Written By DAB
Social networks tailored for artists and designers are some of the fastest and most efficient methods for getting your digital artwork seen by thousands. Online communities for showcasing art have gained popularity among digital artists for good reason.
DeviantArt has been the most popular platform with almost 100M visitors per month – however, there are numerous other platforms where you can share your creativity and network with fellow artists.
These platforms offer artists the opportunity to display their work, gain exposure, reach a broader audience, and connect with other artists within the online art community.
Whether you're looking for professional networking opportunities, community support, or a place to casually share your work, there's a platform on this list for you.
If you're a digital artist looking for platforms to showcase your work and connect with other artists, here are ten excellent DeviantArt alternatives – each with its own unique features, advantages, and drawbacks.
Overview of DeviantArt Alternatives
Behance is focused on artists looking to showcase their work to prospective clients. It’s a platform where you can display your projects, sketches, research work, and portfolio. The site features an attractive user interface and is easy to navigate. It also draws more industry professionals compared to DeviantArt.
Pros:
Professional Portfolio: Behance allows artists to create polished, professional portfolios.
Networking Opportunities: It’s a great place to connect with other creatives and potential clients.
Exposure: Projects featured on the Behance homepage receive significant exposure.
Cons:
Competitive: The platform is saturated with high-quality work, which can make it difficult to stand out.
Professional Focus: More geared towards professionals, which might be intimidating for beginners.
HUG is an international community where artists and art enthusiasts can connect with unique opportunities and with one another. They organize exhibitions, art fairs, offer educational resources, and support artists in so many ways.
Pros:
Community-Oriented: HUG is known for its supportive and inclusive community.
Visibility for Emerging Artists: The platform emphasizes showcasing new and emerging artists.
Professional Focus: HUG shares so many open calls and opportunities by industry professionals looking for collaborators.
Cons:
Smaller User Base: Compared to larger platforms, HUG has fewer users, which might limit exposure.
ArtStation is a place for people in the gaming, film, media, and entertainment industries as well as AI artists to showcase their work. They recently got some backlash for distinguishing between “verified” and “unverified” artists.
Pros:
Industry Standard: Widely used by professionals in the gaming, film, and entertainment industries.
Job Listings: Features a job board for industry-related opportunities.
High-Quality Content: The platform hosts high-quality artwork and portfolios.
Cons:
High Competition: The professional environment can be competitive and intimidating for newcomers.
Less Casual: More focused on industry-level work rather than casual sharing.
Pixiv is a well-known platform within the online art community, mainly catering to a Japanese audience. You can share your artwork and receive feedback from other users through comments and ratings. High ratings can significantly increase your work's visibility.
Pros:
Anime and Manga Focus: Great platform for artists specializing in anime and manga styles.
Active Community: Highly engaged community with a strong focus on artwork.
Cons:
Language Barrier: Predominantly used by Japanese speakers, which might be a hurdle for some.
Niche Market: More niche compared to more general art platforms.
Dribbble is an online community for creatives to share, grow, and get hired. Catered for designers, they showcase works by over 3 million top-rated designers and agencies around the world.
Pros:
Design Community: Dribbble is specifically geared towards designers, offering a focused community.
Job Opportunities: The platform includes a job board for design-related roles.
Showcase: Allows designers to post "shots" of their work, which can be viewed and appreciated by the community.
Cons:
Invitation-Only: Some features require an invitation from an existing member, which can be restrictive.
Focus on Graphics: Primarily focuses on graphic design, which might not suit all types of digital artists.
Tumblr is a microblogging platform known for its diverse and eclectic community. Its customizable themes and flexible post formats can be perfect to showcase any kind of digital art. Tumblr's emphasis on fandoms and niche interests fosters engagement and connection with like-minded individuals, providing artists with a supportive and interactive environment to share their art. However, Tumblr has faced challenges such as declining user engagement and changes in management, impacting its popularity among both creators and users.
Pros:
Creative Freedom: Known for its eclectic and diverse content.
Customization: Allows extensive customization of your blog’s appearance.
Cons:
Declining Popularity: Not as popular as it once was, which can affect exposure.
Mixed Content: The platform hosts a wide range of content beyond art, which might dilute your audience.
Instagram is one of the best platforms to connect with friends, build relationships with your fans, and see what people are interested in. It’s an amazing place to get discovered and inspired by other artists.
Pros:
Massive Audience: Instagram has a huge, diverse user base.
Engagement: Excellent for building a following and engaging with fans through comments and likes.
Versatile Content: Allows for a variety of content types including stories, reels, and live videos.
Cons:
Algorithm Challenges: The algorithm can be unpredictable, affecting visibility.
Focus on Popularity: Success often depends on follower count and engagement, which can be stressful.
FREE: 172 Instagram Content Ideas For Digital Artists
If you have a good sense of humor, you can get a lot of attention on X (formerly Twitter). It’s also the most popular platform for Web 3 creators and crypto artists.
For your inspiration – Digital artist Yosnier Miranda posted on X an illustration of the singer SZA. She loved it so much that she reshared it to her audience. Since then, Yosnier’s prominent online presence has caught the eye of stars like Normani, whose record label commissioned them for her song with Cardi B., “Wild Side.”
Pros:
Networking: Great for connecting with a wide range of people, including industry professionals.
Real-Time Interaction: Ideal for engaging with followers in real-time and sharing updates quickly.
Cons:
Limited Image Focus: Primarily a text-based platform, which may not be ideal for visual art.
Fast-Paced: Content can quickly get lost in the fast-moving feed.
Pinterest is a visual search engine, ideal for collecting photos and images. Many people use it to create visual boards, and marketers utilize it to promote blog content, and drive referral traffic. It can be an excellent source of referral traffic to your website, where you can link to your prints, share “draw this in your style” challenges, and inspire others.
Pros:
Discovery: Excellent for getting your work discovered by new audiences through pinning and re-pinning.
Organized Showcasing: Allows for organizing your work into themed boards.
Cons:
Less Interaction: Limited community engagement compared to other platforms.
Focus on Inspiration: Users often browse for inspiration rather than to follow specific artists.
YouTube can be an excellent platform for digital artists to share their art because it allows for dynamic and engaging content through video. Artists can create tutorials, time-lapse recordings of their creative process, and behind-the-scenes looks at their work. Additionally, its monetization options allow artists to generate income through ads and sponsorships, as well as their art.
Using tools like FlexClip can really boost the editing and production quality of these videos. They help artists create polished and professional content without needing a ton of technical know-how.
Pros:
Wide Reach: YouTube has a massive audience, providing artists with the opportunity to reach a large number of viewers worldwide.
Engagement: Video content tends to be more engaging than static images or text, allowing artists to connect with their audience on a deeper level.
Tutorial Creation: Artists can create tutorials to share their techniques and skills with others, establishing themselves as experts in their field and attracting a dedicated following.
Cons:
Time-Consuming: Creating high-quality video content can be time-consuming, requiring planning, filming, editing, and uploading, which may take away from time spent on creating art.
Algorithm Changes: YouTube's algorithm changes frequently, affecting video visibility and potentially reducing a channel's reach if not adapted to.
Competition: With millions of creators on the platform, standing out from the crowd and gaining visibility can be challenging.
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What is your favorite platform to share digital art? Let us know in the comments!
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DAB
