I wrote Canvas Remix to inspire others to try new techniques and concepts to find their own style. I love teaching and demonstrating simple techniques and tools and ways to think differently about art and while I am an author and a teacher who puts information out there- I am first and foremost a painter and artist who makes a living from my own creations that have taken me years to develop.
Please, please, pretty please...
Do not teach from my book, publish techniques or directions from my book (or my blog, articles, online classes and tv appearances) on your website in your own articles or blog without my permission. I work really hard to constantly come up with new ideas, projects and techniques that I have written about and published in articles, in my book and on my blog in hopes of providing inspiration for my readers.
Please do not use photos from my blog, website or onlines classes without my permission. I love when people link to me or review my work and I gladly provide photos to those who ask- please just ask.
Pretty please do NOT reproduce my designs, concepts and replicate my art or purses for financial purposes. I wrote a book to inspire, I write articles to inspire NOT for others to replicate my concepts and work for the purpose of selling and building their own business based on the things that have I been selling and creating for the last decade. I often choose NOT reveal all of my secrets that go into making my purses or paintings for this reason- I am not just a teacher I am also a designer and artist who makes a living from selling completely original items. Example- If you have taken one of my classes and love painting messy canvas and have had fun sewing with it and have been inspired to use it in your creative projects...GREAT!! But if you are now opening an Esty shop, marketing your work the same way that I market my own, using my concepts, colors, words, shapes and designs of my purses and items that I sell, then there is a problem.
One of the most profound things that you can do as an artist and a creative person is find your voice, your style and your own unique art to make. While I understand wanting to learn techniques and projects that many artists teach, use this as a starting point- embrace finding a unique way to make it your own.. Please don't embrace my designs as your own. (Kelly describes this really well goes into more detail in her post and I invite you to read her thoughts on this topic.)
The bottom line is that I do not support copying another artist's work- being creative is about finding yourself, it's being authentic and creating work that is unique. Taking a class and reading a book should be the first step in creating your own look, your own style and the beginning of expressing yourself visually. If any of this is unclear or you have questions about your work please just ask.
7 comments:
I don't know if you want comments on this post or not but just want to say right on! Most creatives can't follow a pattern from a book or blog; they can't help but do it their way but there are some who copy down to the last dot and think they've really made something. I sent the link to your post on toilet roll angels to my daughter because I am hoping she and her daughters will want to make a manger scene. They are 8, 10 and 12 years old but quite creative (they don't like to copy patterns either but do their own thing) and I'd love to see what they do with an idea like this. I should have thought of it myself as 30 years ago I made a tin soldier out of one but time does things to the memory, sometimes good and sometimes bad.
Anyhow, people need to be told to do their own thing sometimes and here you've done it very nicely.
This quote goes along with freebird...
"an artist is someone who CAN'T follow directions."
unknown
I hope my blog post didn't violate this or insult you, I was just sharing what I had done and hoped to send people your way...
Amen, sister! In some ways, I think it's increasingly challenging to be an artists. From a marketing standpoint, you need to get your work "out there" via a number of social media channels. But at the same time, putting images of your work online opens you up to potential intellectual property abuses. I commend you for having addressed this directly on your site.
bang on... I have had this debate with some of my friends and some who just copy.. n this is exactly how i feel.. Thanks for writing it soooo clearly...
I love your works and shared the pics here>>> http://pe4rl.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsy-shop3.html#links
I really hope it's ok Or do i need to pull the pics off? Thx dear...
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