I always know

The other day I met a lovely woman who told me how much she loved my art. She told me with delight how she goes to Barnes & Noble weekly to buy a cup of coffee and muffin and read our books. Each week she starts one of our projects. She's leaned a lot about self expression! She was so proud as she showed me her journal pages. They were great. And then she told me how she looks at the art from my etsy shop every time she turns on her computer- see, she right clicked it right from etsy and made it her wallpaper. I  stopped breathing for a minute. I was torn between being happy  we inspired her and thinking about how many people think that if something is in a book, a magazine, or on the internet that it is free for the taking. During our conversation, she told me she was a secretary at a construction company. I asked her if she ever just went to work but didn't charge her boss for her time. She said she'd never do that! Apparently my sarcastic font can't be heard either!
Pamela Detlor recently wrote a great blog about music not being a free perk of the internet and the same is true for art. Making art is my job.  It's what I do to make money to pay for things like insurance, food, my house, and medical bills. It's how I pay for the same things everyone pays for.  And in the weirdest twist of all, the more commercially successful I become and the more celebrity clients I get (or work with), the less money I make because people think I won't notice if they just save my images* to their computers for their own use. I do my best to make the art I sell directly to the public priced so everyone can afford it without compromising quality. If someone wants to use my images in a project and can't afford my commercial rates for licensing, I work with them. I am always open to negotiate and I am always happy when people want to use my art.  I understand what it is like to be on a budget because I am on one, too. I love it when people even just look at my art and send me lovely email. I get  that sometimes all you can afford to do is look. There is art I look at every day and wish I could buy** it.  I want you to be inspired by our books. I want you to be happy when you see my art on your wall or in your ad campaign. There is no need to steal from me. I will work with you when I can, just ask first.

Help support the arts by not stealing it. Honor your favorite artists by observing their reprint policies and copyright law.

*I always know. Someone will see it and tell me. In the interest of full disclosure, I used Napster when it first came out. I feel bad about it.
**I bought a book of his art. I love it so much.

Comments

[suzi finer]

I don't much like it that people can go into book stores and read away all day without buying the book, then put it back on the shelf for somebody else to perhaps purchase...honestly, if I wanted to a book whose pages had been opened (let alone pre-read) I would spend more time at the library. Book stores are for buying books, so authors can be happy that the publishers have to print more for people to buy!
I'm even more annoyed when I find people just reading an entire magazine before putting it back (usually all bent)
What a world...
(but I have no problem sharing google images for some reason...not a whisper of a bother.)
love you.

[rachel whetzel]

This is so funny!! Because I have an email I need to send to you... :)

[Jake Surette]

Amen.
I admit it- years back, I DID take music from Napster-type sites.
I couldn't even FATHOM doing such things now. And not only because I work with musicians and that I GET the struggle!
Even as a stylist, I get the: "Can you JUST do my makeup?" or "Can you JUST give me a quick trim?" or: "Can you JUST shop with me for a couple of hours this Saturday?" And it always ends with: "It'll be fun!" Yes. REALLY fun for you as you don't do it often. But I make a living at it. I'm not saying it's not fun- because I have THE BEST JOB EVER.
I would love that everyone JUST get what we all do- be it artist, stylist, musician or accountant (would anyone say to an accountant: "Can you just do my taxes? It'll be really quick."?)- and RESPECT that we all make our livings at it.
That's not to say that I don't believe in barter or exchange. I LOVE that!
[End rant.]
Great blog!

[kelly snelling]

i've had this conversation with so many people and am constantly shocked that most just DO NOT get it. my head almost fell off when i had an editor tell me it was basically okay to right click away. honestly, i'm not 100% sure what else she said because i went deaf and blind after that.

[Sandy]

I hate stealing. I really don't understand why people just assume that you can give up your time and energy and not to mention your income. I don't think people do this when they go to Target or the grocery store. They pay the price and they normally don't steal from them. Artists and everyone else should be treated the same way. Your time is just as valuable.

[Maria]

Great post Linda! Totally with you on this for sure!

[tod goldberg]

I think this is a clarion call that the herd needs to be thinned. Fucktards, form a line to the right...

[Lisa Martin]

ok I totally get what you're saying. but what about that screen shot down there of SHeDaisy?

[linda woods]

There are three main differences here: first, I know SHeDAISY (who so kindly wore our I Am Art T-shirt in Redbook!), and they know I promote them shamelessly! Second, I did not use a photo being offered for sale as art on my blog, or to promote my ideas/work. I used their promo picture to promote them. Third, I did not offer free downloads of the music they sell, either. There is no artist being ripped off here, being deprived of the income her art is meant to generate. SHeDAISY is getting promoted, as they should, and all is well in the universe. Just as it is not copyright infringement for magazines or newspapers to use press photos when reviewing CDs, it is not an infringement here.

[Morgan Weir]

I have a thought. Perhaps some people want your art for a desktop specifically. Could you offer "downloadable desktop art"? I think many people would pay for a desktop image if they were able & knew it was expected. What do you think?