What do you think? I’ve seen a bit of discussion over whether or not an artist’s style can be stolen. For me, it seems kind of hard to pin down a style as belonging exclusively to someone.
I know a lot of artists have a very recognizable style, say Vivziepop with her Hazbin Hotel and Zoophobia series and characters. You can see a piece of her work and immediately recognize it. But if someone drew in a similar style, would it be stealing?
Tracing, straight up copy and paste, eyeballing particular characters or pieces with the goal of making it look as close as possible, I’d say that’s stealing. But copying a style? What’re your guys’ opinions on that? I’m just looking for a discussion, not arguments and I’m not attacking anyone. :)
What do you think? I’ve seen a bit of discussion over whether or not an artist’s style can be stolen. For me, it seems kind of hard to pin down a style as belonging exclusively to someone.
I know a lot of artists have a very recognizable style, say Vivziepop with her Hazbin Hotel and Zoophobia series and characters. You can see a piece of her work and immediately recognize it. But if someone drew in a similar style, would it be stealing?
Tracing, straight up copy and paste, eyeballing particular characters or pieces with the goal of making it look as close as possible, I’d say that’s stealing. But copying a style? What’re your guys’ opinions on that? I’m just looking for a discussion, not arguments and I’m not attacking anyone. :)
If copying an artistic style were illegal, Disney would be even richer than they are now.
While I do think artists should try to find their own style, rather then purely imitating that of others, there's a lot of middle ground and grey area as well. Disney for example, inspired a lot of people, so you have artists who's style is indirectly influenced by Disney (even though they've practiced the fundamentals and made their own stylistic adjustments) it's just part of who they are.
There are also writers or companies who specifically seek out artists who can draw in a specific style. If you wanted to be a concept artist for Dragon Quest for example, you'd better know how to copy Akira Toriyama. Being able to accurately immediate styles can be a very valuable skill in and of itself.
If copying an artistic style were illegal, Disney would be even richer than they are now.
While I do think artists should try to find their own style, rather then purely imitating that of others, there's a lot of middle ground and grey area as well. Disney for example, inspired a lot of people, so you have artists who's style is indirectly influenced by Disney (even though they've practiced the fundamentals and made their own stylistic adjustments) it's just part of who they are.
There are also writers or companies who specifically seek out artists who can draw in a specific style. If you wanted to be a concept artist for Dragon Quest for example, you'd better know how to copy Akira Toriyama. Being able to accurately immediate styles can be a very valuable skill in and of itself.
I think it absolutely can happen, but it'd be more than merely drawing something similarly to someone else.
I think it'd more involve trying to pass off something they got form another artist as their own invention, saying it's free of any outside influences. Claiming it as their own when they know for sure who they actually got it from.
But just admiring and emulating a style with proper recognition I don't think could be considered stealing. Influences are important in art, and without any outside influences I imagine most artists would feel very stunted.
I mean, most artistic movements seem like they could be described as copying styles in a way, but I think giving credit is why it isn't stealing. In addition to expanding on influences and making it their own too, but I think credit is key. A lot of these artists were friends and part of the same schools or organizations, but these people ultimately did deliberately emulate other people's and each other's very unique styles.
Take Impressionism. Those who solidified it were greatly emulating Manet, though he wasn't necessarily a founding member in the clique itself. He did end up liking the Impressionists and I believe ended up rolling with them though, so I definitely don't think he thought they were stealing. But they were vocal with their admiration of his innovations, and never tried to claimed their style was completely their own invention.
On the other hand though, I remember my art history professor saying Picasso's friends would cover up their paintings in progress while he visited because he had a habit of taking their concepts and innovations. It is something that can happen, no doubt....
Did you deliberately try to emulate an artists' unique style? Something that you didn't absorb elsewhere or in passing?
And are you trying to pass it off as your own ideas? Or are you giving credit to who influenced you?
I think it absolutely can happen, but it'd be more than merely drawing something similarly to someone else.
I think it'd more involve trying to pass off something they got form another artist as their own invention, saying it's free of any outside influences. Claiming it as their own when they know for sure who they actually got it from.
But just admiring and emulating a style with proper recognition I don't think could be considered stealing. Influences are important in art, and without any outside influences I imagine most artists would feel very stunted.
I mean, most artistic movements seem like they could be described as copying styles in a way, but I think giving credit is why it isn't stealing. In addition to expanding on influences and making it their own too, but I think credit is key. A lot of these artists were friends and part of the same schools or organizations, but these people ultimately did deliberately emulate other people's and each other's very unique styles.
Take Impressionism. Those who solidified it were greatly emulating Manet, though he wasn't necessarily a founding member in the clique itself. He did end up liking the Impressionists and I believe ended up rolling with them though, so I definitely don't think he thought they were stealing. But they were vocal with their admiration of his innovations, and never tried to claimed their style was completely their own invention.
On the other hand though, I remember my art history professor saying Picasso's friends would cover up their paintings in progress while he visited because he had a habit of taking their concepts and innovations. It is something that can happen, no doubt....
Did you deliberately try to emulate an artists' unique style? Something that you didn't absorb elsewhere or in passing?
And are you trying to pass it off as your own ideas? Or are you giving credit to who influenced you?
I agree with LizardKing's explanation.
I'd also like to add, "stealing" implies a theft of value. Just copying someone's style and posting your art everywhere isn't really "style theft" imo. On the other hand, if someone put up commissions in a specific/unique style and then another person solicited their audience (big words, don't know how to say that better xP) with cheaper/free commissions, I'd call that style theft.
That being said, I'm not sure what should be done at that point. It's hard to argue "[Thief] stole [Original]'s customers!" because you can't prove those people would have bought anything from the original artist. Also, I don't think I've ever seen exact style copying that isn't tracing. Almost everyone blends multiple styles they've seen and liked, and I see nothing wrong with that.
Personally I feel like most "art style theft" arguments come down to the copier's or the original artist's attitude. If someone is copying an entire style, chances are they have low self esteem and are copying someone they admire but are jealous of. They then get defensive because being called out makes them afraid they'll lose their followers/friends to the original artist. On the other hand, the original artist could have spent a long time perfecting their style and are now frustrated someone else just picked up what took them days/months to perfect. I think both sides could be settled by the "two cakes" argument (as long as it doesn't involve commissions/competitions) but good luck getting them to see it that way.
I agree with LizardKing's explanation.
I'd also like to add, "stealing" implies a theft of value. Just copying someone's style and posting your art everywhere isn't really "style theft" imo. On the other hand, if someone put up commissions in a specific/unique style and then another person solicited their audience (big words, don't know how to say that better xP) with cheaper/free commissions, I'd call that style theft.
That being said, I'm not sure what should be done at that point. It's hard to argue "[Thief] stole [Original]'s customers!" because you can't prove those people would have bought anything from the original artist. Also, I don't think I've ever seen exact style copying that isn't tracing. Almost everyone blends multiple styles they've seen and liked, and I see nothing wrong with that.
Personally I feel like most "art style theft" arguments come down to the copier's or the original artist's attitude. If someone is copying an entire style, chances are they have low self esteem and are copying someone they admire but are jealous of. They then get defensive because being called out makes them afraid they'll lose their followers/friends to the original artist. On the other hand, the original artist could have spent a long time perfecting their style and are now frustrated someone else just picked up what took them days/months to perfect. I think both sides could be settled by the "two cakes" argument (as long as it doesn't involve commissions/competitions) but good luck getting them to see it that way.
I don't necessarily think styles can be stolen, I mean it really depends on the situation. Some people just have really similar styles despite never even seeing each others art and I do think there's people who take inspiration from certain art style like disney as some have mentioned other examples including Sonic and Pokemon's art style but I don't that can really be called stealing, yeah?
There's certain things that can't be stolen like colors, as for styles like you mentioned i'd say it's only considered stealing if you traced & copy pasted it.
I don't necessarily think styles can be stolen, I mean it really depends on the situation. Some people just have really similar styles despite never even seeing each others art and I do think there's people who take inspiration from certain art style like disney as some have mentioned other examples including Sonic and Pokemon's art style but I don't that can really be called stealing, yeah?
There's certain things that can't be stolen like colors, as for styles like you mentioned i'd say it's only considered stealing if you traced & copy pasted it.
@
EclipseDragon
Ahaha, you’re totally right. Disney would have its claws in artists everywhere. I think learning to emulate other artists’ styles helps your own style develop, but like you said, being able to draw in various styles can come in handy when job hunting.
@
LizardKing
Cool. Didn’t know that about the Impressionists. I think the passing it off as your own is where it gets sticky.
@
AttackTheMap
I agree. I think that’s where the line in the sand is. When an artist specifically emulates another’s style to make a profit by selling cheap echoes of the real thing. And, I also agree about the artists’ attitudes. Some are cool, maybe even flattered if another is doodling around in their style, others are super possessive and throw a fit.
@
Blueflare
Agree on all fronts.
@
EclipseDragon
Ahaha, you’re totally right. Disney would have its claws in artists everywhere. I think learning to emulate other artists’ styles helps your own style develop, but like you said, being able to draw in various styles can come in handy when job hunting.
@
LizardKing
Cool. Didn’t know that about the Impressionists. I think the passing it off as your own is where it gets sticky.
@
AttackTheMap
I agree. I think that’s where the line in the sand is. When an artist specifically emulates another’s style to make a profit by selling cheap echoes of the real thing. And, I also agree about the artists’ attitudes. Some are cool, maybe even flattered if another is doodling around in their style, others are super possessive and throw a fit.
@
Blueflare
Agree on all fronts.
Well when you steal something, it's most common for that stolen item to be an object.
It's really impossible for an art style to be stolen, because 1 singular person alone could not be able to copy an art style line-for-line.
So, no. I don't think an art style could be stolen.
Well when you steal something, it's most common for that stolen item to be an object.
It's really impossible for an art style to be stolen, because 1 singular person alone could not be able to copy an art style line-for-line.
So, no. I don't think an art style could be stolen.
|
powerchords
they/he
link goes here
link goes here
link goes here
semi-active
|
I actually think that stealing a style is nearly downright impossible unless youre literally copying their work line-for-line (as the person above stated). I used to watch Vivziepop's speedarts and pause it at certain moments to attempt her anatomy, but I never shared the sketches or made official art/characters with them. She was an inspiration of mine for a long while.
Anyways, no. Unless it's all-out tracing, there's always something different about peoples' styles. \(uvu)/
I actually think that stealing a style is nearly downright impossible unless youre literally copying their work line-for-line (as the person above stated). I used to watch Vivziepop's speedarts and pause it at certain moments to attempt her anatomy, but I never shared the sketches or made official art/characters with them. She was an inspiration of mine for a long while.
Anyways, no. Unless it's all-out tracing, there's always something different about peoples' styles. \(uvu)/
plague/semper/semp
any prns, writer/artist and an eldritch abomination
"don't bring a splayd to a knork fight."
wishlist
Inspiration is fine, and you end up with a unique style! Most people are inspired by multiple artists, and the style becomes their own.
Tracing should only be used as a private study. Tracing of another person's art should be kept strictly private, never posted; I've seen a lot of people get in dire trouble and have a smeared reputation for posting a blatant tracing. (Twitter and Instagram will clobber you for it, I've seen it happen.) The artist you're tracing won't take kindly to it, either.
If it's fanart trying to stay true to a style (by the way, I love Vivziepop's work and animation), then it's all fine!
--
Inspiration is something that drives most artists, even the experts! Ask a lot of mangaka what their favorite series was...you'll see they likely borrowed elements of that art and molded it to their own.
Here's an example!: One of my best buddies is an upcoming artist, and he's obviously inspired by Kohta Hirano, with a lot of Drifters and Hellsing fanart! But his work ended up unique--it's sketchier, and he tends to use lighter colors. It became its own complete style, and it's really aesthetically pleasing. You can tell by talking to him, his fanarts, and the way he doodles eyes are vaguely Hirano, but it's his own style that really can't be truly mimicked.
Inspiration is fine, and you end up with a unique style! Most people are inspired by multiple artists, and the style becomes their own.
Tracing should only be used as a private study. Tracing of another person's art should be kept strictly private, never posted; I've seen a lot of people get in dire trouble and have a smeared reputation for posting a blatant tracing. (Twitter and Instagram will clobber you for it, I've seen it happen.) The artist you're tracing won't take kindly to it, either.
If it's fanart trying to stay true to a style (by the way, I love Vivziepop's work and animation), then it's all fine!
--
Inspiration is something that drives most artists, even the experts! Ask a lot of mangaka what their favorite series was...you'll see they likely borrowed elements of that art and molded it to their own.
Here's an example!: One of my best buddies is an upcoming artist, and he's obviously inspired by Kohta Hirano, with a lot of Drifters and Hellsing fanart! But his work ended up unique--it's sketchier, and he tends to use lighter colors. It became its own complete style, and it's really aesthetically pleasing. You can tell by talking to him, his fanarts, and the way he doodles eyes are vaguely Hirano, but it's his own style that really can't be truly mimicked.
people don't seem to understand this but copying is a HUGE step in becoming a successful artist. it's like self teaching yourself how to draw. Not only that, but it shows you that if someone else can do it, you can too.
HOWEVER, if someone copies someone and then posts that as their own, THAT'S bad copying, if you are too copy you gotta keep those to yourself or posts it saying the original was made by So-And-So
people don't seem to understand this but copying is a HUGE step in becoming a successful artist. it's like self teaching yourself how to draw. Not only that, but it shows you that if someone else can do it, you can too.
HOWEVER, if someone copies someone and then posts that as their own, THAT'S bad copying, if you are too copy you gotta keep those to yourself or posts it saying the original was made by So-And-So
I have the honor to be your obedient servant
V. Val
