A sore subject

I know a topic that keeps coming up among artists is about people ripping off your designs.  I had never experienced this (to my knowledge) until recently.  It came to my attention that someone else is making assemblage birds and selling them on etsy. This artist, someone I respected and admired, is making birds that look suspiciously similar to mine.  Her wording in the description is even the same!  Of course, she has under priced me as well. 

Yesterday I pondered whether I should write her a scathing email or just let it go.  I'm going to let it go...I feel a little hurt and violated (is that too strong a word?) but I have plenty of ideas.  I am not just "the bird lady."  So...I am not going to feel threatened by this, I'll just keep doing what I do and accept the fact that I cannot control the actions of others.   

Onto a lighter topic....Joanna tagged me

Here are the official rules…

• Link to the person who tagged you.
• Mention the rules.
• Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
• Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
• Go to each person’s blog and leave a comment that lets them know they’ve been tagged.

1.  I say "draw" instead of "drawer."  This is what's left of my New England accent.  I have been teased about this all of my life.

2.  I eat ketchup or hot sauce on my eggs.  Not so unusual, I know.

3.  I can't stand to wear nail polish.  I can actually feel it on my nails and I hate it!

4.  I only drink 1/2 a cup of coffee in the morning.  That's all for the day...but I really need those few sips.

5.  I relax by "pouncing" on etsy.  It's mindless, but a little like playing the lottery.

6.  I used to REALLY LOVE Woody Allen movies, but can't really enjoy them now since he married his stepdaugher.  

I am tagging

1.  Deirdra

2.  Sherry

3.  Sam

4. Jen

5.  Patty

6.  Brenda

Sorry, no pictures in this post.  I will be posting some pics of new assemblage dolls soon.  They are coming out really different!

xoxo Jeanette

Comments

[Tami Roth]

Wow, so sorry to hear that you have come across this Jeanette! I was so happy when you offered your beautiful kits for sale and generously helped us 'bird followers' of yours to make our own cute birdies that I couldn't even imagine turning around and then selling them! It hurts the rest of us that only want to make them just for fun and as gifts. Proud of your post and keep holding your head up :)
Hugs,
Tami

[Dorte]

Hi Jeanette,
I bought two of your birds through etsy and now I'm enjoying reading your blog! I am sorry that someone is copying your work without recognizing you as an influence. I haven't seen this person's work, but I can't imagine that the quality of their work comes close to what you do. It is a risk that all artists must face when they teach or write about their methods. I look forward to seeing what your new ideas bring forth. And thank you for tagging some wonderful artists whose blogs I am also enjoying.
Dorte

[nancyk]

i must tell you i once saw someone selling a bird exactly like yours. i wrote her and told her that she should at least give you credit since the idea was not hers. she took the piece off her etsy site.
i also just wrote another person about her blatant copy of a ring she had on her site. she told me it was in aj ournal so the other person was copying too. the problem was it wasen't just the ring she was copying it was just about everything else.the other artists makes. she turned me into etsy for spaming. i intern wrote etsy about how they handle this. it is lenghty so i suggest you copywrite your designs.and contact etsy. and always sign your work.
my grivence is that i spend alot of $$ with etsy knowing that i am supporting artists. but i will not knowingly spend money with a thief.
My best, nancyk

[~*~ Patty]

I can only imagine how unsettling it would be to find out that someone is copying your artwork and selling it, it's such bad form to not credit the original artist! Congrats on taking the high road; it would be tempting to want to call the person out on this.
It is sweet of you to include me in the tag game Jeanette, fun reading about you :) ooxo

[sherry]

Thank you for the tag and for sharing about yourself. I pounce too...isn't that just the most fun!!??? (we need a life!! lol!!!).

As for being copied, blatantly...it is a compliment on one hand that someone finds your work so fabulous they want to do the same thing. HOWEVER...it is infringement and it's wrong and it's very hurtful that someone would do that to you.

But Jeanette..you are the bigger person here. The way you have chosen to handle this and how you have declared "I am not just the bird lady". I respect you so much. No one can do what you do because it is yours and who you are comes through that. The other will simply be an imitation. And I love that you refuse to define yourself by simply one thing. What a wonderful example you are.

[Wonders Never Cease]

That's really not fair.
I'm so sorry.
Becky

[Brenda Wampler]

I almost wrote about this same thing one day. In fact I really hesitated creating a blog, didn't want things to be taken either. It is a hurtful thing, very hurtful. I love to share and teach, if only others would just ask, you know. If you would like, I will hunt her down and beat her up! With words of course! LOL
Now, to the lighter topic, thanks for tagging me! Haven't played tag in awhile! Now for those six quirkey things! Must get my hubby's help, he could probably list a zillion!

[Jen Crossley]

Thanks Jeanette for the tag.I too have had this problem I have to agree with Deirdra write the email.I think Deirdra covered all I wanted to tell you as well
Jen

[deirdra Doan]

Hi Jeanette,

If it were me I would write a kind but informative letter about your work to the woman selling. I thought that Jane DesRosier had a nice way of putting things for her Doll class and her work.(I post is below) I think it is important for people to give credit to people and try to change it if possible to make it their own. It is important to inform people even if they don't respond. People have different consciouses. It's good that you are forgiving this person, helps you but she needs to know the truth for the future. Maybe she really doesn't understand or maybe she does who knows. But either way I would say something like Jane if it were me. Even if it caused some unhappy response on her part. Maybe in the long run she will understand how to play nice. We all learn new ways of acting. I have been taking my bumps doing things the wrong way sometimes!
Maybe this would help?

Fall Blessings,
Deirdra
PS I just dealt with this my self. (learning to check things out) I put together a class idea and mix media work recently. I of course learned from other people's different idea's in magazines and classes. I used a little of all of their idea's plus my own idea's to put together my work. But I felt it necessary to write to one teacher I like as a friend. I wanted to make sure she was OK with my work as she was an influence to me. Artists always take from each other, copy at the museums work, study with each other and even show their work together like Impressionists. So it is a sensitive subject and needs care in working out the details. My friend was happy with my work and gave me her blessings. Her work was originally influenced by her teachers but she now does it her own way beautifully. She is published and teaches, no one could even ever copy her because it is her way her painting ablility, but a design like your birds is easier to copy like Jane's doll pattern......

.................

Letter to Students taking Jane DesRosier Doll class.

For those of you who sell your work:
I do not mind if you sell the dolls you make in this class. If you sell online (e.g. ebay or etsy) I would greatly appreciate it if you called it a “grittyjane doll” or say “pattern by grittyjane”…some sort of a plug…perhaps display your workshop badge.

If you plan making lots to sell using this technique (adding paperclay to a cloth doll), please make your own pattern. Mine is copyrighted.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Yay! Yay! Yay!
Jane DesRosier
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
All information: videos, patterns, text, and images, are © Jane DesRosier Gritty Arts 2008.