Giving credit where credit is due...

Okay, for those of you that know me fairly well this post may seem a bit out of character, as I usually just go with the flow, but it has recently been brought to my attention that artwork made by various artists including myself is being used in other media or posted on websites without credit or consent. This is not cool... Some artists spend hour upon hour creating these graphics and would appreciate being asked before their work is used in other media or reposted. Why is it that the graphic artists aren't getting the same respect you would give a fanfic writer? You would never think of reposting a fanfic without permission or credit so why is it no one has a problem with reposting art all over the net without permission or even at the very least credit? In most cases all it takes is a quick email or PM to ask "Hey can I use this on my Myspace or Twitter or in my video?" Nine times out of ten the artist is going to say yes.

Since I make them for people to use, I don't have a problem with people using my icons however they want as long as they aren't taking credit for creating them. I do, however, have a problem with some of my other work being posted all over the net on sites without credit where it is inferred that the poster created the work or it can be mistaken for something it is not. The main reason I bring this up is it was pointed out to me that my first Venice poster was posted on a social networking site where it was never stated that it was a work of fan art NOT an official poster for the series and from some of the comments it seems that's exactly what people think. I personally do not want Crystal, Kimmy or Hope pissed off at me because someone else is posting my stuff without specifying it was fan art. That poster in particular was done before any cast members were even announced and was billed a "fantasy" poster.

Don't get me wrong this is in no way just an Otalia or Venice problem it happens all the time in just about every fandom, for some reason people seem to feel graphic artists don't deserve the same respect or consideration that fanfic writers receive.

So please if you are going to repost or use someones art just take a few minutes and drop them a line to ask if it's okay and how to credit and if by chance they say no, respect their wishes. Besides, you never know you might make someone's day because really, who wouldn't be flattered that you like their work enough to want to use it. Feedback is the only reward most of us get from doing this.



Thanks for listening,
grumpybear (Jen)

P.S. Please forgive any grammatical, punctuation or spelling errors I'm writing this at 4:30 in the morning.