Wooo! Way to go everyone! I'm going to give those who are working in the aesthetic threads direct shout outs real quick because you all deserve it and make amazing stuff (so for those who haven't checked out their work, get on that ASAP).
Thank you Gossamer, Luminescence, Antipods, and everyone else who may or may not be making codes anymore or are retired and previously made box codes, all of your work is fantastic. Goss, you have a classic/timeless style that looks good for any PC. Lumi, your codes are stylish in a way that looks clean and very well composed. Anti, your style is truly unique and really brings a new fashionable edge to boxcodes because of your coding and your Photoshop skills combined. Everyone else who's done boxcodes in the past too but may have stopped or retired have done great work too and definitely has helped inspire others to pursue the same work. I definitely wouldn't have thrown my hat in the ring if it weren't for seeing others putting their time and work into gifts for other people.
I guess that's what I like about the aesthetics forum and why I personally make boxcodes. It inspires a lot of communication and even friendships. I've been close friends with people who have requested codes in the past but likely wouldn't have met or talked to if it weren't for their request. Making codes also encourages artistic endeveours since most people who make box codes often times commission out to other BC makers and then request work from them. It creates a cycle of trading art and supporting one another and helping each other grow in their art and creativity. The act of making art for others often without anything in return creates a loop of generosity that spreads to the other parts of the forum.
People giving their time and energy to make personal pieces of art for others they have never met and doing so happily and willingly really shows me what art is about, whether it be coding, Photoshop, drawing, writing, or anything else. It's about connecting with others and forming relationships with people. It's about inspiring the best in people and creating something that'll last-- not in physical form, but through the actions, beliefs, and feelings of others.
That's really the heart of it for me. Boxcodes, writing, drawings, videos, their fun, and look beautiful, but most of the time we wouldn't be doing any of it if there were no one to share it with, to connect with. People don't create art in a void, not often times, so you all should take pride in your art. Your boxcodes. Your banners. Your Photoshop. Your writing. Your drawings, videos, music, tattoos, sculptures, codes, on and on. Take pride in it because that's something that's going to connect you to others, and that connection is going to plant seeds that grows and spreads to even more people.
You all make and have made great work so don't be ashamed or scared to take pride in that. Wave it like a flag because we're all going to be looking up at it with a smile. That goes for you, writers.
Stay awesome everyone.
