Tete-DePunk

12 years. It has been 12 years since yours truly, your girl Tete, joined deviantART. (Yes, that’s how we spelled it back then.)

12 years. 12 years of growth. 12 years of joy. 12 years of friendships, some have come and gone, others have remained fixed like a cherished landmark of a rocky-faced cliff against the tide of Time’s Ocean.

12 years of sharing and opening up about griefs, losses and sorrows that I would never anywhere else open about.

12 years of support and advice.

Had it not been for dA, I might have never met people who forever changed my life. People who helped me grow. People who helped me discover my own self when my way was lost and obscured in darkness. People who kept me focused on my goals when distraction of life’s tribulations derailed me. They set me back on track again and helped me get on my feet. With all of you guys, some here, some gone, but all in my heart like precious pieces of a mosaic set in gems, you all helped me reach dreams.

You helped me get out of poverty and insecurity, both in adulting life, but also in art and creativity.

Thank you.

I am leaving deviantART.

Yes, after 12 years, it seems deviantART, despite its wonder and beautiful friendships, has grown too small for what I want to do next in my work.

dA is perhaps, and will remain in my opinion, the best platform for art. But unfortunately, your girl here is a writer first and artist second. (or maybe third, given my talent, or lack thereof).

I want to write novels, but dA is not the best place to share writing. Also, perhaps more importantly, the new changes with Eclipse and how dA has become, it has become nearly impossible for writers to use, esp writers like myself who struggle with visual disassociation (sort of like dyslexia, but it’s with colors and fonts, per se).

I want to share works of historical and psychological nature, and perhaps these are too heavy and dark for dA.

Likewise, I want to branch out independently and create stories to share on platforms like Tapas, and following this, actually progress onto actual print and digital publication.

dA can no longer provide what I am seeking to do with my work, and like a creature too big for its small patch of field, I fear I must depart the warm hearth of my first home, deviantART, and move onto Tapas and other sites for writers.

This is my first home, and I will always remain grateful and indebted to dA, for here, I met you guys, and all of you changed my life.

So rest assured, my account will still be here, for anyone wanting to look at the art and writings. But I will no longer be active here.

There will be an art piece, perhaps once a month, every two months. Updates and journals will emerge every month or three, since you guys mean so much, I’ll check up on you guys and say hi.

But I will no longer be active, no longer part of groups or participating in group events.

If anyone of you’uns need to contact me, you can reach me at these new platforms:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tete.depunk/

Tapas: https://tapas.io/TeteDePunk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8UK54-PCQ8eDmuN5Sk8T9Q

Tumblr (Yes, I still use Tumblr, love those photos post and gifs too much) https://tete-de-punk.tumblr.com/

Please keep in touch with me if you wish! It would be a delight and honor to meet you through any of these sites. Be assured, though, IG is your best bet, as I check it daily.

I will miss you so dearly. It is with tears and a heart tearing in half I leave you guys. But know you will all be in my mind, heart and love.

Thank you. Thank you all.

And thanks, deviantART. Thanks for giving a lost teen a great home, and thanks for helping her grow into a woman ready to take on the world.

Good-bye, guys. See you guys around.

Here’s some farewell ditties to send us off the road with:

Good-Bye and God bless.

Your girl, DePunk

Firstly, please accept my deepest apologies for being absent since beginning of March. Due to my father's failing health (bluntly put, I'm not sure how much longer we will have him), I have been unable to work on art that demands details and strain, as sadly, as Gerda does. Recently, to console myself, I have been working on minor pieces to help my nerves, but even then, I do not have much time between caring for Dad and tending to the demands of my job. And my job has drained much out of me, too, I fear I have no time for Gerda's assignments, sadly, too. Please know I love you all, and thank you all for Gerda's support and love here. I will be back when things settle and my family and I can heal.

Feel free to follow me on Instagram for tidbits and videos- sometimes, in grief, we have to fill the small empty moments with distraction to keep ourselves sane.

I love you all again, and thanks for everything you have all done for myself, but also my characters. They thank you, too. See you in another season and much love to you all.

After a good deal of madness, fate blessed me with timing. Amazon canceled my order for the Samsung a10e, which was actually a huge blessing and a real save. The A10e is a good phone, affordable, but not equipped for all I do on my phone, especially with my podcasting now.

So with this blessing in disguise, I decided, (and because of major budget reasons,) to remain with my provider, Xfinity, since they have their 2-year payment plan for newer phones. Well, the very day I call, it's the VERY last day for their sale and rebates on the new Samsung Galaxy s21! I called on the VERY LAST DAY!

I was stunned. Within a week, the new phone was shipped, and today, the brand-new phone was delivered right in my hands, safely from FedEx. My only challenge now, is waiting for a wall charger and charging cable to arrive from Amazon, as well as the adapter to plug in the mic or headphones.

It will be a bit of challenge, but it will be worth it!

So yes, it's been a challenging time of being without a phone (I mean, literally, no way to call anyone or receive calls- it can be really terrifying, esp when you live in a rough town and have to walk home after dark. But blessedly, fate turned things around, and prevented me from making a mistake with the A10e, and provided me with something much better.

*

Work has been both feast and famine, with madness of the holidays now officially over, things are slow, so hopefully this will give more time and energy to communing with you guys here.

Really, thank you guys so much for all the awesome support you have given Gerda, her story, and myself since we began this round in OC-training !

It means so much, beyond words. Even my awesome mom (whose many fantastic qualities inspired Gerda's personality and strengths), she was amazed by the support you guys have shown for Gerda, it brought tears to her eyes, as well and especially mine.

Thank you guys.

If I haven't replied to your awesome comments, it's because 1), your detailed and thoughtful comments have stunned me and I am still struggling to find the words to reply, and 2), between work, some health problems, and the phone/PC troubles, it's been a real challenge to sit down with a functioning device and get down to socializing here.

Hopefully, things will settle down, and Gerda and I will be back in a week, and better than ever to have fun and continue this rewarding journey with you guys!

My phone died last Sunday- ordered a new phone the same day- still waiting on the new one! My phone, my first smartphone ever, last me 3 good, solid, loyal years. The screen died on me. Ah, she (the phone), will be missed. Rest well, Mimi (name for my first phone, I tend to name all things)- thanks for helping navigate smart tech and help me advance in modern society.

Gosh, how long does it take for a phone to ship? Esp with Amazon Prime. How long must I wait? Gosh, it's hard being without a phone for work scheduling, banking, and just basic everyday functions! Nonetheless, it's very First World Privilege of me to bemoan such minor inconveniences.

However, I'm on last day off from work,(had 3 days off due to reduced hours at work because of business being so slow with the Winter Storms pounding the NorthEast US- I guess Kai doesn't want to leave early this year, LOL) so putting this time to good use- getting to work on Gerda's new assignment!

Thanks so much to everyone for their kind comment and AMAZING support of Gerda thus far in this spectacular round! Promise to reply to you guys soon, bear with my slow replies and slower commenting/artwork completion.

OMG- you guys!

Thank you a Million and One times over over again for the comments on Gerda! We thank you all so much!

We're DEEPLY sorry we haven't responded to your awesome comments yet, but definitely replying tomorrow and this Tuesday, too!

It means so much you're all so patient with my slow replies, and I feel terrible keeping you guys waiting, but please know we're incredibly grateful, like the depth of the ocean and the peak of mountain!

(Work has been HEAVY lately, with call-offs and extra shifts, as well as full-time hours, too. Grateful for it, mind you, but it can tax your time and energy for creative things and social life.)

Your comments brought tears of joy to my eyes, it really does. Thank you so much, thank you a million times again, for your welcome and avid support of Gerda and her story! Talk to you guys soon tomorrow and the day after!