spyed

ROLE

I co-Founded deviantART in April of 2000 with jark along with a founding team of individuals including matteo most of whom joined around launch in August. Honorary founding team members include: mccann, chris and spot. I retired from my role as CEO in April of 2022, after exactly 22 years.

PERSON

I've had a passion for building online communities since my addiction to game BBS's (doom, doom 2, heretic, hexen, etc.) when I was 12. I co-sysop'd the Netherworld BBS in Northern Virginia at that time (till I was 15) and fell in love with the possibilities; especially as they applied to a global community. deviantART mirrors many aspects of BBS's and as time progresses you will find even closer comparisons to the quality of community MajorBBS and other platforms were able to support. Of course, most of you have no idea what I'm talking about when I say BBS's. Ugh.

I've now spent more than half my life building online communities. Seeking to deliver a mainstream application that captures the depth and passion that I felt for BBS's in my youth youth, rather than my now youth.

I'm very proud of the success of deviantART. Especially the fact that we took the road less traveled and arrived a little later, but on our own pure and untainted terms. We're doing it our way.

And that ladies and gentlemen ... feels like a milli-millillion dollars.

FUTURE

Before you read about the future, read about the past. And I think with a past like that and a team like this, it is a bright future indeed.

It is our intention to create the most powerful outlet in the world for known and unknown artists alike.

Most importantly we intend to take our time to do it right. For the first time in history there is connection and communication between artists and fans on a massive scale. deviantART represents a breakthrough for the promotion and exposure of otherwise stranded artists in all corners of the globe. Our job is to make sense of the possibility, and craft it in a responsible manner.

** Leaving the above statement for posterity, since I wrote it circa 2005. I do believe we remained as true as possible to this. But please note that my Role has changed. (Read above)

*** Credit goes to @greenie for my cover photo from the 2009 World Tour. <3