The Alliance. Yes, that's right, here it comes.

Those of you who watch me, know that some hundred years ago when the sun still shone and the third world war had not devastated the world and made us fantasy belivers lone survivors because we fled into the alternate dimensions of fantasy worlds, I announced an idea I proudly named Equine Artists Alliance: I didn't tell you a lot more about it, for several reasons actually. The foremost was that I wanted to see if anyone would actually be interested enough to contact me straight forward on what the hell I was talking about. Most people just said count me in, and some actually prodded me and said HAY, what about the Alliance thing you spoke of? when it took to long. But, that's pretty much it.
Now, dear please watchers and fellow artists, don't take offense when I say you are silly sheep who moan and complain about not getting the feedback you want and think you deserve, for I am one of you. You may think that "Hey, you've got so many pageviews that you have to get feedback all the time! You don't know what it's like!" Well, you'd be wrong. There is feedback and there is feedback, and quantity does not equal quality. And remember, I started here with zero pageviews, just as everyone else.

To get back on track, the Alliance. Because no one else in my vicinity picked the topic up in a way that caught attention or wanted to evolve it or whatever (yes, we ARE sheep, always waiting for someone ELSE to do it so we can join in without effort, yeah?) and becuase I have the day off today, I've decided to give you the SPEECH. Why? Becuase that is what the Equine Artists Alliance was about from the start. I had no intention of creating a club or anything like that, it takes a level of commitment that is not really connected to artists in my oppinion (a topic for another time). We do art, we post it on dA in hope of feedback (some only want positive feedback, whilst other wants instructive critizising feedback), and this is where the core of the whole concept of the Alliance was born. It's something I read about in journals here and there, it always pops up somewhere. "I do not feel motivated to stay here because I don't get any feedback" I'm not talking about the whiners who bitch becuase they don't get pageviews, or drama queens who pick their stuff up and "leave for good" when they had a fight with someone or things don't go their way. I'm talking about real artists, who put effort into what they do, and are left feeling alone and neglected when their efforts do not get any attention/feedback.

Are you starting to understand where I'm headed with all this? If you do, and you are honest with yourself, you might know if you allready are part of the Alliance or not. For a member of the Artists Alliance is someone who comments on their fellows work, with honest scrutinazation, appreciation, critisism and love for the concept that is ART and for you fellow artists!
I myself am a poor member of the Alliance - I hand out favs and comments, but often not the kinds that an apriring artist will really appreciate. A small excuse is that when I've tried to go in depth in comments, I've more often gotten my head bitten off than just a polite response, even if they do not agree with what I have to say.

There was something else that motivated me to finally giving the speech too. *Freha She pulled her gallery in, in pure sadness I assume over the fact that she got so little feedback, and it really upset me. Upset me with myself. Why haven't I been there to give her feedback? Even if it is just me, I could have made a conscious effort to support her more, when I care about her development as an artist! And something in her digital *sigh* really spoke to me, effected me, gave me slap and made me wake up! Even if I don't have the time to be here and comments as much as I woudl like, I can still take that one or two hours veery week to sit down and really do what a true member of the Artists Alliance would do!

For a member of the Artists Alliance...

...is always polite in answering peoples questions and responding to feedback
...realizes that you do not have to agree on things to respect eachother
...gives thoughtful feedback on his or her fellow artists artwork
...decides that one really well thought through comment on an artwork is worth more than then 10 "I love it, awesome!"
...knows that faving is ok, "I love it, awesome!" is also ok, but makes a consciuos effort to help those who ask for it.
...will engage in discussions for the pure fun of it!

As you can tell, the Equine has been lost along the trail, as it struck me that even though most of my topics circle around equines, my art is not ABOUT equines as much as it is about beauty and emotion. Equines is just the tool I use to express my ideas. Equine Artists Alliance is excluding, while Artists Alliance is an invitation to all topics. It is also a challenge. Dare you comment more in depth on the artwork of a dragon specialist when you dabble with angels yourself?

So, in the end, how do you become part of the Artists Alliance? You act like one.

Let's make a spiffy stamp and/or icon to plaster all over our journals, shoutboxes an image descriptions!

With the warmest of regards, your most loving *Losmios ( <sub>with a license to be silly!)




*whispers loudly* it's ok to point out spelling errors!</sub>