UPDATED FAQ Sheet for Unframed-Nature 2015

Welcome (Back) to Unframed-Nature,
and to Our NEWLY Completed Group FAQ for 2015!



***If you just need info. about our "Submission Limits, Folder Descriptions, Folder Rules"
simply scroll DIRECTLY past this first section on "Introduction and Welcome" to the VERY NEXT SECTION where you will very likely find exactly what you are looking for! Thank you! Hope that helps!***

Introduction and Welcome!

First, I would like to take a moment to wish ALL of our Admins., Members, Affiliates, & Friends of our Group,
A REALLY SUPER YEAR in 2015!


If you are a NEW Member, thank you for joining us, and  Welcome to our Group! We really hope you will enjoy our fun-loving  Nature group, and our unique way of doing things!



And if you've been with us for a while, THANK YOU FOR YOUR AMAZING LOYALTY, and returning with us for another fabulous year of expressing our love of Nature through our love of ART!



Below you will find our:
Group's Updated FAQ, General Rules, and Everything you need to know about Submitting & Folders!

This News Article here, intends to contain as much as possible about what you need to know, about Unframed-Nature. It is a TOTAL FAQ Sheet- and will contain more than just simple rules.
However, to find something specific, simply scroll to the HEADER that you need!

There are only, VERY FEW CHANGES, within our group, and to our folders, in order to hopefully address a couple of folder issues we had during 2014, which we already implemented as the year went along! In my opinion, it already made things a little easier.

 
Of course it will help if we all read the parts that we NEED to know, or REFER to them in the future, as we are not expected to remember everything. We're not?
This will be made readily available through out our Group's Site!



All Administrators will use this FAQ sheet often ourselves, to become very familiar with the Group, AND to refer MEMBERS to, when they are having questions that can be answered herein.

  If ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE, and you do NOT understand something, PLEASE TELL US BY GROUP NOTE, or COMMENT. More than half of our ADMINISTRATORS speak/write in many other languages! We WILL TRY our VERY BESTS to help!




In general, PLEASE, NO spam, NO rude/disrespectful comments. These will not be tolerated, and most likely, will simply be ignored.

In ANY other case, we are genuinely here to help, to make things easier, clearer, and more efficient!
We are known to be a group, who loves to help!






Submission Limits, Folder Descriptions, Folder Rules

Please NOTE: For the convenience of all of our Members, AND our Administrators, this FAQ sheet will be posted inside ALL individual folders.

THE MAIN SUBMISSION LIMIT IS: TWO [ 2 ] Appropriate Nature Works per WEEK, to the Folder Labeled:
Members, SUBMIT Appropriate Nature Work HERE!

It MUST be Nature-Related ONLY, or of course it will be declined.
It MUST be APPROPRIATE for OUR GROUP- meaning, it must be a work that WILL fit into one of our available Nature folders, or it WILL be declined! If it is accidentally accepted, it will be removed later, and we apologize in advance, but we do work with new Admins., and plus we're all human, and things happen.
Thank you for understanding.

How will you know if it's "APPROPRIATE"??

Simply familiarize yourself with what our Nature folders are about, BEFORE submitting!
SEE BELOW, for descriptions on EACH folder!

And also you can take a previous INSIDE of each folder, to get a good idea.
We do not have a ton of folders to go through, so it won't take too long.

Your friendly staff, will be moving your work FOR you, to the correct folder, so you don't even have to be absolutely sure of which folder is the most correct, and it will save you a bit of time. So it doesn't get any easier than that for you!



EACH of the following FOUR [ 4 ] folders, are considered are the FOUR Main Folders. They are the ones, the MEMBERS & ADMINS. get to vote on in our Group's Every OTHER Monthly Event, "The Top Submissions of (whichever two months)" which we've held for a many years by now!
   
For the other Four [ 4 ] Special folders, it will be your SENIOR TEAM LEADER'S (Founder's) choice.


  
Birds, Invertebrates, Aquatic, Reptiles, Amphibians

NO humans present AT ALL, EVER, in any of the works that go into THIS folder!

If there is a work that includes one of these creatures, AND there IS a human hand or face showing, it will be submitted/moved to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
For details, read the folder description and rules for that folder.

Birds - This means ALL birds, including what is now considered to be domesticated birds. If they are birds at zoos, or even pets...

However, NO submissions with bars or cages in front of ANY birds.
They could be behind them, IF they have to be, but we prefer to think of birds as much in their natural environment as possible. Thank You for understanding.

Invertebrates - “Animals without backbones.” This includes 97% of all animals species. For anyone who ever wanted to know more about Invertebrates,
go HERE: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverteb…

Basically these are your living insects and mollusks. 
So your spiders, worms, butterflies, snails, and slugs would also go to this folder.

Aquatic - All animals of the sea, lakes, and rivers.
This can even include the domestic goldfish and other aquarium fish.
BUT for aquarium fish, be sure we do NOT see too much the aquarium, in order for it to be accepted.
( We improved over the year before, so just a reminder: with Aquatics- they belong HERE, and NO where else. Aquatics will continue to go to THIS FOLDER. THANKS! )
   

Reptiles & Amphibians - To understand better what these are, or to compare and contrast these animals, go HERE: www.diffen.com/difference/Amph…

Examples of Amphibians: Frogs, Toads, Newts, Salamanders
Examples of Reptiles: Snakes, Lizards, Crocodiles, Turtles

Again, TRY to keep terrariums out of any photos, as much as possible.


No mythical creatures or fantasy-type animals to be submitted to THIS folder.
IF you do have such a work, please submit it to:
Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy NATURE
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.




Land Mammals, Wild and Domestic

IMPORTANT: Mammal - Any of various warm-blooded animals of the class Mammalia whose young feed on milk produced by the mother’s mammary glands. Unlike other vertebrates, mammals have a diaphragm that separates the heart and lungs from the other internal organs, red blood cells that lack a nucleus, and usually have hair or fur. All mammals, but the monotremes bear live young. www.thefreedictionary.com/Mamm… [3rd of 4 definitions.]


Based on the above definition, of what is a Mammal, such animals, wild or domestic, may be submitted or moved to this folder.

No humans present at all in ANY of the works that go into THIS folder!

If there is a work of such a WILD animal, AND there IS also a human somewhere, it needs to be submitted to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

THIS folder includes ALL animals that are considered wild, but which are NOT any birds, invertebrates, aquatic, reptiles, or amphibians as these would be submitted to the folder would contain those.

These CAN include wild animals in captivity, such as in zoos, AS WELL AS, wild animals actually out in the wild,
however, we would hope to not readily be able to tell by looking at the photo that it is a wild animal in a captive habitat.

It is VERY important to remember that, either way, the animal is STILL WILD.

NO submissions with bars or cages in FRONT of such animals.
They could be behind them, if they have to be, but we prefer to think of them in their natural environment as much as possible, and of course we just want to able to see them best!


If there is a work of such a DOMESTIC mammal, and it IS your PET, such as a cat, dog, or rabbit, AND there IS also a human face or hand visible, it DOES need to be submitted to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
But, if it IS your PET, exceptions MAY be made for its surrounding HOME area, feeding bowls, blankets, etc. as long as these are background items, and the PET is obviously the focus..


No mythical creatures or fantasy-type animals to be submitted to this folder.
IF you do have such a work, please submit it to:
Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy NATURE
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.


No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.



Nature Much Closer


NO humans, architecture, or transportation, AT ALL, in any of the works that go into THIS folder!

If there is such a work that is focused MOST on the Nature, but has a human, or human hand, or some man made objects, it needs to be submitted to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE. 
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

Think the opposite of "ALL ‘Scapes, and anything that is a close up of Nature, is submitted to this folder.

NO animals or insects submitted to this folder.
If there is an animal or insect in the submission, please submit to the MOST appropriate of the TWO animal folders.

This folder includes closer ranges to, close-ups OR macros of:

single trees where the shape of the land scape is NOT visible, tree branches, pine cones, leaves, flowers, blades of grass, rocks, feathers, water drops, nests [without birds], seashells, etc.


Water is allowed as long as it is NOT a waterSCAPE. It MUST be a close up.
Water drops are allowed as long as they appear to be natural, and appear to be in a natural setting.

However, in the following examples:
If any food colouring is used, or the colours are changed to be a colour other than the colour of water, it becomes a Conceptual or Abstract piece, since the water is no longer natural looking, and it will NOT belong to this folder.

Such work will be submitted to:
Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy NATURE
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

We do NOT want to see manmade containers that this might be experimented in, appearing in the image being submitted. If it LOOKS natural, it WILL be submitted.

A water drop that was sprayed on a flower did not get there naturally, but since the water is natural and looks natural on the flower it WOULD be submitted.

Water drops in bowls, where the bowl is visible, or on top of CD’s or other distracting manmade objects will NOT be accepted to this folder.

Anything where you are creating or using water drops to express a concept or idea about Nature,
PLEASE submit to:
Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy Nature
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.
er
No blood, gore, or violence.



ALL 'Scapes

This folder seems pretty self-explanatory!

No humans, architecture, or transportation, AT ALL, in any of the works that go into THIS folder!
NO EXCEPTIONS!

If there is such a work that is focused MOST on the Nature, but has a human or two, or a house or barn or two, or a car or boat, or a statue, or monument, or any kind of bridge, or a bench, or paved streets, or some other man made item, it needs to be submitted to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
But for details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

This folder includes ALL 'Scapes of Sky, Water, and Land.
It includes sunrises and sets. It includes forest scenes with tree-scapes, too.

Close-Ups of a Single Tree should be submitted to: Nature Much Closer.
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

If there is ANY animal in the submission, please submit to the most appropriate of the TWO animal folders.

If you are submitting a whole "Cityscape" or "Skyline" be sure that it is NATURE you are trying to share, in such an image, and that it focuses MOST on Nature- such as the sky or water, or both. And if so, then it would go to Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
But for details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.


DIRT paths ARE okay to this folder.
PAVED roads are NOT. PAVED roads MUST go to:  Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.

Parks for tree-scapes, MIGHT be possible, IF you can AVOID buildings and statues and monuments, and park benches.

Otherwise, if it is has these Urban items at all, it needs to be submitted to: Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE.
But for details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.


NO mythical, magical, or fantasy-type scenes to be submitted to this folder.
IF you do have such a work, please submit it to:
Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy Nature
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.

No blood, gore, or violence.



Animals for Adoption and Animal Welfare

NO humans, architecture, or transportation, AT ALL, in any of the works that go into THIS folder!

This special folder is for any work showing animals that are currently up for adoption at a humane society, at the time the work is submitted. For photos or traditional or digital work of such animals to be accepted here,

There MUST be a functioning link, or complete info., to or about the actual humane society, animal shelter, pound, foster care group, or other type of animal facility, where the animal is up for adoption, in the ARTIST COMMENTS of the image.

In most of the cases, these animals will be cats or dogs, but NOT always! 

There are cases where rabbits, horses, chickens, ferrets, goats, and MORE, have found their way to such animal facilities due to a wide variety of reasons.

This folder is also for any animal work, that seeks to raise any funds FOR donating TO the needy animals that currently live at such a facility, while waiting for a forever home with a loving person or family.

But again for ANY such work, There MUST be a functioning link to the actual humane society, animal shelter, pound, foster care group, or other type of animal facility, where such donated funds are going, in the ARTIST COMMENTS of the image.

Additionally, this folder is also for any work that seeks to promote the adoption of animals, in general, from the above TYPES of facilities.  Such works MAY include stamps, posters, and literature pieces!

You may ALSO, submit any work that promotes the spaying and neutering of such animals,
which is actually beneficial for MANY reasons, but for ONE- it helps control the the overpopulation of these unwanted animals, not to mention it is usually required from these adoption animal facilities, when they enter, and definitely before they get adopted.

Do NOT submit any work advertising animals, such as baby animals, where the owner is intentionally breeding them for profit, or supplying them to stores to sell for profit.

Sometimes, nowadays, stores like PetSmart receive animals from humane societies and certain foster care groups, that they partner with, in order to help with the adoption process, and to alleviate problems of space at the animal facilities.  This can be a very beneficial program of partnership, because it can increase the chances of adoption for many animals, who have not had anyone show interest in them at the animal facility.

IF this is the case, the ARTIST COMMENTS must be able to reflect this.


It is VERY MUCH preferred that any work showing animals up for adoption, show them with NO wires or bars of the enclosures in front of them. It is just TOO difficult to really see these lovely animals with the front part of the enclosures in front of their faces.

It is MORE understandable and acceptable if you can see part of their enclosure behind them or on the side, but we do NOT need to see the front of the enclosure in front of their faces, to know they are available for adoption through an animal facility.

In some facilities, there are certain rooms or areas where cats are allowed to roam quite freely. 

Also in some facilities, a volunteer or an employee might be available to assist you, if you want to have the door of a cat enclosure open, in order to photograph them without the wires or bars in the way.

Additionally, a volunteer or an employee might be available to help you by taking a dog to a designated outside play area for a photo.

All you can do is ask.

If all else fails and all you have is a photo of an animal available for adoption with the enclosures in front of them... be VERY sure it is at least focused on the animal.

Some artists actually draw, paint, or do digital artwork of animals in need of adoption! We would love to see these works, too!


This folder is about helping animals in need of adoption, promoting the idea of responsible adoption, the spaying and neutering of these animals, responsible pet ownership, and the humane treatment of animals in general.

Photos of stray cats and dogs, or other domestic mammals of unknown owners, including feral cats belong to the folder: Domestic Mammals,

A feral cat, may be "wild" due to the lack of human care and interaction from his or her own individual beginning, but they come from the species of cats which were domesticated by humans thousands of years ago, by now.

IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS to the Above:
If your intent in your ARTIST COMMENTS speaks to Animal Welfare, and the lack of care, humane treatment, and lack of spaying and neutering- certain things which have led to the situation which has led the animal to become stray or feral, then it CAN belong to this folder!

An animal or pet that already has an owner,
belongs to: Land Mammals, Wild or Domestic
or in some cases to: Birds, Invertebrates, Aquatic, Reptiles, Amphibians

If you do update your image later, when the animal has been adopted, that's okay! The image will stay in the folder.
Works from this folder will be periodically featured with "The Top Subs..." News Articles, for the dual purpose of sharing the artwork itself, AND for reasons to inform and spread awareness.

Any work is welcome here that speaks to the treatment of Animals and their Welfare, in an informative way!


No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.


Endangered Species- Environmental Issues

We at Unframed-Nature absolutely LOVE nature, especially the beauty of nature.
And because we love the beauty of nature, so much, we are also very much interested in protecting that beauty, and helping to preserve it, including the protection of our endangered species!

This special folder is for work that brings to our attention issues and problems that adversely affect nature, and therefore all of life, plants and animals. It is for work that seeks to be informative and spread awareness about what threatens Nature, and our natural resources, in general.



No humans, architecture, or transportation, AT ALL, in any of the works that go into THIS folder!
( Unless, it IS something that is clearly part of illustrating concerns regarding "Environmental Issues!" )

This special folder is for any work that depicts an animal, or plant species, that is specifically considered ENDANGERED, and you are submitting it for the purpose of spreading awareness and information. It would further help if you have stated something accordingly, in the ARTIST COMMENTS of the submission.

Besides photography, traditional or digital work, of such animals or plants themselves,
we would LOVE other images and literature that reflect issues concerning clean air, clean water, recycling, growing organically, global warming and climate change, rainforest preservation, urban sprawl, toxins, and etc., the environmental issues that are important to YOU.

Submissions could easily include: stamps, posters, and literature on the subject of Endangered Species or Environmental Issues!

The purpose of this folder is to spread awareness about Endangered Species and Environmental Issues, and possibly inform viewers in general, about how they can help!  We would like the work in this folder to inspire anyone who sees it!

The artist submitting work to this folder, must be knowledgeable and know, for example, if the animal or animals within their deviation, IS, in fact "endangered".

For a complete list of animals and one of plants, which is each compiled of lists from several governments and agencies, AND updated DAILY,
go to: Earth Endangered-ANIMALS, and
Earth Endangered-PLANTS.

The above links can be used as a helpful resource and reference for both our Admins., AND Members.

This folder is for helping to spread knowledge so we want to make sure that work contained here is about species that ARE endangered, or about the subject in general.


Works solely about animals/species which are already extinct- such as prehistoric art,
 go to: Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy Nature.
For details, read the folder description and rules for this folder.


Since we also welcome Environmental work to this folder to help spread the news of what problems our planet faces, and ways we can be a part of the solution.

Here are TWO lists of Environmental Issues:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_…
and
www.globalissues.org/issue/168…

To be accepted to this folder, the work needs to have an obvious clear message about the protection of Earth and Nature, and the promotion of Earth's wellbeing. If it's not readily obvious by the submission itself, the message must be stated in the ARTIST COMMENTS of the submission.


  Works from this folder will be periodically featured with "The Top Subs..." News Articles, for the dual purpose of sharing the artwork itself, AND for reasons to inform and spread awareness.

We will NOT accept work that is volatile, or that expresses violence, including profanity, in any part of the work.
While many of these issues can make us compassionate Artists, feel incredibly passionate to the point of anger, be sure the submission is MUCH MORE about the ISSUE and/or the SOLUTION... and LESS about ranting and raving.

No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.



Humans, Architecture, Transportation in NATURE


HERE is the folder for ANY Nature work that might also contain a human being or two, or a house or barn or two, or a car or boat, or a statue, or monument, or a bridge, or a bench, or paved streets, or some other man made item.

However, it is VERY IMPORTANT to understand that the submission MUST still be about and focused on NATURE!
The intent of the submission is about NATURE! 
Think of it like this:
It just so happens that there is a human or something man-made as part of it, but it is small part.

Examples of what NOT to submit:
If your intent is to actually share a PORTRAIT of your child, and they are the MAIN focus, front and center, it would be declined.
But, if there is a child in a landscape holding a flower, or playing with leaves, and they are interacting with Nature, it is okay.

Similarly, a couple of people on the beach is okay, but if ALL we can see is a crowded GROUP of people, it would be declined.

If you want to show an airplane or car, and it takes up the WHOLE image, it would be declined, but if it is a small part of the image, where we see mostly sky or mostly trees, this would be okay.

Similarly, if a boat is front and center and takes up most of the image, and we can barely see the water, it would be declined.
But if the boat is just PART of the waterscape, and we can see LOTS of the water, this would be okay.

If it is a CLOSE-UP of a JUST a park bench, it would be declined.
But a park bench as PART of the 'Scape, and we can see lots of trees, etc., this would be okay.

If the whole intent and focus is on a statue or monument, it would be declined.
But if the statue or monument is simply part of the 'Scape, and we can see lots of trees or land, this would be okay.

A WHOLE City-Scape, is NOT acceptable for this group. If it is about the city, and the image is mostly the city, it is just NOT appropriate for our group.
A couple of buildings far away okay, IF we can mostly see land or water, and sky formations.


I hope this helps!

So, basically if such items are simply a PART of the submission, it would be accepted.

NATURE MUST still be the focus of this folder, because it is the focus of this GROUP!

Similarly, if there is a human HAND, holding a puppy, or flower, it would be submitted to THIS folder.
If it is an image of a person WITH their pet, it would be submitted to THIS folder.

  Works from this folder will be periodically featured with "The Top Subs..." News Articles.

No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.




Still Life, Conceptual, Crafts, Abstract, Fantasy NATURE


This special folder includes other ways to be creative in different ways, when expressing NATURE artistically!

Still Life NATURE

NATURE depicted in still life, such as vases of flowers, and other artistic arrangements of nature, like pumpkins, fruits, nuts, pinecones, shells, etc.

In still life, it is understood that there is a setting, such as a vase, bowl, a table top, a window sill or a step, etc., that is housing the presentation. Submissions of such still life showing the setting is okay, but should be minimal. We still want to see the nature, first and foremost!
It is also understood that it is purely the Nature itself, that is the intention, in such work.

Most often, the artist would categorize such work under Still Life.

Conceptual NATURE

Images of work which express a certain idea or concept ABOUT Nature, where certain special materials are used to to share something very specific about Nature. It is the intent to bring some IDEA across about Nature.

Be sure the concept of NATURE is somehow obvious.

More often, the work would be categorized under Conceptual.


Crafts of NATURE

Any craft work that YOU, yourself, have created by hand, and represents NATURE in some way, would fit well in this folder.

It must be obviously about nature, for it to be accepted.
For example:  homemade bowls with trees on them, or a necklace that has an animal pendant.



Abstract NATURE

These are works completely about NATURE, where the view of what is real is bent or departed from.

As Administrators interpreting an image, it may not be readily understood as an expression about Nature.
In order to accept it, the TITLE or even a description in the ARTIST COMMENTS of such a work should be descriptive of the NATURE that the work seeks to represent.

More often, the work would be categorized under Abstract.


Fantasy NATURE

This is for artwork that depicts something about NATURE through magical, supernatural types of themes.
Or themes about animals depicted that no longer exist, like dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures.

They could include mythical or magical creatures, as long as they are OF nature... such as fairies, or a humanistic beings, fantastical animals, or extinct creatures, interacting within Nature,
and that the WHOLE piece does speak to NATURE!

More often, the work would be categorized under Fantasy.


  Works from this folder will be periodically featured with "The Top Subs..." News Articles.


No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.


OTHER TYPES OF FOLDERS


Featured News and Journals


THE TYPE OF NEWS AND JOURNALS ACCEPTED:
HIGH-QUALITY NATURE-RELATED JOURNALS
ANY news or journals that contain causes related to nature and animals.
ANY news or journals that supports other positive, helpful, or compassionate events or causes.  In other words, it does NOT have to be nature-related, but we as a nature group, would support other happenings in news, that would be considered kind, good, and helpful, in some way, humanity-wise, too.
ANY news or journals containing contests or projects related to ANY of the above!
ANY news or journals with helpful tools or tips, on how to DO something-- such as tutorials!
We will look for any such WONDERFUL NEWS and JOURNALS!

WHAT NOT TO SUBMIT:
Highly personal news- journals which are mainly only about your personal life.
Negative news- such as public gossip about other deviants, or a lot of complaining in general. etc., Simply NOT what we're looking for.
Mature Content, or anything that would be considered dark, as in blood, gore, or violence, for the sake of promoting such things themselves.
News about subjects like Medical discoveries or ANTI-Violence WOULD definitely be considered.
A random feature of work, with no explanation of the intent or purpose for which inspired you to make such a collection.
That would be a basic journal feature, and we would only be submitting high quality news, which would need to have an obvious meaning and theme.                                                                                                

Remember...
HIGH QUALITY,
and positive, helpful, news!
ENJOY!




Group DONORS' Folder

This folder is reserved specially for our Members and Admins. who have donated, continue to donate, and newly donate ANY amount of points to our Group.

Depending upon the amount of points donated, each donor of points gets a certain number of works REQUESTED to this folder, [ 20 or more] and with those SAME works, they are thanked with a feature in the next appropriate Group Journal.
Even donating LESS than 20 each donor is mentioned and thanked in the next appropriate Group Journal.

However, regardless of the amount donated,
ANY DONOR MAY SUBMIT TWO [ 2 ] appropriate works per WEEK, to this folder!


What is submitted to this folder must follow ALL of the other rules of this Group, meaning must be ANY work, that could likewise also fit into any of the other Nature Folders!

For the detailed information on this subject, feel free to read the Journal at: Unframed-Nature-PTS
Thank You SO Very Much!:iconbigpointsplz: WELCOME to UNFRAMED-NATURE'S POINTS POOL :iconbigpointsplz:
:icondonatepointsgreenplz:
FIRST off, we at Unframed-Nature would like to thank you in advance for every single point you donate! We truly understand the value of each and every point, and we need you to know how much you are appreciated for your generous donation, of whatever amount you donate!

Our Group, Unframed-Nature is a large and very active and talented Group, with a SUPER Administrative Team, and an OUTSTANDING Membership, full of truly supportive Members who seem to really care about the Group, everything that we strive to do, and our many activities.
:iconspreadmoreloveplz:
To understand more about our Group, please feel FREE to visit us at:
Unframed-Nature :iconunframed-nature:.
:icondonatepointsgreenplz: To HELP the GROUP Unframed-Nature :iconunframed-nature: please donate at:
<


If you have not ever donated points, this folder is not yours to submit to. If you submit to this folder anyway, your work will be declined.
Please submit to the folder labeled: Members, SUBMIT Appropriate Nature Work HERE!

We have Admins. keeping a list of our donors.
If you are a brand NEW donor, give us a bit time for your devname to be updated on our, before you will have your full access to this folder. If you do submit, and we do ask you about it, just tell us that you have recently donated, and we will double-check on it!
Thank you for understanding!


Remember: Many of the works from this folder, get RE-Featured in subsequent Group Journals, in the "RE-FEATURED" section, and those works are moved to the FEATURED FOLDER, and then they eventually receive a from the account at:
Unframed-Nature-PTS
and then they will appear on the account's profile page in the Featured Box called: "Random Favourites".

Thank you to ALL who have ever donated, and thank you in advance to those who donate in the future!

We couldn't do everything we do, without YOU!






FEATURED

This folder is reserved for Admin. use only.

The featured folder is used for:

The Art that was voted with "the slightly more votes" that we see at the top of each folder section featured in the Every OTHER Monthly TOP SUBMISSIONS News Article, as voted on by the MEMBERS who vote on the folders, each month.

The Art that was featured out of "The Four Special Folders" in the Every OTHER Monthly TOP SUBMISSIONS News Article.

The Art from the Group Donors' Folder, that was featured with the Monthly TOP SUBMISSIONS News Article, in the "RE-FEATURED" section.

The Art that wins in any of our Contests or Monthly Theme Challenges.

Additionally, every piece of work that makes it into the Featured Folder, in one of the ways described above, will receive a from our Points Account:
Unframed-Nature-PTS
and as a result, will appear on that account's profile page in the Featured Box called: "Random Favourites".



Monthly Theme Folder

We will hold Monthly Theme Challenges, MOST but NOT all months.
We will not usually have one running during the time of a BIG CONTEST.

Sometime during 2014, we started having some of our Monthly Themes run during TWO month periods, in which case points prizes were higher, and more winners were recognizes. We will likely continue with this NEW trend in 2015.

Themes are not actually considered FULL Contests. They could be considered Mini-Contests, or Challenges.

Most of the time, winners will be offered point prizes, though smaller in amount compared to our TWO BIG CONTESTS per year and featured by our own group.

The purpose is to find a theme, where artists of a wide variety of media can participate.

It is meant to prompt and motivate us to feel more challenged than usual, and push our skills in our media of choice, and to encourage group participation in another way.

Usually, it is only ONE Submission PER Member.

Theme Challenges, lean more toward the intrinsic values, especially since the prizes are smaller.

No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.


Contest Folder

We usually host TWO really BIG CONTESTS per year.

Usually there is one sometime during Spring,
and one during Autumn. [Northern Hemisphere]

For these BIG CONTESTS, we DO try to offer BIG PRIZES, and many prizes,
and we also try to gain as MUCH support as possible from our Affiliates, as well as from our individual Members, with promoting and advertising our Contests, 
as well as offering features for prizes.

Again, the purpose is to find a theme, where artists of a wide variety of media can participate.

It is meant to prompt and motivate us to feel more challenged than usual, usually in some kind of meaningful way,
 and push our skills in our media of choice, and to encourage group participation in another way.

Usually, they are about five weeks long.

Usually, it is only ONE Submission PER Member.

No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence.





IMPORTANT RULE FOR ALL OF OUR FOLDERS:
No dead animals, blood, gore, or violence, including profanity.
NO Mature Content, as outlined by dA, is permitted in our group.
Why?
Simply because our Group has always been "Family-Friendly".

IMPORTANT SUBMITTING RULE, AFFECTING ALL FOLDERS:
Please do not submit two or more works that are the same or similar in a row.
We will likely choose one, but not the other.  We may even decline the 2nd similar one if you submit it the following week.

Likewise, our Admins. will NOT request two or more of similar works in a row either, from the same artist.

MOST IMPORTANT RULE FOR ALL OF OUR FOLDERS:
HAVE FUN!
Why?
Why not!
After all, life and art, is always MUCH better, when we remember the "fun-factor"!






The Basics on WHO We Are


What type of Art Media is accepted at Unframed-Nature?

The quickest answer: ALL!

We are an ALL-Media group, and we are proud of this fact!
We welcome ALL Artists, no matter your preferred medium of Art.

We want every type of Artist to feel at home here.

One unique aspect of our Group, for a very long time now, is that our MOST our folders are not really divided up by art media, except for somewhat the last two.

Mostly we do share the folders among artists of all variety of Media!

This way, we are free to view other types of mediums that express something about Nature.
We can learn from others who share the same media that we, ourselves, participate in, but we can also learn from others who express themselves in art media that is different from our own.

This is one truly very special thing about our Group, which has NOT changed.

If it is about Nature, and would fit one of the subject matters we offer, and can be expressed through your preferred Art Medium, please submit your work to the Folder Labeled:
Members, SUBMIT Appropriate Nature Work HERE!

What are Examples of Art-Media that can share something about Nature?

Photography, Photo-Manipulations [with credits!], Traditional Work such as Drawings and Paintings, Digital Work, Fractals, Fractal-Manips., Animations, Stamps, Crafts that YOU have created [which is ONE that does go to a specific folder], and  Literature such as Poetry and Visual Poetry, and Etc.

LITERATURE is VERY MUCH WELCOMED! We LOVE it! Of course, it MUST be about Nature, and depending on what it is about will determine which folder it gets moved to.
For example:
If you write about your pet, it will be placed in: Land Mammals, Wild and Domestic,
If you write about a sunset, the ocean, the sky- or all of it- it will be placed in: ALL 'Scapes,
If you write about ways to help Mother Earth, it will be placed in: Endangered Species and Environmental Issues

If it depicts Nature in some way, we want it!


Several types of Art-Media fit well within our various types of folders!
It mostly depends on the subject of the folder.!



What level or levels of artistic skills do you accept?

The quickest answer: ALL

We are definitely NOT an elitist group, by philosophy. We feel, that we learn best from those who have progressed in years and experience in their artistic trade, as well as the fact that we are able to learn from those who are just beginning. So we DO include and value ALL levels of ability.

Your work will NOT be declined based on our opinions of quality.
Work is ONLY declined, if it does not fit the rules of the folder which it was submitted to.

However, it is important to NOTE, we also value what is YOUR own BEST work at any given time
and we believe you should also. 

In other words do NOT submit a work that is five years old, IF you have improved, and can share a current reflection of your best work.
In general, do NOT submit work that you feel is not your best.
If YOU are not happy with it, then do not submit it.

You should only submit your best work at all times.

[Nod]

Take a look through our gallery folders and you will note, that we DO have very high quality work, in nearly every medium.

One reason, is because Every OTHER month there is an opportunity for the MEMBERS to VOTE on what THEY feel are the TOP SUBMISSIONS for two months in a row, which is then showcased in a Group Journal, "The TOP SUBMISSIONS of UNFRAMED-NATURE for (whichever two months)"

This can help to individually challenge each one of us, to improve.

It is also a wonderful way for Members to become more involved in a personal way.

We usually have a LOT of Members who vote each time we have this event, and we love and appreciate such participation!



After all, we truly believe that this is the Group's Group!




Is there anything at all, that Unframed-Nature would NOT accept?

This is a great and important question.

However, one thing is we do NOT accept WIP's i.e. "Works In Progress"...

These are actually very valuable works, that should indeed be uploaded and shared on deviantART.

It is always so interesting to see the progression of any type of work, how it started, and how it evolved.

But as far as the group goes, we will only accept FINISHED PIECES.

So, if your title, or category, or artist comments section, indicates that it is a WIP, it would be declined, but with a welcome for you to please submit the finished piece.


Also, we would NOT normally accept OC's i.e. "Original Characters" even if they do represent an animal.

We also would NOT accept fan art that a traditional or digital artist might draw themselves, or have colored from someone else's line art.

For example:  We WOULD accept a drawing of a mouse to the Correct folder, but we would NOT accept a drawing of the Disney Character "Mickey Mouse", as cute and wonderful as he may be!

[Note] But, The ONLY exception COULD be, is if the OC or fan art is being used in some message for an Environmental Cause.

What does the name "Unframed-Nature" even mean?
   
The name of our Group, means Nature that is unhindered!
Nature is NOT hindered, or at least it shouldn't be.  Therefore we don't want to hinder, any type of Artist from having the opportunity to submit their art that reflects nature in some way, to our Group.

The name does NOT have to do with putting actual frames or borders on any visual images. So if this is part of your style, please feel free to do so! Do NOT feel hindered.
 
[Dance!]


What else is important to understand or unique about Unframed-Nature?

Over the past years, my fellow-Admins. and I have seen comments, and received feedback in various ways, about how exceptionally friendly, welcoming, encouraging, and positive our Group is! Each time this has been noticed, it has made us VERY happy!



We believe, that this is the best way to interact with each other on the Admin., Team, and with the Members of our Group, with our Affiliates, and basically, that this is simply the best way to interact with people in general.

We also believe, that Nature, itself, is a positive subject matter for so many reasons, from sharing all the beauty of Nature to some of the more educational facets of Nature- in helping to spread awareness of specific issues that affect Nature.  Therefore it is essential to share different works of art that represent these things, through our various artistic mediums and abilities. THIS is certainly positive!

Furthermore, our group has become about camaraderie, and partnerships with other Groups and sometimes individual Members, who are also doing something significant that is positive, through art.

It is why we opened the folder: "Featured News and Journals" in 2012, so we could help promote
BOTH News/Journals about Nature, AND help promote News/Journals about OTHER amazing, helpful, and positive subject matters, from groups and individuals around dA!

[Nod]

Additionally, in most ALL of our own Group Journals, our NEWS section features awesome things from mostly other Groups, and sometimes from individuals, as well.
We also keep a Promotional Section on our Profile page! NOTE OUR GROUP if you have a Contest or Project, and you are Affiliated with us!

As a result, we at Unframed-Nature, are fairly active in the deviantART community, where we support really wonderful things around the community, and encourage these such subject and happenings in whatever ways we can. [Aww]








Other Important Information & General Rules

Affiliation Rules, and Info.

ONE MAIN RULE:

We do NOT accept Incoming Affiliations with Groups that encourage or allow MATURE CONTENT in their Rules or Galleries...
[This includes Groups with Hate/Violence/Etc.]

Just our group has  always been "Family Friendly"... that's all.

There might be a very rare occasion where we could SEND a request TO a group, that could have Mature Content, but the reason for it might be because we are wanting to affiliate for another and very specific reason.

And so this is reserved for the judgement of the Senior Team Leader (Founder) and other Administrators as well.


Primarily, we LOVE to affiliate with other nature and animal groups.
But we also enjoy to affiliate with groups that focus on certain medias of art-
such as general photography or general traditional groups, for example-
but are without Mature Content categories.
Additionally, we really LOVE to affiliate with groups that have very POSITIVE reasons for coming together, as a group, such as groups that promote causes that serve to benefit something. Certain Community-based groups would fit such a description.

We love our Affiliates!


Conduct of Members and Administrators

The quickest description for this section is: Mutual-RESPECT

We work to be sure we are respectful of each other as Administrators, and we also aim for our Administrators to be respectful of our Members.

We also want our Members to be respectful of each other while participating in ANY aspect of our group.

This is very important to us, in order to maintain positive and friendly relationships, as we work together to share our various works of art.

This includes stating comments that are rude regarding any winners of Contests or Monthly Themes, that we host, or rude comments about any work that is featured in our Monthly Top Submissions Articles, or any other event or special News Article.

It is offensive to the Members whose work is chosen, it is offensive to those who chose the work, and it's offensive to any of the Admins. who have worked hard on the News Articles, to bring forth such work, as well as to any of the Admins. who assisted with these News Articles in some way.

This also includes stating comments that are rude regarding the way we run our group, or the way our group is organized.
Simply, if you are not happy with our particular group, you do not have to be a Member, as there are plenty of groups on dA to choose from.

Our response will aim to be calm, but we will be firm about such an offense.

If it should continue, you might be ignored, suggested to leave the group, or banned from the group, depending on how severe things get, which is left to our judgement.

To date, I, as the Founder, have never actually banned any Member,
and the above described issues have only occurred very very rarely! [Aww]

However, because there have been a few such cases, it warrants these explanations.


Also, your work is NOT declined based on our opinions of quality at our group [though we do expect you to submit work that YOU feel is YOUR best, that you are happy with- as we have already covered].

However, your work CAN be declined if it does not belong to our group, at all, in any of our folders,
Or if it submitted incorrectly.

As part of being respectful on the part of the Administrators, we at Unframed-Nature will always try our BEST to give a reason for declining, and a re-direction for the correct folder the work should be submitted to, when applicable.

We aim to do so as kindly as possible, with the understanding that we are each unique individuals, and therefore, some Administrators's personalities may not be interpreted as warmly as others. Some of us come across more warmly over the internet than others, that's all. 

But we will not intend to be rude or mean to you, in ANY sort of way...

However, if any members become unnecessarily upset over what are our rules, and replies in anger with rudeness to the Administrators,

we will calmly but firmly tell you that it is not necessary to be rude to us.
And again, if it should continue, you might be ignored, suggested to leave the group, or banned from the group, depending on how severe things get, which is left to our judgement.

As I already mentioned, to date, I have never banned anyone from the group, since becoming Founder.

The above issues are quite rare, but as they have occurred once in a while, it warrants these explanations.

So, let's be mutually-respectful of one another, and remember that ANY of these such examples described in this section are really small, in comparison to LIFE-
in other words nothing that may happen, such as features or winners or group organization, or being declined, is ANYTHING to get so upset and rude about.

Thank you for understanding!




Administrators at Unframed-Nature are HUMAN Volunteers

This actually goes hand in hand with the previous section: Conduct of Members and Administrators

This is simply a reminder that the Administrators at Unframed-Nature are both Humans and Volunteers,
and therefore "Human Volunteers"!

This seems obvious, and comical to even state it, but it is a reminder worth expressing.

As human beings, we get sick, have emergencies, have other things to do, and basically have busy lives, outside of dA- all contrary to popular belief! [XD]

As volunteers, we give as much time as we are able to give, and many of us have specific jobs in addition to voting on the submissions that come in.

We are NOT paid in any kind of way, and any other extrinsic perks are very minimal.

We are simply asking for your patience...

If a work you have submitted is not accepted as fast as you think it should be, please have patience.
We are doing the best we can to be of service, but as a volunteer organization, we can't always do everything as fast as you may want.

Additionally if you have sent a NOTE to the GROUP, it will be answered as soon as humanly possible.

If a Contest or a Monthly Theme Folder, does not OPEN or Close, EXACTLY when it has said it would, please be patient and understanding.

We are doing the best we can. 

Similarly, please be patient and understanding, when our whole Group or at least some of our folders are closed for a certain length of time, and they are not opening as soon as you thought they should.

Things happen, and it has been known to happen that we get behind.

Also as human volunteers, it has been known to happen, that we do make mistakes.

Please understand this, and know that whenever it is possible we will do our best to correct a mistake.
Know that any mistakes we may make, are not personal.

Plus, sometimes, there may be decisions that need to be made, which are actually subjective, despite our best efforts to make things as clear and definitive as possible.

As individuals, it is known to happen that even with what appears to be factual, we are bound to interpret things differently from a member, or even from another Administrator.

We are a TEAM of Administrators from around the world, and it is also true that English is not the first language of many of our Admins., and so sometimes things might be interpreted differently for these additional reasons.


The Times When Our Group Closes

Our Group closes down briefly at the end, and beginning of every OTHER month. Actually, it is closed from the 1st - 7th, the first week, of every OTHER month- during the time that MEMBERS and ADMINS., are voting on the TOPS SUBMISSIONS for the previous TWO months!

We would appreciate it if you did NOT submit to whatever folder or folders that MAY remain open, just because it is any folder that is open!

If it doesn't belong to that folder, DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR WORK, and WAIT UNTIL THE CORRECT FOLDER IS OPEN AGAIN!
[Aww]

It often happens that our Group Donors' Folder, which has rarely closed, gets flooded with work from Members who have NOT donated, just because it is a folder that is opened.

You will be declined.  Please have patience and understanding, and simply return later to submit your work to the correct folder, when that folder opens again.
We always re-open again, and it doesn't take too long!

Our Group closes down more FULLY once a year, sometime during the middle/end of December through the beginning of January.
This is usually a closure of about three weeks.

Exact dates are always posted somewhere on the Group's Profile Page, as well as in the most recent Group Journals.

This allows the administrators to take more time for more of break, that they DO deserve!! [Heart]

It also allows some time to make some changes, much needed updates, and do some year-end folder maintenance, etc.

Please return to the group when we are open again, as we always welcome your ongoing participation!





Application to be An Administrator at Unframed-Nature

Administrator Application for Unframed-NatureUnframed-Nature's Application for Administrative Position
Accepting Applications for Administrator Positions at Unframed-Nature is now: OPEN!
Introduction
Before you apply, please know that volunteering for a large and active group here on dA, such as Unframed-Nature is a real and true commitment, which will take up some of your time on at least a weekly basis, maybe more.
Unframed-Nature is special in many ways, but from an Administrative view point, it is very special because we have always had good luck with our current Administrators, most of which have been with the Group, as Administrators, for a very long time.
We are a very friendly Team, both with each other, and with the Members, as well. This means when we do have to decline works, we do give a reason, and we are friendly about it.  It means, that upon occasion if there is something that we disagree about within the Admin. Team, we disagree nic

We accept Applications to be an Administrator at Unframed-Nature
and you will receive a reply.

We may be looking for more Administrators at any time, but even if we are not, the application that you send WILL be saved for the next time that we are looking for more Administrators.

The application is NOT at all, as formal as it looks. You can simply answer what you want or what you can.

All of the parts are included, to simply assess what are the areas of strength of each applicant, so we can better get to know you, and understand where [and when] you might best be of service.

Thank you!




Our Points Account

If you would like to donate points to our Group,
our Points Account is HERE: Unframed-Nature-PTS

The perks for donating are located at the Account, on the following Journal:
Thank You SO Very Much!:iconbigpointsplz: WELCOME to UNFRAMED-NATURE'S POINTS POOL :iconbigpointsplz:
:icondonatepointsgreenplz:
FIRST off, we at Unframed-Nature would like to thank you in advance for every single point you donate! We truly understand the value of each and every point, and we need you to know how much you are appreciated for your generous donation, of whatever amount you donate!

Our Group, Unframed-Nature is a large and very active and talented Group, with a SUPER Administrative Team, and an OUTSTANDING Membership, full of truly supportive Members who seem to really care about the Group, everything that we strive to do, and our many activities.
:iconspreadmoreloveplz:
To understand more about our Group, please feel FREE to visit us at:
Unframed-Nature :iconunframed-nature:.
:icondonatepointsgreenplz: To HELP the GROUP Unframed-Nature :iconunframed-nature: please donate at:
<

Read more back UP at the Group DONORS' Folder.

Thank you to ALL who have ever donated, either once or repeatedly, and no matter the amount!
Also, thank you in advance to those who plan to donate in the future.





A Work in Progress

This Complete Group FAQ sheet is always a work in progress!

For minor changes, like grammar and confusing content, this will continue to be edited, as needed.

But for any actual BIG changes, that affect the Admins., Members, or Group as a whole,
we will do our very best to be informative of such changes-

We always ADVISE that you read the NEWS SECTIONS of our "Top Subs of Unframed-Nature" News Journals.

Please continue to refer to this sheet. It is not something to memorize, but to refer to.


In Closing...

Yes, the length of this Complete Group FAQ sheet is quite long, but this is often the case of FAQ Sheets for many organizations.

It is long, because it is a TOTAL FAQ sheet for our group, which is meant to contain as much info. as possible, in a helpful and organized way.

In my own experience it is truly better to have too much info. in order to cover everything, rather than not enough...

The thumbcode of this FAQ sheet, will be posted throughout our pages at Unframed-Nature ,
inside our gallery folders, and regularly within our Group Journals, throughout the year.

We want you to have continuous access to all you need to know.

Here's wishing everyone a most wonderful NEW YEAR!

And hoping for another great year at Unframed-Nature too!