Artist Onboarding • Verification

How to Become an Artist

D-ARTIST is open to all creators working in physical, traditional media. Learn what is required to earn the Verified Traditional Artist mark and access your Artist Studio.

"If you can create art, you can apply to become an artist on D-ARTIST."
The Inclusivity Principle of D-ARTIST

Who Can Apply?

D-ARTIST is not limited to famous, credentialed, or commercially established artists. We welcome:

  • Independent painters, sketchers, and illustrators working from home studios
  • Art students and members of school or community art clubs
  • Emerging creators beginning their professional journey
  • Experienced masters who wish to preserve an institutional archive of their traditional work

The only non-negotiable requirement is that your artwork must be 100% human-created using physical media (pencil, graphite, charcoal, watercolor, oil, acrylic, pastel, ink, or traditional illustration). Digital paintings and AI-generated imagery are not permitted.

The Verification Application Walkthrough

01 Access

Start Your Application

Sign into your D-ARTIST member account and navigate to dartist.lk/become-artist. The application wizard guides you through four clear stages. It is 100% free with zero submission charges.

02 Identity

Artist Information & Studio Presence

Provide the details that will shape your public profile at dartist.lk/username:

  • Artist Bio: A genuine artist statement explaining your artistic background, inspirations, and practice.
  • Studio Location: City or region (e.g. Kandy, Colombo, Galle).
  • Disciplines: Select your primary medium (e.g. Watercolor) and optional secondary mediums (e.g. Graphite, Charcoal).
  • Collector Line: A concise tagline visible to prospective collectors (e.g. "Specializing in wildlife charcoal studies on Arches cotton paper").
  • Student or Club Affiliation: (Optional) Mention any art club, school, or institution if applicable.
03 Inquiry Channels

Set Direct Contact Methods

Collectors connect with you directly with 0% platform commission. Specify the communication channels you prefer:

  • WhatsApp Number: Enables instant WhatsApp chat initiation when someone clicks "Order Art".
  • Studio Email: Direct email contact for collectors, galleries, or curators.
  • Portfolio / Social Links: (Optional) Personal website, Instagram, or YouTube where patrons can see more of your work.
04 Evidence

Submit Inaugural Artwork & Authenticity Proof

To confirm physical craftsmanship, submit one inaugural piece with evidence:

  • Finished Artwork Photo: A high-resolution photo of the completed physical piece.
  • Title, Medium & Dimensions: Accurate title, medium, substrate, and dimensions (height × width).
  • Work-in-Progress (WIP) Photos: 1 to 3 photos showing early drafting, pencil sketch underlay, or paint layering.
  • Physical Signature Photo: A clear close-up of your hand-written artist signature on the paper or canvas.
  • Physical Authenticity Declaration: An explicit checkbox confirming the artwork is 100% hand-rendered with zero AI generation or digital printing.

Manual Verification & Outcomes

Every submission is reviewed manually by the D-ARTIST curation team. We do not use automated bots to make verification decisions.

Your application will result in one of two outcomes:

  • Approved: You receive the verified badge, your inaugural artwork is published, and you gain immediate access to the Artist Studio Workspace.
  • Rejected: If the evidence is insufficient (e.g. missing signature photo, suspected digital creation, or incomplete details), you will receive feedback detailing what is missing so you can reapply.
Honest Verification Policies

We do not promise a specific turnaround time (such as "within 24 hours"), as manual curatorial review depends on volume. Furthermore, verified artist status does not guarantee future sales or commercial success — it provides the institutional platform and tools to reach people.

What Happens After Approval?

Once approved as a verified artist:

  • You gain access to the Artist Studio (dartist.lk/studio) to upload artwork, manage orders, and track views.
  • Your permanent public profile is published at dartist.lk/@username.
  • You can curate personal themed Collections.
  • Collectors can initiate direct WhatsApp and Email orders with 0% platform commission.
Next Steps for Artists
Read Artist Guidelines → How to Upload Artwork → Terms of Service → Copyright Policy →

Ready to build your artist presence?

Submit your application and join the permanent archive of traditional art.

Apply as an Artist Review Guidelines