Inspiration vs imitation? Where does one end and the other start? How do we identify the boundaries of an idea and see how it's propigated? And what ideas are fresh? Is there even such a thing as a fresh or new idea? I got to thinking how no one can own a style or approach or even a compositional idea, and isn't it amazing how the same spark of inspiration can send different brains in different directions. Inspiration comes in all forms. I am not the first - or last - artist to paint a particular perspective or silhouette. But where does inspiration fall by the wayside? When does inspiration become a crutch, leading directly to imitation? This was precipated by my discovery yesterday of a daily painter like myself, one who enjoys painting animals too. And one who had several paintings in their portfolio nearly identical to paintings of mine. In the past I've had other artists set up websites with domain names and content similar to mine at Painting a Dog a Day.It was then when I reminded myself of that old saying "Imitation is the highest form of flattery." Either that or it's pure coincidence - I discretly pointed out once that a fellow pet portrait artist's domain name and blog design were nearly identical to mine, and did they have any concerns our customers would not be able to tell us apart? Absolutely not and how dare I accuse a devout Christian like them, how dare I create a situation out of something purely coincidental. (By the way, I wish those sorts of odds would play into my favor tonite when I buy my lottery tix!!) So I decide I've gotta give them the benefit of the doubt. Like I mentioned before, I am not the first or last artist to paint or run my business or even design my blog in a particular way. So how dare I claim to own something as transient as a compositional idea or business concept? Lots of people come up with the same ideas given different circumstances and experiments - that's why we have the word "coincidence," right? (Of course there's also the word "sarcasm" but that's another story) So I asked this artist who's work was so similar to mine specifically about their inspiration. I was curious if they travelled the same path as I or did they stumble across their ideas in a different fashion. How did we both end up with the same results inside a different time frame and given different scenarios? It wasn't much of a shocker to learn that inspiration wasn't even remotely part of this person's process. They openly admitted to copying my artwork. And marketing their copied paintings as their own original art. And using tracings of my paintings in workshops they taught. They couched their actions behind a lame excuse. Which led me to recall that other saying about the dullest crayon in the box. Because there is no way I believe a working artist does not know it is illegal to copy and present someone else's work as their own. First of all, we learn in Kindergarten not to copy from our classmates. And then somewhere down the line we learn about copyright law. So this person has promised to delete their copies of my paintings and remove derivative course content from their site. They have fallen over themselves repeating "sorries" that frankly sound hallow to my ears. And they've pledged to post a blog update and share something on Facebook about what they've learned from this situation. Myself, I have serious doubts that my artwork is the only copy-catted art on their site. I also have no means of policing that they won't choose imitation over inspiration another time. Or of trusting that this isn't happening on 100 other websites exactly at this moment in time. I can't help but think what a sad scenario, to be given talent but not the faith or personal conviction to exercise it. I am so grateful that, no matter my own burdens, I am not in their shoes, nor will I ever be. Off to my easel to follow some inspiration of my own making, Kim |
What Was Going Down on the Easel While I was Pondering This is a 16" x 20" panel, the latest in my Saratoga Series of paintings, created from photos I took during my summer sojourns at the track. These are just some of the images I shared via Facebook yesterday. You are welcome to comment about my process or progress or lack thereof over there!! And thanks in advance!!    Near the end of the night, I decided that the light green silks on the jockey were too close in color and value to the background, and painted them purple. That was the beginning of my struggles with finishing this one and dragging this piece deep into "The Uglies." Can I save it? I hope so. Today.  |
Wow. That is so wrong and you're right, it's sad too.
ReplyDeleteThe internet is such a minefield of good and bad. I'd like to think that most people can see through such a hack site as that copycat's and that what shines through in yours is not only the talent, but the passion and hard work behind it. Certainly THAT can't be traced!
I'm glad you called them out.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, Tumbleweed.
DeleteOne of the dangers of the internet is that it's simple to build a professional looking website and look as though you are selling original art. Unless the buyer has spent a lot of time researching their options and looking at artwork, they don't know if they are commissioning from someone who's copying/computerizing/taking other short cuts to create something they are pitching as original art or someone who's been quietly mastering their craft for decades.
I recently discovered a Chinese company using my original paintings to sell their computerized knockoffs, yet they had plenty of positive feedback on their site, and had I not known better, would have thought that the images presented were truly representational of their product.
There's no substitute for doing the hard work, I agree, but it's harder and harder for the consumer to tell the difference between those doing the hard work and those posers.
That's one of the things that concerns me. If the public stops trusting online artists, we've lost one of the greatest marketing tools at our disposal.
Again, thank you for writing!
Kim
Very good post. I remember when I was in Art School they said the best way to learn was to copy the masters. I was appalled and never did. My sister, who went to a more prestigious art school (The Art Institute in Chicago) was taught the same lesson and spent hours in the galleries copying the masters. And then she developed her own style and is by far (when she paints) a much better painter than I am. Our styles are very different for many reasons, and I wish I had allowed myself to learn the way she did.
ReplyDeleteMy belief is once you develop your comfort level with the medium and continue your education about color, your inspiration will lead you down a path of true creativity (not always great painting but true creativity).
I used to believe a "real" artist would just become creative on their own, but once I got over myself and allowed myself to be taught, I love learning and growing as an artist. And surprise surprise I started to become a better artist.
I do look very closely at artist's work I admire and sometimes try to mimic a certain style or technique just to learn it, and learn I do. Mostly I learn how damn hard it is to be anyone but yourself. I love the sharing and guidance I receive from my artist friends, mentors and instructors. And sometimes a bit of their influence becomes part of my work. But if we were both drawing a daisy it would not be the same daisy. It would be our individual take on that flower. That is true inspiration - combining everything to create your own style.
I also don't understand when someone who has done something wrong has to throw up the "I'm a good Christian" card. That is the stupidest way of proving you are hiding your evil copying fingers behind your lies. A good person, Christian or not, does not need to fall back on some artificial excuse to defend themselves. How many good Christians, and other religions, have we seen steal, kill, maim and start wars over religion. One does not need to "talk" about how their faith automatically makes them beyond suspicion. They behavior and integrity are all they need to speak for their character. I am a good agnostic - does that mean I am a faithless thief and have no integrity. Good art does not need defensive reactions and saying I am sorry is never good enough - be sorry and don't so it again. Gee - did I just jump into a rant??? : )
I think that all artists process what they see and piece their favorite things back together. When I was in college I noticed that my work took on the flavor of whatever art period I happened to be studying in art history. I think it's only natural, and part of the process of what we call "finding our voice".
DeleteThere's no end point to the learning curve, either. For each think I learn, I discover 3 or 4 more things I'd like to learn. And yes, everyone has a different appraoch to the same subject/idea.
Thanks for weighing in, Miriam! I'm so glad you commented!
Wow. Shocked, and angry for you! Flattery perhaps, but still. I can only hope that she/he is ashamed and embarrassed today and spends some time re-evaluating their position. You can but hope.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, as a huge fan of your work (and happy owner of Penny Peach the dog and painting - by you!) I'd like to think I would know the difference between the fresh spontaneous art you create, and the traced, labored work of someone that is blatantly copying you?
Not surprised you have been reflecting, but I hope you can shake it off and get back to what you are best at - creating things as only you can :)
By coincidence, I came across another artist recently somewhere on the internet whose art looked an awful lot like yours. I wondered at the time if she was copying your style and trying to ride your coat tails. Now I wonder if it isn't the culprit that you just confronted. Good for you!!
DeleteWe all learn from other artists. We almost can't help it. But, you take a little bit here and a little bit there from various artists that you admire and all those little bits plus what you learn on your own eventually become your unique art. I can't even imagine just outright copying another artist's work and calling it my own. I can't imagine feeling good about it and not having any kind of conscience pangs.
Your last paragraph really sums it up. These so called artists either have no confidence in their own abilities or lack the moral integrity to do the hard work to get good on their own.
Very good post, Kim.
Joanna, thank you!! Penny Peach was a delight to create, and I do hope that you would always be able to tell the difference between something that spurred directly from the heart and something that was contrived.
DeleteRegardless of what the copycat artist thinks, this situation gave me a good perspective on my process and the understanding of why I personally paint and what I want to convey/say with my art, regardless of whether it's seen as an original or as a derivative.
:)
Karen, I'd love to know who's work you were seeing - I doubt it was this person's because their style was all over the board, and it sounds like the site you were on had found their voice.
DeleteThere are several artists' who's end results are similar to mine, yet their process is entirely different. Karen Mathison Schmit comes to mind (I might have her last name spelled wrong), and I don't doubt that there is a host of others. To me it really doesn't matter, as long as the artist comes about their voice honestly and doesn't misrepresent what they are creating.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. :)
OMG Kimberly- yes, I am shocked and angry for you as well. I saw your FB entry earlier today, so made sure I came back to read what was going on. I'm glad you called out this other person, it makes me sick to think that people think this is "okay behavior" and don't realize that it's ILLEGAL! (do they live in a cave??). And to pull "the religious card"?? well,,,God would be ashamed of them, too! A good "anyone" (whatever your faith/or not is) gets themselves educated on what is ethical, true, and honest - AND NEEDS TO LEARN ABOUT PLAGIARISM!! ugh- sorry you had to deal with that, I think you're right though, there are others out there on boodles of sites copying other artists work to sell. (makes me sick).
ReplyDeleteWhat saddens me the most (and I see this in many aspects of contemporary life, not just this one particular circumstance) is that noone takes responsibility for their own actions. It's unheard of to hear of someone standing up, saying they were wrong, and doing the time (other than Martha Stewert and her tax bit).
DeleteWhat's so bad about admitting we are at fault? We are only human. Pointing to someone else doesn't reverse our decisions. Casting blame doesn't change the current situation.
I'd love to see people take ownership and in turn take action to actively learn from their mistakes and make the world a better place.
Yes, I am a dreamer!! :)
Thanks for writing, Roxanne!!
I follow your blog because I enjoy your work and your daily committment to painting. I recently starting putting my own paintings (landscapes-I have an affinity for aspens) on Daily Paintworks and have also noticed some other artist/s who have a similar if not identical "style" as yours! I actually wondered if it bothered you or perhaps the person was a student of yours. I also follow Carol Marine's blog and there are several artists who paint suspicisouly just like her posting paintings on Daily Paintworks!
ReplyDeleteIt's one thing to adapt a style or be influenced from someone else using your own ideas and composition but it's wrong to copy outright and pass it off as your own.
Good for you for confronting the person and looking for a resolution. You have integrity.
Nancy Romanovsky
http://nancyromanovsky.com/blog
Nancy, I rarely spend time looking for artwork that is similar to mine, so I guess in a roundabout way, my answer to your question is that as a consequence I also don't spend much time thinking about artists who's style might be similar as well. What I do spend lots of time thinking about and looking at and working towards are particular visual goals of mine - like achieving better atmospheric effects, building stronger compositions, and adding additional abstract details to my paintings. And I suppose in those efforts I would be remiss to say that I don't adapt or try on other artists' approaches to solving the sorts of things I'm looking to get better at. But I also don't completely immerse myself in their process, and would like to think that my work retains it's own voice.
DeleteLike I was musing, there can be a fine line between inspiration and imitation.
Thanks for writing!! :)