I've had a lot of my customers and friends ask if I worry about other people coming to my site and copying my ideas and designs that I do. Well...the answer is a big "Yes!" and to those that may be coming to my site to do that will eventually be found out at some point and legal action can be taken.
Unfortunately, anyone online is at risk for this to happen, and there will always be someone out there messing it up for the rest of us.
The internet is a fantastic tool for businesses online and really the only way to reach a worldwide audience with a product nobody knows about otherwise...unless you are super rich and know all the right people. I'm not one of those people. lol
I have a lot of watch dogs on the internet looking out for me and I also have software that shows where my visitors come from every day, and what pages are being looked at and for how long. This information helps me with marketing and networking among other things.
If crafters or other artists are using my designs to sell at shows or online as their own, then that is just really sad that they can't come up with their own designs and are taking the easy way out. If they are coming to be inspired to try out similar but not the exact same designs that they can come up with on their own, then I'm all for them learning from me and getting inspired.
When I write my book(s) or ebook project sheets in the future... then that will be a different story, because then I will allow the designs I use in the book(s) to be used freely. Please know that just because I'm on the internet does not give someone free will to steal my ideas or copy my photos.
Some might say...well, you're putting it out there, so it's fair game...
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...well, in some instances...yes.
If you are painting at home as a hobby and not selling your art and coming to my site for those reasons, I have no problem at all with that.
I also know that we as artists come up with the same ideas and things are hard to prove as far as original ideas being taken, that's just the nature of art. But, some people are pretty obvious of where they got an idea from if it looks exactly like what you have just painted including; design, layout, and colors.
Sometimes I wonder if I should change my blog from how I've been doing it without the progress photos...and save them for my book(s) or ebook project sheets. I might have to, I don't know...I may have to rethink the way I do things.
All of us artists and online websites deal with this dilemma and I'm starting to sound like a Debbie downer. lol I guess we just have to take the risk for putting ourselves out there in the first place. Even if all the artists went back to lugging all their art to shows, there are still people snapping pictures to use others ideas anyway. So, what can a person do? paint in a closet and never let the art or product we make see the light of day?
I know that we as artists are all influenced by other artists, but copying exact original designs/artwork that we have worked so hard on just for someone else to take is another matter; unless written books or other art books allow us to use their designs with permission. Rock painting has been around since the caveman days and I myself have been greatly influenced from all types of artists and books, but I do my paintings in my own style that I have developed for over 40 years.
Watermarks over photos detract from photos and a lot of artists that I talk to all know that with the technology today that watermarks can be removed easily by savvy people that have no problem stealing photos from other people. I was a graphic artist at a magazine for years and used Photoshop everyday, and it can be used easily to alter images.
I hope that I DO inspire other artists that visit my website and blog and that they may learn some painting techniques, tips, or inspire them to try new or similar ideas, but I hope others are not deliberately copying my original ideas of finished river rock art that I am trying to sell on my website.
I am happy for all the people that come to my website for all the right reasons to enjoy my art and for all of my loyal returning customers and new customers that visit my site daily. I appreciate you all.
I have no problem with people that contact me and ask permission first to use my photos including professional art sites, publications, etc., such as EBSQ has in the past.
I am an artist just trying to get myself out there like everyone else and have worked years to get to where I'm at, and the internet has given me more customers and sales than I ever received by going to all of those arts shows I did for years. Now, I only go to one big art show a year.
So, for those that have missed this statement that I have on EVERY page of my website, here it is again...
