Updated dA Heroes FAQPreviously featured heroesOn Deck
February (what's left of it) features one deviant! If you have someone in mind but if you want the person you suggest to receive the full month feature, let me know and I’ll put the name On Deck. Please remember to read my FAQ before Noting me with suggestions!

Since there are no suggested features this month, I'm just going to put up this stamp supporting ^JunkbyJen , and feature $Moonbeam13. One of the first recipients of the dA Heroes recognition, Jen is a talented and active member of the dA community. She is battling cancer once more, so let's bring the heavy ordinance in the form of emotional support!

is always featuring the needs of fellow artists in dA in her journal, whether great or small, popular deviant or unknown. I'm honestly surprised no one has suggested her yet, and since I have no suggestions this month, she gets the sole feature for the rest of February. EDIT: Upon receiving her feature, she discussed the desire to personally contribute towards the promotion of this project, and its uninterrupted continuation in an unexpected but fabulous way. More information on this as it develops.

She has also inspired me to create a poll that ANYONE can vote in for a "dA Hero of the Year." Here's the catch; if you want to make an educated vote, you have to check out all the people featured in 2008, and decide for yourselves who deserves this extra stamp. I will not be influencing this vote in any way, because I think all our featured heroes are fabulous. So why am I creating this extra stamp? To get you to check out our heroes one more time! Seriously though, I think it'll be a nice way for exceptionally helpful heroes to get just a little more thanks from those of us who appreciate everything they did throughout the year. I know I don't need to ask the heroes not to pander for votes, but I'm asking voters to kindly refrain from doing so either. We know these are your great friends, but we don't want to cheapen this extra nod of gratitude. You may of course tell everyone you know to check out our Previously Featured Heroes section so they can vote too. /edit






dA Heroes FAQ UPDATED!

Q : What is dA Heroes/where'd you get the idea?

A : Back in September 2008, I posted a journal offering commissions to help my boy =SabreTheWolf raise funds to help his mom after a fire disaster. In addition to the various packages, I offered a stamp designating patrons who made any purchase as dA Heroes. Then I thought, why stop there? I know quite a few deviants who constantly help other deviants, and they should use the stamp too. Not only that, I should make the dA Heroes section of the journal feature I offered as donation incentive a permanent part of my journal, the better to feature the people I share the stamp with.

Q : How does it work?

A : I'll be featuring deviants brought to my attention by others as "dA Heroes" who, as the stamps says, help others help others. I'm looking more for heroes who have helped other deviants in ways more than just features. Regular features are great, and are included, but we want to shine a light on those who have helped others in times of hardship; those are the features I meant when I first began this project. If you know a deviant who has helped other deviants through a tough time, send me a Note with an example of how they fit the bill (please don't just say "this person is really cool and deserves the stamp," give me a specific example; links are good.) EDIT: I thought that saying "send me a Note" was enough, but to be more specific, do not make suggestions via any other means, please. This is important, for the sake of privacy and avoiding hurt feelings if I do not happen to feature the person you suggest. If I agree to feature them, I'll offer them the use of the
stamp if they have a sub, or the icon if they don't. Then I'll feature them in the dA Heroes section of my journal for a month, using their icons and the thumbnails of 5 of their deviations.

Q : Can I use this stamp/icon?

A : Unless you get a Note from me informing you that someone has suggested I offer it to you, please don't. This isn't a regular stamp or plz account, not for common public use. It's a special thanks to those recognized for helping other deviants. You're welcome to Fave it, but please do not use it unless I offer it to you.

Q : Can I offer the stamp/icon to someone I think is a dA Hero?

A : Please don't. I personally made the stamp and plz account to honor our heroes, and would like to keep track of the recipients, so I can feature them in my journal too. You're more than welcome to make a stamp or plz account of your own that is similar to these, and are encouraged to make your own hero feature in your journal, but I request that you pick a name different from dA Heroes, so people don't get confused.

Q : Can I use your banner to promote your feature in my own journal?

A : I created that for my own personal use, but per request of a fellow deviant, I uploaded it for use as a thumbnail in your journal. You MUST ASK MY PERMISSION FIRST, preferably via Note. That way I can see (and thank!) who features this project. Do not take my original banner and upload it for full size use! _{I don't want to have to mar this feature by having to report art theft.}

Q : You agreed to feature someone I suggested, but I don't see them in your journal; are you going to feature them?

A : Absolutely. I feature deviants who fit the criteria in the order they are suggested to me. The On Deck section of my journal header will lead you to a link to show who will be featured in the next month, and I usually let you know when I agree to feature them what month they are in the queue.

Q : I suggested someone and you won't feature them or offer them the stamp; why?

A : A tough question, and an even tougher decision! This feature was originally designed (as you can see in the answers above) to focus more on featuring people who have helped other deviants emotionally or financially, via features/contests/commissions in journals (for example, but not limited to just those means.) This is why I suggest people start their own features for heroes who inspire us artistically, run dA clubs, who work in lesser celebrated mediums, run dA contests, etc. Those kinds of heroes are great, and should also be lauded, but I'm just one person, and have to place limits on this project somehow. If I decline to feature a deviant (or multiple deviants) you suggest, why not start your own feature? Remember that just because they aren't featured in my journal doesn't make them any less of a hero. Some of our past featured deviants have come up with features like as a result, and I encourage you to find a fun way to feature fellow deviants that inspire you.

Q : Will you tell us exactly why these deviants are considered dA Heroes?

A : I'll give you the basic information, but sometimes privacy is an issue. Chances are, the people we're honoring have been featuring a cause/contest/news article in their journals, so if you want more information than I provide, I recommend reading their journals.

Q : I am/have been featured as a dA Hero, can you tell me who suggested me?

A : I used to do that, but because of a special new additional reward soon to be provided by $Moonbeam13 to our featured deviants, it's best I don't. More on this as this develops. But I can let the person who suggested you know you're interested in knowing, so they may tell you if they're comfortable doing so.

Q : What if I see someone using your stamp/icon and I don't think you offered it to them?

A : Well, some people just don't get it. There's no way to police the use of this stamp or plz icon, but the hope is that they have enough common sense and decency not to use it unless it has been offered to them. That said, I can, as the creator of the stamp and plz account, ask people not to use them, since they were created for a specific use. Send me the username, and I'll check it against my list. But PLEASE do nothing further! Flamewars start quickly, are ugly, and will mar the entire purpose of this endeavor. Just treat it like you would a regular case of suspected art theft, and report it to me directly, thanks, I'll take care of it from there.

Q : Is it fair that people suggest gallery directors, staff members, or other already well known deviants?

A : Absolutely. This isn't a popularity contest. I'm actually guilty of not realizing one of the people suggested in the first batch was a gallery director until after I added her. This isn't about who has the most watchers or whose art is constantly given popular attention vs. "unknown" artists and under appreciated art. This is just a simple thank you to people who are out there helping their fellow deviants in ways that matter.

Q : Is there a limit to how many people I may suggest?

A : Unfortunately, yes, now there must be, or I would be inundated with suggestions forever! Please limit your suggestions to 5 a year. The On Deck section is filling up fast, so if you don't want to wait and you know more than five, make your own feature and honor them there! This whole project is really meant to inspire others to feature fellow deviants whom they consider heroes in their own journals, not just here.

Q : What's the dA Heroes Hero of the Year feature about?

A : Once a year, I put up a poll asking people to check out all the deviants who have received the dA Heroes award for the current year and vote for the deviant they feel was the most "heroic." I ask that you review their journals, not their galleries, because we're looking at examples of just why they've earned the dA Heroes stamp, not why they're popular. After a few months of voting, I tally the votes, and award a second stamp to the winner, as well as a solo, month long, 10 dev feature.

Q : What if I have a question about this feature that you haven't answered?

A : Feel free to Note me with any questions, concerns and suggestions regarding this project. I will get back to you ASAP. But please take this seriously. A person who features one person one time in all his or her time here on dA isn't quite the "hero" we're talking about here. They don't have to be superheroes, but they do have to be people who have helped a deviant or two in significant ways. Also, I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday; suggesting all your friends so they'll suggest you is definitely NOT heroism. I'm capable of sorting out self serving suggestions, so don't expect that just because you suggest someone, you're sure to be featured yourself just for doing so.

*TheKnotters(their icon is invisible on this background, lol)

I'm now accepting commissions! Please click on the thumbnail for Rates and Rules! EDIT: Regular commission packages are taking a backseat to my special "Bike-a-thon" fundraising packages. If you are uninterested in purchasing any of those packages, you are of course welcome to commission me for something I regularly offer at the regular rates.