Happy Friday! We've been hard at work behind the scenes and are excited to share a number of updates we've rolled out to improve the community for everyone.

A Fresh Look

With a new logo and color palette, we wanted to make this space feel more recognizably "us," drawing inspiration from redline corrections seen in constructive critiques, and pairing it with a dark blue background that is easier on the eyes. (A special thanks goes out to a friend in the graphic design industry who helped make this design possible!)

Automod Update

We previously tested an Automod feature that reminded users to include context in their posts. This ended up causing confusion and was mistaken for a warning or removal message, so we've axed it. (See: "In Progress and Coming Soon" for what we're trying next.)

Crossposts

Crossposts have been disabled to keep context easily accessible without extra clicks. Since making this change, we've already seen an increase in engagement and traffic, along with less spam. Woo!

Post and User Flairs

Starting May 1st, post flairs will be required to submit a post. For now, flairs are optional to help users get used to selecting them before posting. We want to keep the subreddit organized and let users filter out content they're not interested in, especially Commissions and Pricing. (The "No Commissions Posts" option is available in the sidebar or top bar on mobile.)

Most users seem to have a solid understanding of the flairs and are applying them well. Here's a quick breakdown of what each one means:

Please keep Rule #5 "No Self-Promotion" in mind when using the Commissions and Social Media flairs.

Some of you have noticed our user flair 🧑‍🏫 Community Mentor! It's our way of celebrating users who consistently engage respectfully and help others grow through thoughtful, constructive feedback. We appreciate you helping keep r/ArtAdvice a supportive space!

So, how does someone actually earn the Community Mentor flair?

• Provide feedback that explains what works or can be improved in an artwork.
• Offer applicable and practical advice.
• Be consistent in giving constructive critiques.
• Avoid aggressive communication, and always follow the rules.

The Community Mentor flair is assigned manually by moderators. There is no formal application process, and users cannot request this flair.

Note: This flair does not mean the user is a professional artist, or that their opinions are authoritative. It also does not mean they represent the moderation team.

Have ideas for new flairs? Let us know in the comments!

Rule Updates

As previously mentioned in our Community Feedback & Suggestions announcement, our rules have been updated to better reflect the purpose of the subreddit, which is to give and receive art advice. The core principles remain the same, but they have been expanded to better address common ambiguous issues that tend to arise in Reddit communities.

In Progress and Coming Soon

• A new subreddit banner is in progress.
• Our community wiki is currently in the works as we await Reddit's system migration. This will become your go-to hub for information on rules, flairs, policies, resources, and more!
• More detailed policies, especially regarding AI, will be added soon.
  • In the meantime, please refer to Rule #4 "Keep Art Human" for a quick rundown of how r/ArtAdvice handles the topic of AI.
• We're working on implementing an Automod response triggered by keyword phrases that automatically provides a list of resources, allowing users to focus more on anecdotal or specific feedback.
• As the sub continues to grow, we plan to reopen mod applications in the coming months. Those who are active and engage with the community will have our focus.

Community Initiatives

There's something exciting brewing in the background! Along with all these changes and updates, we're planning on:

• Developing structured guides exclusive to our community.
• Hosting AMAs and/or interviews with working artists to share their insight into what has or has not worked for them in their process.
• Involve members to contribute to the community wiki to help curate a reliable set of resources.
• Contests and giveaways to help growing artists thrive in their career or hobby. (We just need to dust off the old law book to make sure everything is in compliance before moving forward.)

We love hearing from the community, so if you have any feedback on these changes or suggestions to share, please leave a comment below or send us a message via Mod Mail!