Art Theft?

Post by **Dray** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:06 pm

Does this pose and image look pretty familiar to you guys, too?

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/10389681/

"Artist's Notes: i doodled this in my sketchbook back in high school. Little did I know that it would become the base model I used for the blue dragoin species from the world of Keverynn. Zarin is Jamekel's dragon."

Uh huh. Unless that's the creator of the original template, too, I somehow doubt that this is a good thing.

(Originally found on livejournal in the 100-table community, here's a link:

http://community.livejournal.com/oc_art100/56874.html )

Makes me wonder if any of their other stuff is original or not.

LakotaWolf · Post by **LakotaWolf** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:14 pm

I don't recognize the pose immediately, but just perusing their other work... a lot of it seems to be in very different styles. I don't trust any of their work, actually >__>

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:19 pm

Yeah that's actually MY art they've stolen

JKatkina · Post by **JKatkina** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:21 pm

Ooo Shard, you're officially intarwebs-popular! XD

Go talk to the kid. :3 Maybe you can discourage them early.

Skysong · Post by **Skysong** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:22 pm

The gallery seems to have a lot of stylistic changes.. from this:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/28826967/

to this:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/29373243/

in two weeks? Hmm.

I think this person is a big fan of tracing, for the most part. This looks more like a beginner's style:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861393/

And then, on the same day, this batch of clearly traced Sailor Moon characters:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861626/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861673/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861737/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861785/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861853/
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/21861885/

And then this image, where she does say she was 'influenced' by the official Gargoyles art, but I lined her image and the official one up in Photoshop, and the lines matched almost exactly:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/32710501/

"Hi, I'm recolored :D"

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/12338207/

This picture of Vash seems to be one of the most-copied and -stolen images on the internet:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/10850192/

"Hi, I'm traced from Elfquest :D"

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/10849598/

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:27 pm

Over half of that stuff is definately traced, and the other half... *shakes head* Well, there is ONE positive side to this... Your art must really be liked to be stolen by an idiot you know! *nod nod*

LakotaWolf · Post by **LakotaWolf** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:30 pm

Somehow I wouldn't be flattered by that... art theft is still art theft :/

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:32 pm

very true, but really, there isn't very much that can be done about it, sad as that knowledge is.

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:38 pm

No, but since I AM the copyright holder, and can PROVE it, I've already sent a note to the copyright violations department at DA.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/ ... sabith.gif I mean.... It's been there on my web site *for people to ASK to use*. They have to ask.

All I want is a link to the site, other than that I couldn't care less. I saw that traced batch of Elfquest art too, wasn't really aware of how much more there was. Anyway, hopefully they won't have a hissy. If they do, that'll just be one more reason for DA to ban em and remove their gallery.

Gorsh, I've never had a piece stolen before.

Post by **Dray** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:39 pm

Well, she can be chided, and asked to cut the crap... or if that fails, then harangued into hiding. XD

And, Shard... I don't know how much luck you'll have. DA implemented that rule that tracers were allowed in order to 'improve'. T_T"

DA's such a piece of crap. *HAET~*

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:41 pm

I thought they made it clear that 'tracing' is not actually art, but must be credited. Since that's what I really want.

I was more under the impression they'd retracted that bit of idiocy, because of all the angrygrams they'd gotten.

Skysong · Post by **Skysong** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:41 pm

Yeah, and heavens forefend you post anywhere on the 'artist's' page calling her on the theft >_> DA is rather ban-happy about that kind of thing..

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:43 pm

Nah, a gentle reminder and a provided link should do it. I've already been banned there once, and I'd do it again if Cweeks ever steps in my way again... In fact I think I'd punch that asshole in his face if I ever met him in real life.

Omniwite · Post by **Omniwite** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:16 pm

O.o;;; That's really creepy... I hope they do something about that soon! Influenced nothing!

Post by **Dray** » Thu May 04, 2006 9:17 pm

"First of all, this wasn't traced. I don't trace. This was drawn by hand from a reference image (I lost the website url years ago and it's creator recently pointed me back to it this evening. Credit for her original work has been given).

Also, the pages of my sketchbooks are far too thick to have traced anything. I respectfully ask you to butt out."

Hah. I still don't believe that that wasn't traced. Still, Shard, if you and she can agree on something, I'll let her be. :\ Let us know if she's being hostile, though, and you want some backup?

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:17 pm

BS it wasn't a little traced. That's nearly identical to Shard's piece. And what the heck is with the defensiveness?! >:/ I probably did something stupid by adding my comment defending Dray, but that just pissed me off.

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:20 pm

I think we're good. She put up a link to me, so I'm cool with that. As long as they were willing to do so it's fine. If she put up a hizzy I'd have done more. I did send a report, but we'll see what happens with that, as they're SOOO far behind on those things anyway. Hope they take the time to *read* the responses.

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:25 pm

She /did/ put up a hissy, then got her friend to do so too. It's as if she's trying to say "I'm linking you only under duress!" and it pisses me off. Like we're some kind of demonic organization or something.

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:34 pm

Wellll to be fair that's against DA policy too. Just set /ignore and please drop it, I've handled it to my satisfaction.

Thank you for the heads up guys.

Mystic Dragon · Post by **Mystic Dragon** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:39 pm

*drops it* >.> No problem, Shard. Just dun like seeing your hard work get ripped off like that.

Midori · Post by **Midori** » Fri May 05, 2006 1:07 am

Man I've copied images as art studies just to see if I could draw in said style. But man at least don't claim them as 'original' !!! if I was posting stuff I'd atleast includ that it was a pratice doodle that I did off so and so art...

Silver Midnight · Post by **Silver Midnight** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:38 pm

=P If I copy anything so close I usually refrain from putting it up somewhere. Except for instance like my eye studies and such--was very proud of those. But hey, gotta learn somehow right?

At least point out where you got it from, though...

Astra · Post by **Astra** » Fri May 05, 2006 12:41 pm

Not to hijack the thread, but I was wondering what all your oppinions are on tracing photographs. I do it sometimes because I SUCK at drawing human figures in general and it really helps my understanding of anatomy to trace off of a real human. Generally I'll try to copy from actual pictures of my friends or myself that I've taken, but sometimes I'll get random public domain stock photos off the internet. I always feel UBER guilty saying "I drew this" though afterwards, even if all the details in the image are mine except for the human outline. Any thoughts?

*hides before getting lynched for thread-jacking*

Post by **Dray** » Fri May 05, 2006 1:14 pm

Tracing from magazine or other professional photos: Don't post them anywhere, unless it's a private place with your friends. It's not a very good idea but it's inevitable that people will try it out! XD

Tracing from photos you took yourself is something that I can see making a really neat style. I've seen this done before and it's kind of cool! So long as you say how you've come about to the final piece, this seems fine.

Tracing from photos available in the public domain is fine, too, so long as (again) you're clear on how you create the piece, and follow any of the guidelines that a person has set. At the very least, link back to where you found the piece and give credit!

Just my opinions. X3 I'm curious to hear from others.

Shiolar · Post by **Shiolar** » Fri May 05, 2006 1:17 pm

My thoughts are pretty much the same as Dray's...

Although it has given me an idea, seeing as I couldn't draw a human to save my life...

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Fri May 05, 2006 4:00 pm

Basically, the difference is 'tracing' versus 'eyeballing/referencing'. The more you practice of course the less reliance on tracing and the more you can move to just looking, and eventually doing your own. I started out drawing over pictures in my Dazzler comics, hell the entire genetic concept of the Zekirans has its basis in pictures that I drew from action poses in those comics. But I stopped using them as traces and started drawing myself, very shortly afterwards.

So you know, most 'pros' use references almost exclusively. Sorayama, Olivia, and to the extent anyone knows her Terri Smith and other furry-type artists. It's a perfectly acceptable method for the pros - and no one questions that they've referenced. Poses are pretty much open game, i can't see how anyone'd squawk (though I've seen it done) - anyway for humans. Stuff like dragons etc lol - that could be another story.