JOIN THE VIRTUAL ART WORLD

Ever wished you could share and sell your artwork with other people who actually appreciate it? Rose Docherty has.

I'm only young, so nobody would ever buy my artwork, would they? And how would I sell it? A future as a commercially successful artist is just a dream, right?

Well, I have found a way: the internet. It's the one true thing that brings people from all over the world together. It connects people from Germany to America, Australia to Scotland. The diversity of the internet is simply astounding. But, of course, I don't need to tell you that.

If you were to casually surf the internet today, you would find thousands of sites based on people's interests. For those looking for a little fun, you could join a virtual pet site, play flash games, join a multiplayer game and fight mystical beings. Interested in spending time on a little last-minute study? There are plenty of educational sites with games or forums. Entertainment, study, gossip, gaming, tutorials, they have it all.

What about art? Where could you find the perfect site where you can sell, buy, share, favourite, and comment on art with other people from all over the world? The answer is simple: deviantART.

Don't worry; it's not what you think. deviantART is a site dedicated to connecting users from all over the world to each other through the sharing of art, opinions and ideas. Not only does it offer a wide range of diverse arts, from digital art (drawn or painted using a computer or computer program) to artisan crafts (crafts and hobbies such as fashion design, sewing, or jewellery), but it also allows you to connect with anyone you want.

The site is runs out of Los Angeles by 13 artists. "I'm very proud of deviantART," says the CEO, Angelo Sotira, on her site. "We took the road less travelled and arrived a little later, but on our own and untainted terms. We're doing it our way."

INTERNET INTERACTION

There are many ways of interacting with the other users. For example, there's the forum, a place within the site where you can post topics to do with deviantART. You can also share your art, or simply have a chat with your new friends, not to mention commenting on other's profiles, artwork, journals, and features. Journals are like diaries, where you can address the other users. Features are artwork collections put together as news articles by other artists.

But not only does deviantART offer a friendly art-based forum, it also offers the more commercial side of things. When you submit any piece of art, you can choose to offer this as a ‘print', meaning that another artist can purchase the artwork online.

"deviantART represents a breakthrough for the promotion and exposure of otherwise stranded artists in all corners of the globe," says Angelo. "Our job is to make sense of this possibility, and craft it in a responsible manner."

So whether you're looking to share an opinion, a poem, a painting, or a photo, deviantART is the place for you. Make friends. Become connected. That's what the internet's for.