The Online Art Community: A Fight for Attention

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Avi Hathorne, Reporter

The internet is all about communities, from small circles formed around mutual love for a single book or show to vast factions united under interests as general as hiking. With countless websites and the ability to create countless more, many of these groups are able to connect and thrive.

Unfortunately, some of these groups also become so large and competitive that they lose much of their original purpose. A prime example is the art community, to which several major social media websites including Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram, and even YouTube contribute. These websites provide an outlet for artists, both aspiring and professional, who may lack the resources to publicize themselves outside of the internet; however, with so many users accessing the same sites, there arises an overwhelming need to stand out. Young artists want to improve, but without a certain degree of luck, they struggle to find either the support or the advice they require to do so.

This does not, however, mean that there is no hope for artists hoping to find recognition in the online world. Committed users who are willing to upload regularly and engage with other members of the community attract more attention to their work than users who simply sit back and wait for something to happen. Although bias against messy or “amateurish” art will always exist, there will always also be people who genuinely want to help others improve and succeed.

A few words of advice to aspiring artists: draw often, and take advantage of the social setting of the internet to find mentors and peers for support. Accept healthy amounts of criticism, and, if being noticed and admired is the ultimate goal, always strive to improve. As the age-old saying goes, practice makes perfect.