Gosh, the beginning fired up way back when. I think it was 2002, and I was at the tail end of high school learning that you didn't use your real name on the internet (according to my boyfriend at the time).
I've had this account and this username for ever evah, and DeviantART was my 'home base' to share my anything and everything. I can't think of another community I liked better than this one when it came to just being immersed in art that I liked. Hell, even challenged my concepts of what art should be! I was dazzled by the idea way back when, but even now, being able to put something out there and have it be seen by dozens (or even hundre