2 years on DeviantArt!

The 22nd is special for many reasons, but it marks the day that I started uploading FNAF here on my DA back before I even had the gold94chica name.  So I thought that it would be cool to reminisce about how I started on here, since probably most of you who read this weren't around back then.



Ah, back before I had found my place.  I was posting Pokémon plushies and toys...





photographs of posters.....




and photo edits like this:




yep, exactly two years now  It's fun to consider how things began, especially before I got noticed and people cared about me or what I did.

You guys sure gave me the motivation to step up my game and improve the things I uploaded!

I started making the little GIF icons,      which people took great interest in, so I still do them to this day.  

And since people liked the small GIFs, I did bigger GIF captures too, adding text to videos and stuff





and later, improving my technique to create more original and complicated GIFs





As I started to get more into FNAF, and realizing that there was a HUGE group of people who were interested in it, way more than Pokémon, I focused more on my FNAF interests, and the rest of the Pokémon collection never got posted.  I just wasn't interested in Pokémon anymore, since it was something I enjoyed alone, but FNAF gave me the opportunity to enjoy with friends


I continued to create large GIFs and GIF icons from things that I wanted to share because they were funny or useful, and I enjoyed being able to talk to people in the comment sections.  It gave me the opportunity to get my personality out there, and to encourage and help others.  I think it was more of my personality that earned me watchers than any of the "content" I was uploading.


But as my popularity grew (I had changed to the gold94chica name at this point), I wanted to step up my game more and do something at least a little more original, and also to be able to express MYself, especially now that I had friends and people who cared.  I have no drawing talent at all.  Sure I can edit anything... but drawing something original from scratch is just beyond me.


So this is where I decided to learn and use Source FilmMaker.  Back then, there was almost no one making FNAF pictures in SFM at all.  All of the original FNAF hype had died down, and the original artists who created those iconic SFM renders moved on, leaving no one to make more.  There were a couple of people like Dr-dash making SFM animations on YouTube, but I thought SFM pictures was a completely dead thing.  There certainly was not a community for it like there is now.  I remember thinking that SFM was gonna be pointless, since no one does it.  But I considered it a personal challenge to do it anyway, even if I was the only one.  I learned it myself, with the help of my bro Jupiterjumper2 whenever I had a question that Google wasn't helping with.




So I was able to create my first real picture for my "500 watcher celebration", as a special way to say thanks for the inspiration and helping me to become someone that could actually generate his own "original" content, rather than just "stealing" others.

It's an old pic that I think is terrible, but not really , considering it was my first one




This was after being active on DeviantArt for less than TWO months.  I
was growing fast, and it was great!  Uploading every day, creating pics that everyone loved in addition to the icons and GIFs and edits.  

A couple of days later, I hit 600 watchers, so I made this pic 



And then this pic for 800 watchers a week or two later



This was the last time I "did a thing" for a number of watchers, since I was growing way faster than I could keep up with it.  Creating and uploading daily, plus responding to EVERY single comment, heartbreak caused by friends, and all of the hype and emotions centered around FNAF3 was taking it's toll on my personal life.  But I loved what I did here... finally able to express myself, make a difference in the world, and make others happy.


I was starting to notice also that I was inspiring others to learn SFM as well to make their own FNAF pictures with it.  This was a great feeling, to see that I was gaining my own little fandom, and growing a brand new community.  Today.... wow!  The community of FNAF SFM is really huge now, both with pictures and animating.  And eventually, the huge markets for 3D FNAF models opened up another community of modelling, and we started to get new SFM models thanks to EverythingAnimations and those who followed.

And to think that it all started back two years ago because I felt a calling to get myself more out in the world and make a difference

I never intended to be popular or famous in anyway, as I already had a life and satisfaction.  The entire point of sharing GIFs and icons and screenshots was to share those videos and content with you guys, so that the original authors would get the attention they deserved.  And they did.  But they gave shoutouts back to me, which boosted my own name, and the cycle went on from there.  And then I was able to do my own original thing, and start a new community.

Sure, every fandom and community has it's dark places, but overall, I'm very proud of the impact I've had on here and the world.  I'm very fortunate to have had the opportunity to start what I did, and to still be able to be a part of the community today.

I might not create and upload much anymore, but that's because the torch has been passed on to you guys.  I couldn't keep up with the daily uploads, and the pressure to be number one .  After a couple of deactivations for a total of 6 weeks, and a 3/4 year hiatus from YouTube, I was able to find myself again and get my life back on track.  Now, I'm able to take care of myself, and still be around for those who need me.  I don't need to create content, since so much is being created now.  Popularity and fame is useless to me, all I want is to help people smile through their day.  Sometimes, all it takes is a nice comment or gesture, so that's what I do.  I'm still around, just lurking and watching.  I pay attention , because I care.  And with how insane the FNAF fandom has been, I'm very glad that I wasn't one to "jump ship" and turn my back on the thing that I loved and that made me who I am today.  I'm eternally grateful to FNAF, Scott, and you guys for helping fulfill my life's purpose

yeah I could ramble all night, but really, I just wanted to say thanks for all of the support over the years, and I'm not going anywhere  I'll continue to be on every day, reading every single comment I get, and trying to keep up with those I watch (I'd watch everyone if I could ).  My gallery will still expand as I create more content... but now it's quality over quantity.  Still, a look through my gallery reveals all sorts of random stuff, and that's what you can expect in the future

Keep doing what you love, find yourself, make friends, enjoy life, relax.  Stay strong, support each other, and share love in the community.  Keep making art, even if you think no one cares or sees it.... you never know when you'll have your day, as I did  Keep the legacy alive, inspire others, and finish what I started ....

Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year... let's make 2017 great  


~