When I just logged on to add a new painting, I realized from the messages that I hadnt been on here (except to quickly order a print) since sometime in December!

Many thanks for the messages, features and kind words!

If I message everyone back, I will be here for a week straight - so I hope you will all accept my 'thank you' all at once!

Kim
[link]

...how taking someone's art, especially a hand-painted traditional piece - that took maybe 100+ hours to create -

then loading an image of that other person's painting onto your computer, messing around with it some digitally.... then it is called your digital art? Someone else created it, came up with the idea, took the time to make it by hand - then someone uses technlogy to change the strokes a tiny bit - and that is something new? art?

I know that students have learned by copying master works for ages, it is a good process and very beneficial. But when I see someone take something traditional, put a little technology into it and then present it - and get all sorts of praise for producing 'art' - it offends me.

The comment should instead read something like:

'great copy, I hope you learned a lot. Now how are you going to apply that to your own work?'

And I cant help but wonder if the artist's piece I saw, a well-known artist who I know personally - is aware his pieces are being used.

Yeah, it is flattering...sometimes. But, I just wonder where the line gets crossed.

Perhaps if the piece I had seen hadnt just said 'based on so-and-so's work' - had instead made it clear it was for practice, for learning, and they actually USED so-and-so's work. It isnt BASED on anything when the original artist's piece is loaded on their computer and just messed with!

And then all this praise, like this was something...original.

I know that here on DD there is a lot more new technology-based art than traditional, so maybe I seem hopelessly un-hip -
but, not only is this my life-long passion - it is also my career. I'm pretty protective of my work, the copyrights, my ideas and my reputation. Not often, but on occasion I have used a photographer's work to base a painting on. Generally I take my own photos with models, my ideas, my costumes, etc. But when I do get permission, or pay for the rights to paint something based on someone else's work - I follow the legal and respectful procedures.

I know that it is a risk to put your work out there on the internet if you dont want folks stealing or copying it. I had a piece that a company in china just downloaded and then sold prints of -it even had my signature right there within the print. I was not notified, asked persmission, contacted or compensated. MY hard work created a profit for someone else, and needless to say - it pissed me off more than I can say.

That's another subject entirely, and I got off here -

my main reason for this post is to question the artistic merit of taking someone's hard work as IT IS, then showing it after a few mouse strokes....presenting it not clearly as USING this person's work.

Oh wow, you folks are freaking me out.

I don't think I had logged on a couple days, then 588 comments? I think I jumped a little....lol

I couldn't figure out what had happened, didnt even know what a DD was!

I did find it, and of course, now I can't find it again to link to the person who...recommended my work?

But - thank you!

And damn, now I'm feeling all guilty that I haven't responded to comments. I will take some time this weekend to do it!

Thank you folks!

Kim

First of all - thank you for all the great comments & notes!

I vaguely knew this was a 'community' - but began a gallery here to try out their print services. They are inexpensive, and I was curious what kind of quality they produce. Possibly for sales, but also if they were good, to have small prints as samples to go with slides for promotional reasons.

So, that is why I am here - as a gallery has to be created to have prints made.

I started to respond to the great comments at first, but there were too many - I hope it isn't rude that I do a general 'thank you' here instead.

For those who have asked - yes, I do on occasion teach workshops. If you want to be on a list to be notified when one is coming up - you can mail me at kim@kimberlydow.com. My qualifications are pretty clear on my website at [link]. I dont teach often though, as I prefer to paint - but usually one week every year or two.

Thank you again!
Kim