[x]

To artists who want to offer commissions. I would like to address something I have been seeing as of late here and on other sites. Artists who are asking if someone would commission them if they were to offer commissions and if so, how much should they charge or how much are they willing to pay?
I say this with a real heart to all artists, but that is a foolish line of questions.
Really. I have been there. I even did those myself. But look at it from the side of a potential buyer.
1: Would you even commission me?
Can you imagine if a doctor were to say that? If I were to open an office would you even come to me? That makes the doctor feel like a failure. Like he has so little faith in his ability to do his job he is afraid to do it. So he has to ask a thousand people IF he were to open an office would ANYONE come? Would you? Or would you want a doctor who just opens it and does his job and believes in his ability to treat you?
Same with an artist. You sound like you have no faith in your ability. If you do

A Crash Course in Slam PoetryThere are ten days left to submit to the Louder Than dA Bomb submission folder. With that being said, I'm putting out an article that offers some tips and quick solutions to problems a poet may be facing when writing their slam poem. But very quickly, I would like to address a stigma surrounding submitting "great" work to contests.
I'll keep this brief. The world is not set to your pace. Or anyone else's really. Everybody's just trying to keep up. This line of thinking can't be taken to the publishing industry (for those that would like to publish) or anywhere else for that matter. Applying the thought to your art or literature that unless it was created under certain circumstances is to not take your work seriously.
If you don't believe you can write and read a slam poem in ten days, I'm here to tell you different and to tell you the ins and outs of slam.
Slam Poetry 101
Slam poetry works the way it do

How To Write A Critique For A ProfessionalProfessionals like myself will occasionally ask for a critique on something or other that we've done. I'm going to explain how to do a critique for someone like myself. I'm going to tell you now that this was brought on by a critique I received from someone who never did a critique before and had no idea how to do it.
Read Other Critiques
The worse thing you can do for yourself is write a critique when you have no idea what you're doing. It will be promptly rejected as it's very obvious to the person reading it. If you've never written one the best thing you CAN do is look at some critiques from other people. Example, I'm a writer so look at critiques that were done on other literature pieces. Also keep in mind that I'm a novelist so look for critiques for short stories instead of poetry or lyrics. They're a completely different genre.
Be Objective
If you're going to say something negative about a piece explain why you think it's bad and make sugge

Legal Free Music

1. Spotify
I didn't bother with Spotify at first because I figured it had only mainstream music, but it actually has a huge variety. It does have mainstream music, but it also has loads of obscure/indie songs (yes, I'm a hipster. :iconhipstermikeyplz

It's an excellent place to discover new music. These are some of its features:
1. You can make playlists with any songs you want and post them on Facebook or Tumblr or share them with a link. You can also search for playlists to find new music.
2. There are several applications you can download that offer more playlists, musician info, etc. (available for free in the program, so you don't have to download them from outside sources.) My favorite is Sifter, which works similar to Pandora: you type in a song and it gives you several similar songs. I've discovered great music that way.
3. You can read biographies of most bands and musicians, and find similar artists.
4. Like I said, it has incredible variety. It

Photojournalism: Discuss it! - Reaching Out Reaching Out
One of the most essential things I've learned as a photographer is the importance of reaching out and valuing all of the people who make what I do possible. All of the people I share the space with, my job with, the world with. Reaching out and becoming a part of the world I am hired to photograph has often been the difference between getting the shot, staying safe, and progressing in my field and not.

Every time you take out a camera you become the invader. James Natchtwey once poignantly put it as:
"The act of being an outsider aiming a camera can be a violation of humanity. The only way I can justify my role is to have respect for the other person's predicament. The extent to which I do that is the extent to which I become accepted by the other, and to that extent I can accept myself."
In this case he was discussing the nature of photographing tragedy and war, but it's also true when we photograph anything, anyone, anywhere.

Thoughts about communityCommunity is a word that is used on dA a lot. It's a huge part of the site and the main reason why I love this place so much and have stuck around for so many years, even when I haven't had time to indulge in my art or felt like sharing it for whatever reason. I've made true friends here who I care for deeply and can't imagine not using dA in some capacity to keep in touch with all of you wonderful people.
The thing with a community, in my opinion, is that it's kind of a by-product. I don't mean that in a bad or belittling way. What I mean is that you can't actually force a community to thrive, or even to exist. You can provide a context (like a website or a message board or a physical-world organisation) and tools (like comments or chat features online or a room to meet in for offline events). You can invite people to join in, encourage them to interact and even moderate destructive or negative behaviour but you can't make a community - it's something that happens by itself, th

Turning the Other CheekWhat is it?
What is turning the other cheek? Thefreedictionary.com says that it is to "ignore abuse or an insult," figuratively speaking. If you turn the other cheek when someone attacks or insults you, you remain calm instead of attacking them back. Imagine standing in the middle of a street, and someone you know from quite some time ago that you were never on good terms with comes running up to you and literally slaps you right across the left cheek. You stand there for a moment, bewildered, and then turn around and walk away, even though that person is throwing insults at you. You turned the other cheek and showed that you do not want confrontation.

When should you show it?
As a simple answer to this question: all the time! Tolerance, patience, and turning the other cheek can really mold someone into a different person over time. And it does not only affect the person you are tolerant with,

Understanding Jihad

The word "Jihad" is derived from "Jahada" and "Ijtihad"
which both are synonymous to success and striving for a good moral conduct.

It is a pure misconception that non-Muslims
carry even Muslims that Jihad is a holy war.
Holy war in Arabic transliteration goes like this "Harb Muqadassa"
and it is found nowhere in the holy Qu'ran.

Jihad has many levels.
The most important form of Jihad is the personal one.
Which means striving to make yourself a better person
and resisting the evil temptation within one's self which includes:
lying, stealing, engaging one's self in adultery and loose sexual whims.
If a student is passing an exam or a patient going through surgery
he is doing personal Jihad by striving to become better or achieve satisfactory results.
It does not mean to kill any human being be him a muslim or a non-mus

The Beginning of The EnddA has crossed another line.
I keep thinking, trying to give them the option, the opportunity to fix themselves, to stop descending this path, but I'm tired of giving warnings.
With this new "Promoted" fiasco (which is exactly what it will be, a fiasco), I'm done giving them seconds chances.
If you want to continue following me, I invite you to stop by DreamClassier: Around the Web and find me elsewhere.
It will be a slow process, moving all of my art, making sure I have everything, but I'm not going to be here forever.
It's been a long 9 years, but it's time to move on.
deviantArt is dying.

portal topic: equestria girlsalright, alright. we all know about the upcoming movie where twilight goes to earth. but my opinion? the thing is just like jake's parenting manual: A PIECE OF JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T CARE THAT IT'S NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DON'T CARE THAT A PUPPY IN LOVE WITH A GIRL "SEEMS LEGIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT JUNKY JUNK JUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR ONE, WHY DIDN'T TWI'S FRIENDS FOLLOW HER INTO THE PORTAL?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! AND 2, THEY JUST CONFIRMED TWI'S AGE, WHICH RUINS THE WHOLE MY LITTLE SKYLANDERS SERIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DIDN'T THINK OF THAT WHOEVER DIRECTS MLP NOW, EH??????????????????? AND BESIDES, ALL OF THE TWILIGHT+SPYRO STUFF IS JUST BEEN THROW OUT THE WINDO LIKE A USELESS SCRAP OF PAPER!!!!!! AND ALSO, IF TWI NEVER GETS BACK TO EQUESTRIA I WILL TRY TO SUE HASBRO FOR PURE EVILNESS!!!!!! WELL(morphs to rath) LEMME TELL YOU SOMETHING ALL EQUESTRIA GIRLS LIKERS, RATH DOES NOT AGREE WITH YOU, AND RATH IS VERY, VERY, VERY, ANGRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Terms of Kindle Worlds are AwfulSo, normally I try to refrain from screeching about how horrible this or that company’s idea is.
If any of you have been reading the news about Kindle Worlds, however, this is one time I’m going to flat out tell you that it is horrible. Not because the possible end results I can see coming from it (because I’ve discussed those in the fandom I’m in, and they’re speculation, not facts) but because of the terms of the contract.
Here are just a few of the terms Amazon has:
“Amazon Publishing will acquire all rights to your new stories, including global publication rights, for the term of copyright.”
Kindle Worlds is a creative community where Worlds grow with each new story. You will own the copyright to the original, copyrightable elements (such as characters, scenes, and events) that you create and include in your work, and the World Licensor will retain the copyright to all the original elements of the World. When you submit your story in

Dime Que Te PasoSigo aquí buscando una solución...
sinceramente no se que te pasa...
quiero que sepas que...nada,
que tu eres la mujer de mi vida...
Yo se quien tu eres, (Esto no me puede engañar)
yo fui tu hombre, tu mi mujer
yo se que tu me quieres... (No puedo con tu sentimiento)
si yo te lo di todo!!!...
Tu me hieres... (Eso tu lo sabe)
y mi corazón se muere... (Chica reacciona por favor)
Dime que te paso
tu no eres así...
si tu amor se apago
dímelo de frente, estoy aquí... (Y ten el valor)
si el problema soy yo...
y no siente nada por mi...
dímelo y yo me marcho
que dios se apiade de mi...
(Ya no aguanto mas)
Dime que te pasa
se siente fría la casa
ya ni me besa, ya ni me abraza
trato de arreglarlo, mi intento fracasa
dime que es lo que pasa
por que me rechaza
y yo no se ni que hacer no tengo salida del lió
trato de besarte pero el cuarto sigue frió
ella me grita, le grito y empieza el desafió
yo confió en que vuelvas a hacer mi princesa...
(Yo lo que necesito es que tu me mires a la cara)
Háblam

Why Wal-Mart should be broken up by the government1. Wal-Mart ran many small business owners out of business.
2. Most of the merchandise is manufactured overseas and is of poor quality.
3. Employees are receiving unethical treatment. They are underpaid, overworked, and forced to work off the clock.
4. What Standard Oil was from 1870 to 1911 is what Wal-Mart is from 1962 onwards.
5. When we think of McJobs we think of McDonalds. We must also associate McJobs with Wal-Mart.
6. The prefix Mc is a throwaway word.
7. Wal-Mart has too much power and too much money. They exploit not only employees at their stores but they also exploit third world nationals for cheap labour.
8. Wal-Mart has contributed to labour outsourcing and replacing many manual jobs with robots and technology.
9. Someone needs to put an end to Wal-Mart's monopoly. The next small business what Wal-Mart runs out of business will be the last.
10. Wal-Mart will have to appear in Federal Court for an anti-trust trial. If the jury rules in favour of the platiff then the little

in The SideWalks Uncertain of it's own actions
a society busy of it's own.
Products now produced,
all empty hands of bigger ones.
Minds made to consume,
lights, movements, vibrations.

Thoughtful desks,
all said actions untold.
What in the question,
click, a pulse from same machines.
Not the same to know,
questions the marks.

Tight in feeling,
shapes these perceptions.
Plugs and channels,
in remote sit, electricity.
Drive-thru by walk,
wheel of businesses.
BloodArt(literature) pinterest, facebook, skydrive

Podria importar del todoSi yo no estuviese aquí mañana, a alguien podría importarle?
Y si mi tiempo hubiera terminado, me gustaría saber si estabas feliz de que estará aquí.
Si yo no estuviese aquí mañana, podría alguien perder el sueño?
Si yo no fuera tan duro u hueco, entonces tal vez tu me extrañaras.
Yo se que soy un desastre, pero quiero ser alguien, alguien que me guste mas.
Nunca lo podre olvidar, así que no me lo recuerdes por siempre.
Y que si trato de olvida lo que soy, podría importar del todo?
Y que si yo solo trato de no recordar.
Todas las oportunidades que me han pasado, importaría si me dieran una oportunidad mas?
Podría importar del todo?
Si yo no estuviese aquí mañana, a alguien podría importarle?
Aun atascado dentro de este dolor, no tengo nada y voy a ningún lado.
Se que soy un desastre, pero quiero ser alguien, alguien que me guste mas.
Podrías ayúdame a olvidar, no quiero sentirme así por siempre.
Si me voy mañana, podría a alguien importarle?
Atascado en este dolor yendo a ningún la

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Realms of Fantasy and Myth: Week 39-Harpy

by ~ladyarah, Oct 5, 2011, 8:59:02 PM
Journals / Culture / Editorials

Realms of Fantasy and Myth: Week 39 - Harpy

Welcome to the thirty-ninth issue of my fantasy features news article! I hope you enjoy it, and please, show the featured artists some love and recognition through pageviews,

's and

's!
If you like this article, please show support by clicking the heart icon on the left to add it to your favorites.  Thanks!

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

This week's creature feature is: Harpy

From Wikipedia [link] :

In Greek mythology, a harpy ("snatcher", from Latin: harpeia) was one of the winged spirits best known for constantly stealing all food from Phineas.
Phineas, a king of Thrace, had the gift of prophecy. Zeus, angry that Phineas revealed too much, punished him by blinding him and putting him on an island with a buffet of food which he could never eat. The harpies always arrived and stole the food out of his hands before he could satisfy his hunger, and befouled the remains of his food.
In this form they were agents of punishment who abducted people and tortured them on their way to Tartarus. They were vicious, cruel and violent. They were usually seen as the personifications of the destructive nature of wind.

Harpies remained vivid in the Middle Ages. In his Inferno, XIII, Dante envisages the tortured wood infested with harpies:

Here the repellent harpies make their nests,
Who drove the Trojans from the Strophades
With dire announcements of the coming woe.
They have broad wings, a human neck and face,
Clawed feet and swollen, feathered bellies; they caw
Their lamentations in the eerie trees.

Note:  There is great confusion surrounding the difference between harpies and sirens.  Due to wanting to keep this article within a decently readable length, I will not discuss the differences/similarities here.  This article is at it's core about bird/women hybrids, and the harpy is the most popular.  So please forgive me if your art is labeled "siren", I just wanted to include awesome bird/women art!

Now, for the features!  Works are featured from various categories, in no particular order:

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Thank you so much for viewing, and come back next time for a different inhabitant of the Realms of Fantasy and Myth!

~Arah

Previous Issues:
Week 1 - Unicorns: [link]
Week 2 - Merfolk: [link]
Week 3 - Eastern Dragons: [link]
Week 4 - Kitsune: [link]
Week 5 - Alicorn: [link]
Week 6 - Gnomes: [link]
Week 7 - Tanuki: [link]
Week 8 - Centaurs: [link]
Week 9 - Special Edition: [link]
Week 10 - Orcs: [link]
Week 11 - Dryad: [link]
Week 12 - Halflings: [link]
Week 13 - Elves: [link]
Week 14 - Faeries: [link]
Week 15 - Vampires: [link]
Week 16 - Sphinx: [link]
Week 17 - Griffin: [link]
Week 18 - Phoenix: [link]
Week 19 - Djinn: [link]
Week 20 - Werewolves: [link]
Week 21 - Selkie: [link]
Week 22 - Gargoyles: [link]
Week 23 - Western Dragons: [link]
Week 24 - Drow: [link]
Week 25 - Yeti: [link]
Week 26 - Kirin: [link]
Week 27 - Satyr: [link]
Week 28 - Hippocampus: [link]
Week 29 - Manticore: [link]
Week 30 - Leprechauns: [link]
Week 31 - Pegasus: [link]
Week 32 - Lamia: [link]
Week 33 - Kelpie: [link]
Week 34 - Water Nymphs: [link]
Week 35 - Kraken: [link]
Week 36 - Recaps! Part 1: [link]
Week 36 - Recaps! Part 2: [link]
Week 38 - Loch Ness Monster: [link]

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