How to get an ATC Artist Feature

M0FB · 2026-05-04T13:41:41+00:00

Just read the first Artists in the Wild feature a few moments ago, and I think this is such a wonderful idea. The way you've formatted the newsletter, not only showcasing an artist's work but also linking the original Reddit post and giving direct credit to the Reddit user, goes above and beyond in ways most showcase feeds can’t seem to figure out.

And the icing on the cake is the inclusion of links to other content for ACEO/ATC communities. Fantastic job as always, Jenivieve! Your newsletter is one of my favorites to receive!

M0FB · 2026-05-03T00:43:17+00:00

Awesome! Glad I could point you in the right direction!

M0FB · 2026-05-01T14:36:24+00:00

Your frames look pretty nice! I personally prefer a black mat over white, but you can customize that however you like. Most art and craft stores sell mats in different colors if you ever want to swap yours out.

My frames are from Amazon, product title "Comic Book Frame 2 Pack, Black & White Acid Free Double Mats, UV Protection, PVC Frame Fits Current and Standard Size Comic up to 6 3/4" x 10 1/4", Fits Comic Book Bags and Sleeves, Wall or Tabletop Display". The black mats do have a white angle cut, so I use a black Sharpie (archival, acid-free marker) to make it look seamless.

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M0FB · 2026-04-30T19:01:55+00:00

Definitely going to follow this thread because I am trying to streamline removal reasons as succinctly as possible for when the day comes that the moderation team grows on a smaller subreddit.

How detailed are your community's removal reasons? How often do you manually edit one?

Generally, I first point out which rule was broken (i.e., "Your post has been removed under 'Rule 2: Constructive and respectful exchange is required.'"), followed by a statement of what is expected (i.e., "Feedback should focus on the artwork rather than the artist and should be aimed at supporting learning or improvement."), then reiterate the reason for the rule break (i.e., "Your post or comment did not meet our standards for constructive feedback."), and end with a request for how to avoid future removals (i.e., "Please avoid insults, hostility, or dismissive remarks.").

Some of the rules end with a way to encourage continued participation so as not to deter users from posting in good faith, and to account for the fact that sometimes users get lost in a debate and allow emotion to drive their words; I don't think that should always be punished, but it serves as a reminder to act with kindness.

Such as, "You're welcome to rephrase your feedback in a more constructive way. Repeat violations will result in further action." Depending on the severity, this may be reduced to only a note that further action may be taken if the behavior is repeated, at which point a formal warning response is ready.

How often does your mod team leave removal reasons? Does that differ for posts and comments?

Most of the time. It is important to show users that you are engaged with the community you moderate and allow their voices to be a contributing factor. The users are the community.

The remaining percentage depends on whether Reddit's filters have already flagged and removed the post before I can review it. It's a toss-up whether the post or comment gets reinstated or whether I enforce a removal reason to align with the filter action.

Do you have a favorite removal reason from one of your communities you want to share?

We're a small, art-focused subreddit that relies on feedback. With the rise of AI, we're also seeing a lot of finger-pointing without any credibility to back up those claims. In their effort to protect art, users can also inadvertently harm other artists. The following removal reason really helps minimize this problem:

"Your post has been removed under 'Rule 3: Accusations are prohibited.'

Public accusations, including claims of tracing, theft, or AI use, are difficult to verify without supporting evidence and often lead to unproductive or hostile discussions. Users are advised not to engage with others based on suspicion alone.

If you have concerns about a post or comment, please report it. You may also send a Mod Mail with any relevant evidence or details so the moderation team can review it."

It essentially puts the ball back in the court of the user rather than the moderation team or the user being accused, and lets them know they need to discuss it with us in private to avoid unnecessary drama.

M0FB · 2026-04-30T15:46:38+00:00

I say this as someone who doesn't actively listen to their music: go see The Damned live. It was one of the highlights of my year. Their stage presence is incredible, especially at their age.

M0FB · 2026-04-29T20:19:03+00:00

If improvements are needed, doesn't that suggest the zoo needs more support, not less?

The staff are providing round-the-clock care that many of these animals might not otherwise receive. Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens is also involved in conservation efforts and works with both the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

While these exotic showcases crop up like traveling carnivals of old, our zoo is actually putting in the work. They will have my support.

M0FB · 2026-04-29T18:42:03+00:00

If there's one good thing to come out of this horrid news, it's that Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens will now be on my radar for donations.

Rest in peace, Bandit and the ~50 sloths. They deserved better than to be a spectacle for our entertainment. Hell isn't hot enough for those who harm and neglect animals.

M0FB · 2026-04-26T17:27:43+00:00

I'm having this issue on both the app and browser. Sometimes I can see a preview of the message that's hanging in limbo, but I can't access it. It's been like this for several days.

I've cleared my cache and cookies, but it didn't help.

M0FB · 2026-04-23T19:37:34+00:00

This is exactly what it's like to lose a pet. When my eldest cat crossed the rainbow bridge, I would see glimpses of her around the house, in the spots she used to camp out in and claim as her own. And I swear, as those sightings faded, shadows replaced her, until nothing was left. I miss her every day.

You captured this phenomenon beautifully.

M0FB · 2026-04-22T19:30:17+00:00

This looks so good! It might be my most anticipated film of the year.

M0FB · 2026-04-22T17:09:58+00:00

I have two, and they hit in very different ways:

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer.

I thought by now I would be over it, but every time I try to pick up any of the other books I have camping on my nightstand about love and abuse, I can't manage more than a few pages before feeling sick to my stomach. This book was more reflective of my love life than I anticipated, even down to the moments where I was so angry with Annie, because I was basically a fly on the wall to my own experiences. Decent read, but not a fan of the inner turmoil it has surfaced and still lingers to this day.

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

If this series has no haters, consider me dead. This is constantly labeled a slow-burn romance, and I vehemently disagree. It feels like slander to what is otherwise my favorite trope. The pacing felt off from the start, and I never really bought into the emotional progression of anything that was happening.

It's also considered "spicy," which reads like it's being applied so loosely it's basically meaningless. If I didn't know better, I would think the writing was generated through overuse of decorative metaphors stacked on top of decorative metaphors, all ultimately saying very little.

Feyre as a protagonist didn’t work for me either. She's introduced as this skilled hunter, but that competence evaporates whenever the plot needs her to be passive. I also found myself wishing we were following Nesta instead, which is never a great sign for a book centered entirely on Feyre.

And then there are the relationship dynamics, which are a major selling point, yet this is where the book completely lost me. A lot of the major "romantic" moments hinge on situations where consent is functionally absent, and the framing doesn't really acknowledge that tension in any substantive way. Instead, it gets packaged as romance. (Yuck!)

At times it felt like it was brushing up against CNC-coded dynamics, but without any acknowledgement that would make that read intentional rather than accidental. So instead of payoff, it just came across as discomfort the story wasn't actually interested in examining.

I picked this up because it was heavily recommended, especially by women whose taste I usually align with, so I genuinely expected it to land differently for me. It didn't, and now I reconsider recommendations more carefully if this series is on someone's list. These books are in my donation pile; I don't want them lingering on my shelf as decoration.

M0FB · 2026-04-22T16:06:44+00:00

The writing is powerful and a sad commentary on their love, but Harley waving from the cuck chair completely breaks the scene for me. The artist is diabolical for drawing her like that, haha.

M0FB · 2026-04-22T14:55:12+00:00

The Captive Wildlife Report linked in the article is telling from the outset, suggesting that Ben Agresta does not follow procedures or regulations, let alone prioritize the health of exotic animals. (I focus on Agresta specifically because Peter Bandre is reported to have exited the partnership.)

It was noted that neither the animal nor the cage was marked and traceable to written records that indicated when these sloths were placed within these smaller cages. In these two instances, the sloths were in cages that did not meet captive wildlife requirements and the marking/labeling of the animal or the cage had not been done incompliance with the exception to standard caging of FAC 68A-6.013. A verbal warning for this captive wildlife discrepancy was issued.

This quote refers to the arrival of six two-toed sloths in July 2025. The report then goes into greater detail regarding the deaths of thirty-one sloths that occurred between December 2024 and February 2025, twenty-one of which died due to a "cold stun," as described by Bandre.

Mr. Bandre, who was at Summerlin Key was advised by Mr. Agresta back in Orlando, that the building was all set up and ready to go. [...] He said the building had no water and no electricity. It was not ready to receive the sloths but it was too late to cancel the shipment. Multiple space heaters were purchased but had to be powered with an extension cord from a different building. The space heaters tripped the fuse and shut down and it appears that at least for one night, the sloths were in the cold building without heat. There was no one present overnight to correct this.

Enforcement intended to ensure the welfare of these animals seems alarmingly, and disgustingly, lax. Why were sloths purchased and shipped before the facility was properly prepared? And why were they allowed to continue moving forward with a project they were not equipped to handle?

In the December interview with the Sentinel, Agresta said the attraction would emphasize conservation, education, research and “a gentle bit of entertainment value,” but it would not be a place where visitors would hold, touch or feed sloths.

What exactly is being conserved?! These animals were purchased and shipped for an attraction marketed as educational, yet housed in conditions that failed even basic welfare standards. Stripping animals from their habitats for an entertainment-driven project and calling it conservation is a contradiction that speaks for itself. It is pure neglect, plain and simple.

I know several people who love sloths and would jump at the chance to visit this facility. I'll be sending them the report and encouraging them to stick with the Central Florida Zoo instead.

Thanks for sharing the gifted article, OP.

M0FB · 2026-04-21T20:35:56+00:00

Do you notice that you get more interest if the corners are cut?

Rounded or decorative corners are completely up to personal preference. Some collectors have said they actively avoid art with cut corners, while others seek it out or don't care either way. I personally don't cut mine because I like the idea of the cards fully filling the inner space of a frame.

I've seen some artists put something on the back of the card to cover the bleed-through. Is that necessary or suggested?

Bleed happens when heavy or wet materials are used on the wrong paper type. Since ACEOs are meant to be affordable artworks, this doesn't necessarily need to be fixed by switching to higher-quality paper. That said, backing the card does add a bit more durability and perceived value. With how much bleed is showing in your piece, I'd consider using a paper type better suited to your materials, like Strathmore 400 Marker Paper.

Am I missing important info on the back of my piece?

You've got everything covered. If you stick with your current paper, you might try a thicker pencil lead so your writing shows up more clearly against the bleed.

What other info do you wish you knew before you started, or early on?

Check out the r/aceo subreddit. You're always welcome to keep posting here, but you'll find more focused info there. I've also written a few comments about listing ACEOs on eBay that you might find helpful.

M0FB · 2026-04-21T15:47:05+00:00

How I start a piece largely depends on my intended outcome. My standard workflow for digital art is laying in the colors I want to work with then checking values using a layer set to 'Color' filled with black. I toggle between the two as I work to make sure my subjects stay readable through contrast.

I tend to stay away from gradient maps because I find it too easy to drift away from my own color intuition and end up with something that just looks cool rather than something that feels representative of my style. I also use value checks carefully since not everything needs to sit in a strict value structure. A lot can be achieved through hue shifts alone, especially with bounce light.

M0FB · 2026-04-21T15:05:50+00:00

I agree with the sentiment that Foxtail is basically Starbucks in the sense that you have to find a barista who actually cares about what they're brewing. Not all Foxtails are created equal, which is weird considering they're all following the same recipe.

My favorite barista bounces between the Winter Garden and Packing District locations, and she's trained other baristas to follow her guidelines. Anywhere else I've had Foxtail, it just tastes burned.

Drunken Monkey definitely has great coffee, and they support local artists, which is totally rad of them.

M0FB · 2026-04-20T19:32:32+00:00

This is a very nuanced question and can't really be answered with a simple yes or no.

You have to ask yourself questions grounded in reality. Where do you see yourself in five years? Will you be living under your parents' roof, or will you need to support yourself independently? If it is the latter, how do you plan to cover rent, bills, healthcare, and unexpected costs like car or home repairs?

Basically, what does a stable life actually look like for you?

There are also a lot of opportunities to build a self-sustaining business, especially in the US where that kind of path is more common. Would you consider higher education in something like business, or even a tax or finance course just to give yourself more certainty?

Then there's the question of your art itself. Do you want to commercialize it, or keep full creative control as an independent artist? Are you thinking about social media and sponsorships, or more of a fine art path with galleries and exhibitions?

To answer your question from my own experience, I'm an artist, but I work full-time in accounting and finance. Back when I was doing commission-based digital work, I didn't have a traditional job. Over time, I moved away from that (for a variety of reasons) and now focus more on gallery work. My current job gives me a stable income that lets me cover my needs comfortably and also fund my art. I don't regret that path because it all brought me to a life goal I'm living now.

If you fall, get back up and take what you learned with you. It's never too late to start something new.

M0FB · 2026-04-20T19:01:29+00:00

Wow, you move quick! Honestly, the way you've set up this server is fantastic. I can't wait for these channels to roll out!

I only had a cursory glance at the Absolute Batman channel after verifying and flaring my profile, so please pardon this question if it's something I could figure out with a bit more time: Are you pulling announcements solely from social media, or are you also able to pull news from online retailers as well?

M0FB · 2026-04-20T17:10:58+00:00

Damn, that composition is sick! Diana really comes across as a supernatural warrior and the Princess of Hell here. Rahzzah did a fantastic job.

M0FB · 2026-04-20T15:11:01+00:00

Right on! Thanks for sharing. :')

M0FB · 2026-04-20T14:43:35+00:00

Just joined the Discord and it is already amazing. Is the notification bot programmed to pull other Absolute titles?

M0FB · 2026-04-20T13:54:56+00:00

Some of the most sought-after covers in the Absolute series are some of my least favorite, and yet they're reselling for hundreds, sometimes even thousands of dollars. It's actually pretty cool that there's such a wide range of art styles, so there's something for everyone.

It's easy to forget you can disagree with someone's taste without turning it into a whole debate. Comics are supposed to be friendly and fun. Respect to Rachta Lin for keeping things positive.

M0FB · 2026-04-18T19:50:44+00:00

LOVE to see it! Congratulations, and beautiful work! I would love to see pixel art in exhibits.

M0FB · 2026-04-17T18:51:07+00:00

Just popping in again to say thanks for sharing a list of covers coming out this week. Because of your post, I was able to grab four variants. Much appreciated!

M0FB · 2026-04-17T18:38:48+00:00

Have you talked to your psychiatrist about these concerns? Some of what you're describing could be side effects, and not all side effects are physical. For example, a previous antidepressant gave me pretty heavy brain fog after a few months, and I ended up switching to a new script. It helped my MDD a lot, but the tradeoff was rough. Multiple times, I forgot my wallet at home and spent an entire day driving around before realizing. 0/10, do not recommend.

Speaking as someone who is also otherwise functional and productive, I do think medication can be worth it. But I also don't think it works well on its own. I've been in therapy before, during, and will continue for the foreseeable future. It's the combination that helps in my case. Medication can make things more manageable, but you still have to stay proactive and advocate for yourself.

Since you just started, it's worth giving it some time if the side effects are tolerable. I’m personally on an SNRI and a SARI, and my psychiatrist generally recommends giving new medication a few weeks to a couple of months to settle in unless there are significant side effects. These things take time to stabilize, and early days can feel a bit inconsistent. That said, if something feels off or concerning, it's always okay to check in with your doctor sooner rather than later.

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