If you’re an artist, you’ve probably heard of Artstation. It’s a popular website where artists can share their work and connect with other creatives, hobbyists and especially professionals. But, recently there has been some frustration with the site, (you can check this article to know more about the recent controversies) and some artists are looking for new ways to showcase their art. That was my case, and after giving up on Artstation I searched for similar and promising alternatives, and I wanted to share what I discovered. If you’re one of those artists, there are plenty of other great platforms out there that you can use to share your work and connect with a new audience.
You’re probably familiar with platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, Behance, Dribble, Deviantart, Pinterest or Facebook for showcasing your art. But, here, I want to dive deeper and explore some lesser-known alternatives that have recently entered the game or haven’t gained as much attention. Whether you’re a professional artist, a hobbyist, or somewhere in between, there’s something here for you.
1- Cara.app
Cara is a new social media and portfolio platform that’s focused on artists. It’s meant to be a home where artists can show off their work and have their rights respected. The idea for it came about because of the recent popularity of AI art and the way big art platforms don’t always protect artists from having their work used without permission. Cara wants to make a stand and let artists know there’s a place for them that’s made by and for artists. The team behind Cara is made up of volunteers who are really passionate about the project, and it’s led by a former CGHUB alumna, Jingna Zhang. It’s already really popular, with over 5000 signups on their waiting list in the first week alone. The website is now live in Beta, expect new features to be added really soon.
Website: cara.app / My profile cara.app/fayden
2- Thegarden.gg
The Garden is a platform for sharing your talents with others and getting support from a community. It’s a place for artists, photographers, and anyone with a skill to share their work and get appreciated. The platform is run by a group of people who want to build a global community of talented individuals. One interesting feature of the site is the SEED token, which is like a virtual high-five or a pat on the back. You can give it to someone’s work or profile to show that you appreciate their work. Giving SEED helps that person’s work get seen by more people and get more support. You can get more SEED by buying it or by getting other people to give SEED to your own work.
Website : thegarden.gg
3- Artgram (Arrrt.io)
Artgram (ex Arrrt.io) is a new platform for artists, promising to protect their rights and work from misuse, unlike other platforms. It is the one that looks and feel the most like Artstation, the website is well-built and the updates and new features are added very fast. It is one of the most promising in the long term. It does not allow AI-generated art on the platform and are creating their own IA that could detect it. I don’t know how they plan to do that, how it will be trained and if it is really necessary to be honest, but time will tell. It also provides tools for artist to secure and protect their work and actively works on defending their rights. The creators of the platform try to be transparent, with weekly community update chats and encourages community involvement to build a safe and fair space for the artist to share and grow their talents.
Edit: The owner of the website has switched recently after the site being abandoned for months. Give it a try, but I can’t guaranty you that the website is still relevant and if the projects planned and vision will stay the same.
Website artgram.co
4- Artfol
Artfol is a platform where people can share their artwork and connect with other artists. The platform aims to create a community where artists can share their work without being too focused on likes and follower count. Artfol has hidden public likes, and removed complex algorithms. The site has several unique features designed to be artist-friendly. Some of the most noteworthy ones are: Challenges: Artfol offers community challenges where users can participate in existing ones or create their own, and see other creators’ submissions. Asking for Critique: Users can ask for constructive feedback on their artwork and give feedback on others’ artwork, but to prevent spam, Artfol limits the number of critiques requests per day.
Website artfol.me / My Profile artfol.co/Fayden_art
Conclusion
Thanks for reading, I hope this article is a helpful guide if you’re looking for new options focusing on artists to showcase your art. But keep in mind, nothing beats the versatility of ArtStation (so far), it’s been the go-to for artists looking to build a portfolio, make money via their marketplace and connect with others in the community. But if ArtStation hasn’t been your cup of tea lately or the whole AI art controversy left a bad taste in your mouth, check out some of these alternatives. Maybe we will meet there, who knows.
