Copying etc. (Public entry)
It is very late-3:40am-so I apologize in advance if I come off as grumpier than usual, but I am just really irritated with all the character and style "copies" off of me lately.
I guess what sparked this is something that happened tonight; I was in OC with a bunch of people and noticed someone drawing in a really similar style to mine as of late. Then later I went to a messageboard that I haven't been to in ages because of all the n00bs and stupidity that wreaks havoc there-Lilymud-and I saw an avatar of someone's character that was also an imitation of my style(actually this person has been mimicking my style ever since I was known to them at TLKFAA; whenever my style changes, so do theirs and very similarly but also discreetly). Then there are the character copy things that I sort of ranted about in my sheezyart journal:
[I don't know why I always choose Sheezy to vent out my frustration, but I think it stems from my frustration with the site in general, so it seems appropriate to feel irritated with everything about it, and therefore it feels just to vent things that I would normally not voice.
So I really have never said anything related to art theft or copying before because I have friends that think it is just silly and that it is just a "philosophy" to share ideas and that art is just a continuous copying of ideas. Well, I agree on some points of that, but disagree on some points too. And lately I have been very frustrated because it seems like every time I turn around or venture to a site I haven't been to in a long time or even looking at new art or characters that people, even artists I would call 'friends', upload, I see more and more copies of my feline characters. It isn't so much the coloring or markings or even the style as it is the hairstyle. See, most of my feline characters that are really close to me, i.e. my fursona and her family and friends, have a hairstlye that is relative to most or all of them.. Their hair goes off to the right side of their head and is either very long (like Scully and Laeurin and their family's) or curled under their chin or just floppy or in a ponytail that descends down their back (like Viki). I was the first that I ever saw to come up with these hairstyles; I mean, I am known for them. I am known for my characters and the hair is the most notable feature because I came up with it; I started it; it was MY idea and no one elses. And since then more and more felines have been popping up with the exact or very similar hairstlyes and I hate it! It really makes me angry and very irritated because 1. I can't do anything about it without making myself look possesive and foolish and just downright mean, and 2. Some of my friends or people that I have known and talked to-aquaintances-have been drawing these characters and I am afraid of losing their respect or friendship by expressing concern. I want them to take the hair off or make it different, but I don't know how to say that or express it without coming off as mean or pushy. I mean, I'm really not a mean person, but my characters are very personal and close to me-I mean, I created them and they represent me and my own family and friends, and when other people rip them off, it feels like I am losing not only the characters but a part of my relationships, and that makes me kind of depressed sometimes.
The other day I saw an avatar with someone's character in it on a messageboard and although the character was black/dark grey, it had a big 'X' on its chest, and it really triggered me because it reminded me of Scully, my fursona. I mean, that's her trademark, one of her important markings-the 'X' on her chin. Everyone associates that with her, and now there's this other person who I don't even know with the same marking. ::sigh:: But even if I were to be given credit for the influence or whatever, I still would be bothered by the mere sight of it. So just don't do it!
I really am not trying to sound possessive or mean or annoying, but really, these things hit close to home and it bothers me. I am very protective of my creations and I don't want anyone taking them or their ideas, inspiration or whatever. So, I guess that's it. Man, does it feel good to get that out. Sorry for the long rant-it has just been something that I have held in for a long time, and emotions seem to build up for me if I don't get it out somehow, and this is the only way I could uninsultingly do it.
SO QUIT IT!]
And it's even more frustrating that artists that are more well known than I are doing this; like they are taking advantage of a little unknown vulnerable artist, and I am not. Not to sound prude, but I am obviously much more advanced in my studies and my artwork, I think, reflects that. No, I do not draw a lot of stuff sloppily colored just for sheer volume-I put time, effort, and all of my emotion into everything I do, and it is just really disheartening to see that trying to be taken away from me or reproduced by someone else, without credit or mention to or of me. The people who mimick me are ones who are insanely popular for drawing pretty shiny cartoons and lots of them. Then they see me and something clicks in their head or something that my stuff is...well, different and unique, and I guess they want theirs to be too even though it already was, and then they create quality artwork like I have been doing since I "became" an artist and they get all the credit. And this is especially hard when I know the person and consider them a friend or aquaintance-they get popular or whatever for using MY ideas, and I don't draw for popularity AT ALL, and it is really depressing that your ideas are being USED for something you are totally against. Because no one is going to accuse a popular artist for taking a lesser known artist's style, ideas, or imagery. Moreover, I am probably not even known to half the people that watch that popular artist and so no one would even see me as the real creator. But chances are if you have a character/fursona that has one of MY hairstyles or if you are using a modified version of my style or etc. then I am most likely very uncomfortable with it, but have not voiced it because of the reasons I've already given. I mean, some of you are my buddies, and I do not want to sound selfish or arrogant or mean or anything, but it does hurt when you take my things that I make and then make them your own. It's just taking a piece of me and branding it as old news.
Please, you guys. You know who you are, so please just stop it. Appreciate and respect my creations and my work and just leave it at that. I ask nothing more. Thank you. :)
I guess what sparked this is something that happened tonight; I was in OC with a bunch of people and noticed someone drawing in a really similar style to mine as of late. Then later I went to a messageboard that I haven't been to in ages because of all the n00bs and stupidity that wreaks havoc there-Lilymud-and I saw an avatar of someone's character that was also an imitation of my style(actually this person has been mimicking my style ever since I was known to them at TLKFAA; whenever my style changes, so do theirs and very similarly but also discreetly). Then there are the character copy things that I sort of ranted about in my sheezyart journal:
[I don't know why I always choose Sheezy to vent out my frustration, but I think it stems from my frustration with the site in general, so it seems appropriate to feel irritated with everything about it, and therefore it feels just to vent things that I would normally not voice.
So I really have never said anything related to art theft or copying before because I have friends that think it is just silly and that it is just a "philosophy" to share ideas and that art is just a continuous copying of ideas. Well, I agree on some points of that, but disagree on some points too. And lately I have been very frustrated because it seems like every time I turn around or venture to a site I haven't been to in a long time or even looking at new art or characters that people, even artists I would call 'friends', upload, I see more and more copies of my feline characters. It isn't so much the coloring or markings or even the style as it is the hairstyle. See, most of my feline characters that are really close to me, i.e. my fursona and her family and friends, have a hairstlye that is relative to most or all of them.. Their hair goes off to the right side of their head and is either very long (like Scully and Laeurin and their family's) or curled under their chin or just floppy or in a ponytail that descends down their back (like Viki). I was the first that I ever saw to come up with these hairstyles; I mean, I am known for them. I am known for my characters and the hair is the most notable feature because I came up with it; I started it; it was MY idea and no one elses. And since then more and more felines have been popping up with the exact or very similar hairstlyes and I hate it! It really makes me angry and very irritated because 1. I can't do anything about it without making myself look possesive and foolish and just downright mean, and 2. Some of my friends or people that I have known and talked to-aquaintances-have been drawing these characters and I am afraid of losing their respect or friendship by expressing concern. I want them to take the hair off or make it different, but I don't know how to say that or express it without coming off as mean or pushy. I mean, I'm really not a mean person, but my characters are very personal and close to me-I mean, I created them and they represent me and my own family and friends, and when other people rip them off, it feels like I am losing not only the characters but a part of my relationships, and that makes me kind of depressed sometimes.
The other day I saw an avatar with someone's character in it on a messageboard and although the character was black/dark grey, it had a big 'X' on its chest, and it really triggered me because it reminded me of Scully, my fursona. I mean, that's her trademark, one of her important markings-the 'X' on her chin. Everyone associates that with her, and now there's this other person who I don't even know with the same marking. ::sigh:: But even if I were to be given credit for the influence or whatever, I still would be bothered by the mere sight of it. So just don't do it!
I really am not trying to sound possessive or mean or annoying, but really, these things hit close to home and it bothers me. I am very protective of my creations and I don't want anyone taking them or their ideas, inspiration or whatever. So, I guess that's it. Man, does it feel good to get that out. Sorry for the long rant-it has just been something that I have held in for a long time, and emotions seem to build up for me if I don't get it out somehow, and this is the only way I could uninsultingly do it.
SO QUIT IT!]
And it's even more frustrating that artists that are more well known than I are doing this; like they are taking advantage of a little unknown vulnerable artist, and I am not. Not to sound prude, but I am obviously much more advanced in my studies and my artwork, I think, reflects that. No, I do not draw a lot of stuff sloppily colored just for sheer volume-I put time, effort, and all of my emotion into everything I do, and it is just really disheartening to see that trying to be taken away from me or reproduced by someone else, without credit or mention to or of me. The people who mimick me are ones who are insanely popular for drawing pretty shiny cartoons and lots of them. Then they see me and something clicks in their head or something that my stuff is...well, different and unique, and I guess they want theirs to be too even though it already was, and then they create quality artwork like I have been doing since I "became" an artist and they get all the credit. And this is especially hard when I know the person and consider them a friend or aquaintance-they get popular or whatever for using MY ideas, and I don't draw for popularity AT ALL, and it is really depressing that your ideas are being USED for something you are totally against. Because no one is going to accuse a popular artist for taking a lesser known artist's style, ideas, or imagery. Moreover, I am probably not even known to half the people that watch that popular artist and so no one would even see me as the real creator. But chances are if you have a character/fursona that has one of MY hairstyles or if you are using a modified version of my style or etc. then I am most likely very uncomfortable with it, but have not voiced it because of the reasons I've already given. I mean, some of you are my buddies, and I do not want to sound selfish or arrogant or mean or anything, but it does hurt when you take my things that I make and then make them your own. It's just taking a piece of me and branding it as old news.
Please, you guys. You know who you are, so please just stop it. Appreciate and respect my creations and my work and just leave it at that. I ask nothing more. Thank you. :)