9 Sites Like DeviantArt: Alternatives to Showcase Your Designs

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As a designer, you work hard to create original and unique work…you should give your work a spotlight to shine!

The social networks specifically designed for artists and designers are among the quickest and most effective ways to put your digital artwork in front of thousands. Sites like DeviantArt (an online community that allows artists to showcase their work) have become popular among digital artists and for good reason. It allows them to showcase their work, gain exposure and reach a wider audience, and network by connecting with fellow artists in the online art community.

There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking the time to publish your work on various online art platforms.

Sites Like DeviantArt

With a quick search of the web, it’s easy to see that there’s a wide range of online spaces to share your work. We’ve done the research for you and rounded up the best sites to join.

Whether you’re a professional artist looking for a more sophisticated and esteemed online platform for your work or you’re a hobbyist who wants to share your work with the world, there’s an online community for you.

1. Behance

Behance is one of the most popular platforms out there, partly because it’s part of the Adobe family. Like DeviantArt, Behance is a platform for artists of all skill levels who work in all art mediums. College students, professional artists, and hobbyists can all find a place on Behance to showcase and sell their work.

The site also includes a job board where creatives can find full-time and part-time work and post their own profile as a “Creative for Hire” so that employers can find them.

Finally, for those wanting to continue learning, Behance has a “LIVE” section of its website that features a schedule of live YouTube classes and tutorials that you can tune into. The videos are saved in the archive, so you can also learn independently.

Finally, participation in Behance is completely free. You don’t have to purchase Adobe software to join. Simply head to the website and create an account!

2. Dribbble

Dribbble has a user base primarily of artists and designers looking to use their skills in a more corporate-like setting. Rather than traditional art, this website focuses on animation, branding, mobile and web design, product design, and print. If you’re any type of web or digital designer, this is definitely the site for you!

This website has tons of resources for people looking to learn and broaden their skillset, including blog articles, workshops, and even certified courses. There’s also a freelance board where designers can offer their skills and products, and employers can post their open roles.

Joining Dribbble is free, but if you’re serious about finding work, it may be worth it to go Pro. Dribbble’s Pro account comes with a free trial and can help your portfolio gain more exposure to people who are hiring.

3. ArtStation

ArtStation is a community for artists specifically in the gaming, film, and entertainment industry. Most art styles showcased on this site include character animations, board and card game art, and digital game design.

Similarly to DeviantArt, ArtStation has a shop where you can put your work up for sale. There are also educational resources, including online courses that you can take at your own pace (think LinkedIn Learning but for artists), art competitions, and even a search tool to help you find schools if you want to pursue a more formal education in the arts.

Finally, for those wanting to get paid for their talents, ArtStation has a job board where you can find job listings and connect with studios.

Although joining ArtStation is free, they offer subscription plans for anyone wanting to invest more in their online portfolio.

4. CGSociety

CGSociety is a platform for designers who work in the digital space. Creative content showcased on this site includes gaming design, concept art, animation, and other CG-centered mediums. Both 2D and 3D artists working in cinema, gaming, and advertising will find their niche here.

Showcase your creative talents by participating in one of CGSociety’s ongoing competitions, expand your skillset by enrolling in a course, find endless inspiration by browsing through the work of other creative professionals, and keep up with film and gaming industry news by reading through the site’s blog posts.

5. Ello

Ello is a creative platform that’s part of the Talenthouse network. You can visit the Talenthouse website to learn about all of the other platforms Talenthouse offers to artists. Ello is on this list because it’s a one-stop shop for discovering design inspiration, publishing your own work, searching creative briefs to submit your artwork to be featured in, and finding work so you can get paid for doing what you love most: creating!

Being a member of this community is completely free, so add it to your list of art websites to join.

6. Pixiv

Pixiv is an online community of artists who work in illustrations, primarily manga and anime art styles. According to their website, their forum has over 80 million active users, making it a perfect place to showcase your work with other artists worldwide.

As you browse through the work of others, you can bookmark and save your favorites. Additionally, a “request” feature allows fans of your own art to request commissioned work, earning you experience and an opportunity to make money from your art. Finally, join contests to earn a chance to debut your artwork with an official sponsor.

While Pixiv is free to join, they offer a premium version with more in-depth features, like the ability to search artworks by popularity on the site.

7. Carbonmade

Carbonmade is perfect for artists who want to build and launch a primary portfolio of their work. This platform has been trusted by numerous companies, including Google, Target, and Walt Disney.

To join Carbonmade, you can sign up for the free trial, but after the trial, you’ll have to choose between subscription plans (starting at $9/month) to continue using their site.

After joining, you can build a personalized portfolio based on your specific industry. Their portfolios support a wide variety of industries, including 3D artwork, fashion design, copywriting, and even UX design.

Once your professional portfolio is complete, you can use the site’s analytics tracker to keep track of views and data insights. Plus, the platform seamlessly connects your portfolio to their Talent Pool for recruiters and companies to hire you.

8. Tumblr

Tumblr is an oldie but a goodie, and it remains one of the best places to gain authentic exposure for your artwork. Since Tumblr is set up as more of a microblogging site rather than a structured job board or portfolio setup, it’s a little more freestyle. You’ll have much more freedom to post your artwork and engage with your followers however you want to. It’s the perfect way to gain exposure and establish a fan base for your art authentically.

Whether you’re a traditional artist, a graphic designer, an illustrator, or work in another medium, there’s a place for every creative person on this site. Plus, it’s totally free to join.

9. Instagram

Instagram is another simple and easy website to join and gain exposure to your work. If you don’t know already, Instagram is a visual social media platform. People share pictures, stories, and reels (short video clips) of their life. But as an artist, you can share photos of your work, videos of your process, make announcements for any art shows or art markets you appear at, and even sell your work through Instagram’s shop platform. This is the catch-all for gaining exposure and building a fan base for your art.

It may take a little bit of research into social media marketing and branding if you want to turn your art into your own business. Still, whether you want to build a brand for yourself or you want to share your art journey on a personal level, Instagram is the most basic way to start putting your work out there.

Final Thoughts on DeviantArt Alternatives

As you can see, DeviantArt is just the tip of the iceberg for online platforms that connect talented people and allow them to showcase their best work. Whether you’re a full-time freelance artist looking to build a portfolio or a weekend hobbyist simply wanting to sell your artwork on the side, there are plenty of sites like DeviantArt that can help you achieve your goals, gain exposure for your work, and connect with other artists and professionals in your field.

Now that you’ve had a chance to browse through the sites in this list, it’s time to sign up and start uploading your amazing work for the world to see!