It definitely sounds fishy first of all, but I'd also add that NFT's are TANKING right now for the most part. My opinion is, even its legit, $8k is not worth it.

I entered the last Critique Arena (watched a whole bunch on the sidelines before that and loved them - found them uplifting and inspiring!) with a firm plan to enter every month this year only to discover that was the last one ever.

Given how loved Critique Arena clearly was in this community, I'm just wondering whether SVS Learn has anything planned to replace it? Having that regular community challenge is tremendously helpful in all sorts of ways.

I know there is HTFYA which is fantastic and I'm definitely not discounting its worth. But it's a different sort of animal to a regular community challenge in which everyone can participate.

Perhaps they can be combined in some way? Or a new monthly challenge be established with a different format to the old one so we're not just going down the same path? I don't know the answers and I'm still new here. Just seems like there's a gap which needs filling and an opportunity to create something special again.

@Jeremy-Ross What a great idea!!

@von_Nimmermehr I agree, there's so much! Just the list I have alone is like drinking water from a fire hose and all I'm doing right now is searching titles!

I told my husband I might want to spend the next couple of years just studying and practicing this stuff. There's so much

@kirsten-mcg & @ArtistErin -- yep, Business and Legal Forms by Tad Crawford was the resource I was going to recommend too.

This article from the Business of Illustration website was also very helpful to me when I was drawing up my own contract template for illustration jobs.

Day 9 of my '30 days to illustrate a children's book' personal challenge. I got so much done! These are NOT done but I'm about 85% there. feels happy with self

I also love my character with the Pink hair - Doug. They are so sweet! and they love butterflies. #transkidsmatter #transrepresentation

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@carlianne

Thanks for the tip Carlianne! I really appreciate it.

They are having trouble paying writers too. My friend from SCBWI has written several things for them and her husband swears its a ponzie scheme because they have to pay people from months earlier first and you may never see your money.

I guess it's still exposure, so if you want to do it for that, go for it.

@Bill-B Came here to say JAMES GURNEY, but you beat me to it 😁

Wanted to share this video by photographer Nick Carver about artistic style and the journey one goes on in pursuit of it. It is from the viewpoint of a photographer, but I find it applies across the board for creatives. I enjoy looking outside of my preferred artistic medium to get different perspectives and to see how much we all have in common. It's a reminder that we all go through these same struggles at times, some more than others. 🙂 (Not sure if there's a way to embed the video but link below.)

Finding Your Photographic Style - Nick Carver

Hi folks,
Those of you who follow Nathan Fowkes on Instagram have probably seen that he posted today about a project he's involved in with the University of Chicago in the USA.

If you are interested in taking part in their survey of artists to contribute to the development of new software to block AI developers from stealing your style, here's the details from Nathan's post:

"The University of Chicago Department of Computer Technology has developed an impressive protection for artists against invasive AI machine learning. You can help! Art professionals and art students, please join me in assisting them by going to the link in the bio and taking their survey. It will explain how the technology works and ask you a series of questions to help them refine the technology to our needs. The project is almost finished, they just need your review and feedback!"

Here's the link to the survey:

uchicago.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bKQjpd2hjQfm4xE?src=k3YSKSL

Adding to the discussion...
Another lawyer on YouTube has weighed in on the A.I. art lawsuit: A.I. Versus The Law by Legal Eagle. One of his areas of expertise is copyright law.

Here’s something timely that I stumbled across. A cartoonist “predicted” AI art 100 years ago!

The Cartoonist of the Future's Dynamo Drawing Machines

@Mia-Clarke thanks Mia. Keep us posted about your agent-seeking journey.

Any of the art documentaries on Disney+ are great. The Imagineering Story is incredible and I rewatch it often. Their behind the scenes Imagineering shorts are very good as well. Some other good ones on there is 'Howard,' 'Pixar Story' and 'Empire of Dreams.'

@Adam-Thornton-0 thank you so much Adam ♥️.

I have been really grateful that my book has been well received. It's been a little bit of light for me the last few months. To be honest it's been an emotional sort of blender but every time I get a Dm or a comment from someone saying it's helped them it's like a little light shining through saving me from total darkness.

And I really needed that today, so thank you 💛

@AngelinaKizz Hi Angela and everyone, I was in touch with Will about this very issue on his Instagram post yesterday. He confirmed that as long as you stay subscribed (at your current rate), the rate increase will not change year to year for you 🙂 Hope that helps x

@geekinm I've had my eye on that one too. Nice to hear it's worth getting

@Coreyartus Yeah, this makes me very happy. Im glad the big companies might not be able to just get away with what ever they feel like. Justice for the artists! Great news!

@carlianne I use it as a stress release because I can be rude to them in ways that I could never be as a teacher. Plus it means I'm wasting their time so they can't scam some other person. What's hysterical is that I tell them I've been wasting their time and they still continue to talk to me.