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If you really want to experience some really great art for free, you have to visit deviantART. It’s a great place for all types of creative expression. I used to have a portfolio there, but the site really lagged and had glitches (they’ve updated and greatly improved since then). That’s when I decided to created my own website.

There are many different categories like digital art, photography, poetry, animation, Flash animation, drawing, painting, etcetera. I find that it’s a great place to find desktop wallpapers. But, what really makes the website shine is its great diversity in artists.

Granted, you have to wade through a lot of uninteresting works of art (your definition of ‘art’ will vary greatly on this site) to get to the good stuff. But, when you find it, it’s well worth it. I recommend finding a piece that really catches your eye and exploring that artist’s gallery. Chances are high that that artist has other works that you’ll enjoy. And, check out some of the artist’s favorites, a collection of links to other artists and their work; the artists there always link to other great art.

In some cases, you can even purchase prints or download full-size images. There are wallpapers, icons, OS themes, and other downloads that extend into computer customization (hey, it’s art!).

But, before you rush to the website . . . a word of warning. DeviantART allows all types of art, including nudity and sexual imagery (porno material is not allowed). Nudity has always been synonymous with serious art, and the good folks who run the site know this. They try to filter out as much as possible for the younger viewers (you need a devianART account to unblock them), but some do occasionally slip through the cracks. If you do appreciate nude art, and you decide to turn off the filter, be aware that there are some very . . . creative people out there.

Still, if you can brave the waters you can find some awesome art.

A nice little surprise dawned on me today. A lot of my digital drawings are very reminiscent of the Brandywine style (although my technique still needs work).

The Brandywine style puts a little more emphasis on brushwork, and usually has dramatic lighting. I fell in love with the style a few years back while browsing through my book, Treasure Planet: A Voyage of Discovery. The Disney artists used a variation of the Brandywine style for their background artwork, though they often had to tone down the brushwork so as not to distract the viewer’s eye too much.

Perhaps I’ll play with some different Photoshop brushes to get a better recreation of this beautiful art style. The Brandywine style also uses more dramatic lighting & poses, and focuses less on details.