorphic animals, which was new to me at the time, but which I really enjoyed drawing.
Another image I drew that year was again an image I learnt so much from while drawing, like creating my own custom brushes and textures:



From this point on I was amazed by illustrations and concepts. I also went a bit more into a realistic direction style-wise.

I tried out concepts: , perspectives: , vehicles:  and fur: , as well as two comics, a co-op project called "Sleight of Hand":  and my first own comic: "A Knife in the Dark": 
Both may just be feral fantasy comics, but I mostly started them to gain as much practice in drawing, background painting and story-telling as possible.


Anthro-art and detailed landscape painting are still my guilty pleasure though. Some of my own personal favorites are these:

Mature Content

I always thought of art as my hobby, inspired by other deviants I met along the way I soon aspired for more though. I wanted to improve more and more, which often came with depression when something didn't work as planned. Thanks to a lot of friends who I met here on this very site, I made it through each one of them.
I came from humble beginnings, in more way than one, and after some encouragement I can finally announce I am on my way to be an art-student this year. I know of course it's still a very long way for me to go, but I am glad I found this site, since it turned out that art for me is more than just a hobby.

I don't think I would have gotten this far without dA and the people I met here.

So, happy birthday deviantArt and thanks for everything. HERE'S TO YOU, DA!!  TO ANOTHER 14 YEARS!!!