Reflecting on an early creative community that shaped who I am today.
This is my DeviantArt journey—a story of how the platform helped shape me as an artist, a storyteller, and a collaborator. I’m not entirely sure how I first discovered DeviantArt. Maybe it was luck, or maybe I was just searching for something—and found it. I only remember the feeling it gave me: a place where artists gathered, shared their work, and encouraged each other to grow.
That was enough. And on May 19, 2004, I joined.
A Place to Belong in My DeviantArt Journey
Back then, I was still figuring things out. I had the passion, but I needed direction. DeviantArt became my creative home. It wasn’t just a gallery—it was a community. We gave feedback, traded thoughts, and lifted each other up. It was the first time I felt seen—not just for what I created, but for what I wanted to create.
Most of us were artists, so it was easy to connect. We didn’t need to explain ourselves. We just shared what we made, and that was enough.
A Platform for Possibility and Connection
What I appreciated most was how accessible the platform felt. You could connect with big-name artists—both local and international—and more importantly, they would often connect back. That kind of mutual respect and interaction doesn’t happen as often anymore.
On DeviantArt, it wasn’t unusual to leave a comment on a favorite artist’s piece and get a reply, or even start a conversation that led to a collaboration. The possibility of working with someone you looked up to felt real—and exciting. That kind of creative synergy is part of what made my DeviantArt journey so rewarding.
One memory that stands out was when I uploaded my Face Your Manga DA ID. It was meant to be fun. Soon after, others joined in, creating their own stylized avatars. It wasn’t something I started intentionally, but seeing the trend catch on was one of those moments that made the platform feel alive.
Lessons from My DeviantArt Journey
DeviantArt taught me a lot. Some lessons were creative—how to experiment with vector tools, how to use dodge and burn, how to turn photographs into surreal edits. I explored photomanipulation, pixel art, and even started writing poetry and stories to accompany my illustrations. Every new upload pushed me to learn more and grow.
Other lessons were harder. I once traced an artwork from Culture Crash Comics—one of the protagonists, to be exact. I thought it was okay. As a beginner, I saw it as a way of showing appreciation. But the original artist reported it, and the piece was removed. That stung. I wasn’t trying to steal; I just admired the work. Still, it taught me something important: intention doesn’t excuse everything. I had to respect creators and earn my own voice.
A Community That Gave Back
I joined several contests on DeviantArt—some run by the platform itself, others by fellow artists—and even managed to win a few. The prizes ranged from custom artworks to premium subscriptions. Back then, having a subscription felt like leveling up. You could customize your page, post journals with flair, and stand out just a little more. In a community full of talent, even those small perks made a difference. But more than the prizes, the contests gave me a reason to create—and a way to connect through art.
What I truly treasured, though, was when other artists drew fan art of my original characters. That was the biggest compliment anyone could give. Knowing that someone cared enough about a character I created to draw them—it meant the world. It told me my ideas resonated. That my creations had a life beyond my sketchpad.
I also became part of the SSS worldbuilding collective, a group of Deviants who built stories and universes together. It was unstructured, passionate, and beautifully chaotic. That kind of collaboration is rare today, and it became one of the most meaningful chapters of my DeviantArt journey.
Before Social Media Took Over the Art Space
Looking back, it’s funny how simple things were. Before Facebook and Instagram, art trades and gift art were the norm. People created art for each other just because they could. No contracts, no price lists. Just honest-to-goodness appreciation.
Of course, things changed. Social media became the new hub. Artists began charging for their work, and rightfully so. But I still miss how organic and spontaneous it all felt back then.
That’s part of why my DeviantArt journey still holds so much value for me—it captured a moment in time when art was shared just for the joy of sharing it.
From z3r0t0lerance to jpbbantigue
My last update on my original account, z3r0t0lerance, was on January 27, 2012. After that, I moved to a new profile: jpbbantigue. I wanted something more professional, so I used my real name and initials. I brought over a few of my older works, but that was it.
By that time, DeviantArt had started to fade. Social media platforms were taking over, and the creative community was shifting elsewhere. Even so, I still preferred DeviantArt. It felt more personal, more rooted in the creative process than in clout or virality.
Unfortunately, I no longer had the time to create new artwork. Around that period, I was also enjoying my work at BUILD. A lot of the things I did there—UI/UX design, brand work, client projects—weren’t really the kind of art you’d post on DeviantArt. It was still creative, just in a different way. And slowly, my activity on DA began to wind down.
Letting Go of My DeviantArt Chapter
Recently, I started removing my old deviations. I want to focus on my personal website and optimize it for everything I’m building now—my identity as an artist, a writer, a worldbuilder. But before I deactivate my DA account completely, I’m taking one last look back at my DeviantArt journey, as I’m writing this article.
If we crossed paths on DeviantArt, and somehow you’re reading this now, come say hi. I’m on Instagram at @tabitabbypo. I’d love to hear from you again.
About Me
I’m a Filipino artist, writer, and worldbuilder who blends digital art, introspective storytelling, and a bit of creative nostalgia across platforms. I often explore themes of identity, growth, and connection—drawing from the communities that helped shape me, like DeviantArt.
