Hi! I'm GeorgeXVII I've been here as an active member since nine months and it's possible that just like me, you are NEW to DeviantArt. I know how difficult it is to manage in the first days when you are discovering all that DeviantArt has to offer. I discovered it step by step and now I can say that after a long time I've got to know the site quite well and I want to share my knowledge with you to make this task easier. I hope that this article will help you get more involved and understand what's out there. I'm a Traditional Artist, I love to draw realistic eyes and other things. Now I'm keen to talk you through how to get more involved in the community.

You may be here to get more exposure for your Art and this is a great platform for you to get it. But for this you need to know how it works and below I will try to give you the best tips  that will help you do it in the most correct way.
We're like a family here and we help each other with tips, advice and critiques. You've got lots of options here on DeviantArt so let's get started with what some of them are...

New member? Want to get involved?

Connect to Chat and socialize in the Forums. I think these two options are very important and need to be promoted more because they are valuable options to increase your views and share your works. Groups are also a good option to promote your work - they often hold contests, ask for features and much more. I'll give you some step by step guides later on in the article for using these important tools. Those are just some general places that you can visit but the most important thing to do is...

Submit your Artwork!

You can begin the submission process from any page by clicking the "Submit" tab in the header when logged in. If you're in your sta.sh you can submit using the "Submit to DeviantArt" button on any Sta.shed item.

How do I upload a file?

You can upload your files individually as you submit on the submit page, or in bulk using your Sta.sh

On the submit page you can add files using the "Choose a file to upload" button, add text using the "Add text" link, or select an item from your Sta.sh.

On Sta.sh you can select or drag and drop multiple files at once to upload in bulk, where your files will be stored until you're ready to submit them. You can also configure email or FTP uploading. For more information see FAQ #440: What is Sta.sh?

Publish your work!

Here you can find options for uploading your file, preview images, permissions documentation, sizing and more. You must also set your Mature Content settings here. Below this section you are also able to add your title, description and keywords for your Deviation.

Features
Here you can find options to enable free downloads, or to generate earnings by selling Prints or Premium Content downloads.

Select Category
Every deviation must have a category associated with it. You can use the drilldown options or search to select a category that best fits your deviation.

Options
In Gallery and Group Options, you can specify which groups and gallery folders you would like to submit your deviation to. To submit to groups you’re not an administrator of, you can use the submit to a group option on your deviation page after you submit.
*In Publishing Options, you can specify whether you would like to enable social sharing buttons on your deviations, enable or disable Critiques and comments, and select the license you’d like to submit under.

Remember My Settings
By default, DeviantArt will remember the settings you use when you submit, so you don’t have to re-select options each time you submit. This feature will save all settings on your submissions with the exception of title, description, keywords, and category.

When you have submitted your art you have the powerful option to add them in Groups. Here we have a lot of themed groups for each art category. Just search for the type of group you want, JOIN and start to add your art in the specific folder. (Don't forget many groups have rules which need to be followed! Read them carefully..)

Step by step guide for submitting to a group

1. Search and choose the best Group!
        

When you have JOINED a group you will have the Submit Art option available which will allow you to add your art to the group:



The Groups are very important if you want to get more exposure, once your work has been submitted to the gallery it will appear in the inboxes of everyone who watches that group. Just try it!

Step by Step guide for joining the chats and forums

       


Click on MORE / 2. Click on CHATS . / 3. Choose your CHATROOM and click .
Here we have a lot of themed Chatrooms over on the chat page and lots of opportunity to talk to people who have similar interests to you. #devart is the Official Chatroom, but if you want to Share your art and get more exposure try #sharezone .

Every Chatroom has a little description on the right hand side giving you more information about the topics that are discussed and what you can do in the room.

For Forums use these steps:
Click on More / 2. Click Forum / 3. Search what you want to talk about and start to talk with a lot of deviants about the same subject. Ask questions, share art, ask about equipment and tools and much more.

Feedback

For us all, feedback is very important. It helps us learn, grow and develop. You'll get good feedback in time but it's important to give it in order to have it returned. There are many options to get and receive feedback:
Watch a Deviant FAQ #26: What is the watch and how do I manage my watch listing?
Comment on someone's work - you may get a reply or someone might take the time to do the same for you!
Critique someone's work FAQ #95: What is the Critique Feature and how do I use it?
Give favourites to work you enjoy FAQ #59: How do I add and delete Favourites?
Give Llamas! You can give and receive llama badges you can also purchase accessories for your Llama using DeviantArt points.
Get a DeviantArt Subscription (this allows you to make your profile more visually friendly as well as many other things). FAQ #28: What are the benefits of becoming a Core Member?

Join a contest

Every week there are contests going on here and many of them are hosted within Groups. You can win points and DeviantArt Subscriptions as well as features, llamas and more. Respect the rules and good luck! Here are a few groups that host regular contests:
deviant365 CRPhotography fella DevNews projecteducate AnotherContestGroup Still-Life-Stills Abstract-and-Surreal Letters-To-Myself 

Daily Deviations

These are daily features chosen from galleries right here on DeviantArt. You could be chosen! You can also suggest yourself or others to be chosen.

A small assortment of submissions are chosen each day by a select group of staff/volunteer members who wish to showcase an image which they found impressive or otherwise interesting enough to deserve being brought to the attention of the community-at-large. Read FAQ #18: Who selects Daily Deviations and how are they chosen?

Symbols - what do they mean?

If you hover over the symbol it will tell you what that particular one stands for and you can click on it to display a module that describes each of the available symbols.
 
                               
 


Premium Mmeber: Activate this symbol when you buy or receive a DeviantArt Subscription.
Beta Tester: FAQ #531: What is an Official DeviantArt Beta Tester? How do I become one? What is an Official deviantART Beta Tester? How do I become one?
Senior Member FAQ #29: How do I become a Senior Member?
Volunteer FAQ #85: Can I be a volunteer on DeviantArt?
Member 'til hell freezes over: Activate this status when you buy a seven year DeviantArt subscription.
Staff FAQ #25: Can I be a DeviantArt administrator? and FAQ #504: Is there an official staff listing?

DA On the Move!

Don't forget to download/install the DeviantArt mobile app found HERE!
                               
                                 
           
 

Language Help?

If you need help translating anything then you can visit InternationalFAQ where you will find lots of DeviantArt information in many different languages. I hope that all of this information helps you get involved in the community and with time you will discover many more steps to getting involved with DeviantArt!

Be Devious!
GeorgeXVII