Happy New Years! Two Years on Civitai: A Thank You, A Look Ahead, and A Reality Check

Oh god... I've been on this place. It's almost surreal to think about it. I joined Civitai back in January of 2023, but my journey into the world of AI art actually started way back in 2022. It feels like a lifetime ago, and yet, it’s also as if it was just yesterday.

And here we are, still... making space for people like me. That's honestly what hits me the most. The community here, the ongoing support, it's... remarkable. I’ve been experimenting and pushing the boundaries of AI art since its infancy, and Civitai has been such a critical platform in my development.

This is a bit difficult to articulate, but I just want to express my sincere gratitude. It’s been nearly two years, and you’ve all – the users, the creators, the admins – been putting up with me! My sometimes-messy experiments, my constant tinkering, you’ve seen it all. And for that, I'm incredibly thankful.

I'm especially grateful for those who’ve shown their support through Early Access and donating Buzz. It’s the little things, the virtual tips and gestures, that make you feel seen, valued, and a part of something bigger than yourself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to acknowledge that December was a rough month for me, and some of my decisions regarding Early Access were less than ideal. But that's on me – that’s not on the userbase. You guys have been consistently amazing.

The staff here at Civitai, and while I'm not one of them, deserve an award! They are truly amazing. This site is inclusive for everyone, religions, opinions (and lack thereof sometimes, lol), even anti-opinions (sometimes people just need a place to vent, I guess?). It’s remarkable how well we’ve kept up and how far it's come.

There are always boundaries we should be learning within AI art, and how it should MOSTLY, in some cases, be used for concept stuff. But we’re here, I’m queer, and while I’m also Dissociated AF (Dissociative Identity Disorder system with Autism & ADHD) – we can bend and break our rules within reason. I’ve learned a true key thing from PirateSoftware on YouTube: AI won't take our jobs unless we don’t learn new things. And while my qualifications are already outdated, and I didn't study design for corporate work (I did it for the “OMFG I WANT TO MAKE COMICS” only to find out my brain can't handle writing books or drawing that much XD), this is a job. This experience has taught me the value of freelancing and working for yourself.

If you get in at the right time and place, sure, I’m not banking it, I’m not rich – but I’ve been able to do a little more, live a little more, and actually afford to exist outside of my bills a bit. I’ve helped my partners get games and software, and this year I’m working on fixing one of their computers with some of my money. I’ve started a Minecraft server for Earth & Dusk and Of The Night… I even got to play Dawntrail this year, and found out I’m a top 50% tier player! I’m still roughly a filthy casual, but I’ve got all my DoH/DoL to 100 and at least 4 classes on DoW/DoM combined to 100. Considering that in 2022 I had a job that nearly sent me to the mental health wards, this is a job that’s saved me time and time again.

Beyond the generosity, Civitai has been a true game-changer for me. It's been a springboard, not just for creative exploration, but also for a sense of purpose and even a minor form of employment. Being able to leverage the skills I’ve developed here has not only helped me financially, but it's genuinely boosted my mindset. It's empowered me to look towards the future with excitement and confidence.

I know many of you are also wondering about Earth & Dusk. I'm happy to confirm that the website will be back soon! We're working hard behind the scenes to bring it back better than ever, with a plethora of exciting updates and new models to explore.

Speaking of updates, I'm also thrilled to announce that there are tons of new model releases and even more embeddings on the horizon. I'm constantly working to bring you the cutting-edge tools and resources to help you create the best AI art possible!

And that's not all! I’m really excited to say that I will be returning to Twitch streaming soon, as well as focusing on creating more fun and engaging tutorial video snippets. I want to share everything I’ve learned, continue collaborating with the community, and foster a more inclusive environment for everyone looking to get into AI art.

So, again, thank you to my userbase, the staff, and the CEOs of Civitai. Y’all rock! Let's keep this train rolling as long as possible. I realize I'm not a poster child for this sort of thing, but if investors are listening or reading – this is an important thing. Outside of the NSFW scope, this is a very enabling accessibility feature for someone like me – to conceptualize things in such a way that my brain can finally understand.

Let the art-making continue!