Injustice!

You've spent days creating some awesome artwork and shared it with the world - as all beautiful art should be. Later you find it's been stolen! Used on a site or product without your permission. This is not right, fair or legal. It shouldn't be that some unscrupulous seller can just come along, harvest the fruits of your labour and convert it into their own personal revenue stream.

In this article I'll discuss the topic of art theft and what you can do to minimize the chance of falling victim to it.

Not a new phenomena

The topic of online image theft has been on my radar since the late 90s. I've since become an expert on the matter.

In my late teens, I created my first art portfolio website back in the early days of the web. The sole purpose was to share what I'd been working on with like-minded people. Having my own website was great. It started as a hobby project and went on to generate many fantastic opportunities. It allowed me to become a professional, paid artist which, would have otherwise remained a pipe dream.

I recommend everyone has their own site!

Although it was and will always be true that where there are creative people offering quality content, there will also always be poachers looking to take advantage of the fact.

The internet was a much smaller place 20+ years ago, which meant fewer 'web surfers' and smaller potential audiences. This fact didn't stop a handful of image thieves from discovering my art. Looking back, my early work wasn't particularly amazing, but good enough to inspire a few fans. And wherever there are fans, they will unfortunately be thieves.

I remember several occasions between the late 90s and early 2000s whereby I'd spot wannabe artists who'd taken a few pieces of my work and were passing it off as their own. Sometimes it would be a straight-up Copy + Paste from my gallery to theirs. Other times they might colourise the image or add some small detail to it in order to make them feel as though they were its author.

I remember at the time being furious to find someone out there was taking credit for the art I'd created. I'd email them; complaining, either asking them to credit me or take it down. Most of the time they'd just take it down. The shame of being found out was normally enough to make these people comply.

What do these people have to gain?

There are 3 different types of art thief- some amateur artists copy your work, others who take the art and pend it's their own, and criminal thieves or infringe on your copyright to turn a profit.

Tracer/ Copier Art Thieves:

Years ago, the main concern from artists would be having their art copied or traced by another amateur and simply not giving credit. This still happens, but these days it typically doesn't worry me. A lot of the time it's just kids online wanting to emulate art for fun and aren't necessarily looking for trick anyone or profit from the endeavour.

Pretender Art Thieves:

Then there's those who steal another's artwork and pass it off as their own for kudos. If someone wants to fake being better than they are by trying to fool others, they are doing themselves more harm than they think. This type of art thief subconsciously reinforces the fact that they are a loser who's too lazy to put in the work themselves, so resorts to shortcuts- leeching off others and being deceitful in an attempt to gain external validation. Being that way will not get them far in life. They might get a few 'likes' on social media, but then how sad to feel as though your self-worth is tied to a social media platform's 'like' counter?

The damage this type of thief does to their own sense of self worth is often much worse than damage caused to the artist they've stolen from. My advice to this thief is to learn how to draw as good as the artwork you've stolen and taken credit for. At least then you wont have to know that deep down you're a cheat who's incapable of achieving great things. If you the reason you're stealing is because you simply can't draw despite many years of trying, then perhaps find something else you can get good at and focus on that instead.

Criminal Art Thieves:

Lastly there is the type of thief who wants to exploit and profit from an artist's efforts. These people frustrate artists the most. Especially commercial artists who understand the financial value in their work and want to be the ones profiting from it themselves.

Insane amounts of art Piracy!

We're more than two decades into the 2000s. The internet has become a big part of everyday life for most people. Art theft is hitting record numbers. Now, us artists do not have to simply concern ourselves with the occasional amateur taking credit for our work, but hundreds of illegal businesses could potentially be making huge amounts of profit via our art and designs.

I don't want to scare anyone to the point where they don't feel safe in posting their images online. As I say, I think everyone should have their own website and share their beautiful art with the world. To inspire others or evoke emotion from one's creative endeavours is one of the most virtuous acts one can perform.

However, we need to be realistic about the world we live in. Even during the last few years alone, I've discovered several hundred instances of my work being used on websites or products without my consent. I almost can't keep up! For every new artwork I create, there are multiple sellers seemingly waiting to pull it off the web and sell it on dozens of products. Clothing, cases, accessories, wall art or basically any item that can be printed on to. I've somewhat come to terms with it being part and parcel of being a successful artist. But that doesn't mean I don't take measures to protect my art or actively fight against the piracy of my work.

Why is there more art theft?

Here's a few reasons. I'm sure there's many more.

1. The internet has grown

According to Internet Live stats, In 2000 there were 17 million websites. Now there's close to 2 billion! Simply, the more sites and people using the internet, the more opportunity for web crimes to occur. There's now more art than ever to potentially profit from, and more thieves hoping to make a quick buck.

2. More countries have online access

Certain counties such as China do not share the same respect for intellectual property. Sellers in China do not need to battle with the moral or legal enforcement issues we have in western countries. And so for these people, the internet becomes one big buffet to pick from and exploit. Individual sellers in China can now access the west's online retail space via sites such as Ebay, Amazon, Alibaba, Wish or AliExpress. These sellers can afford to work for less and produce physical items at a lower cost. Therefore, making and supplying printed products has become a lucrative business.

3. The rise of Print on Demand

Print on Demand isn't new, but really began to take off between 2015 and today. Rather than need to print, stock and then sell hundreds of products in one go, companies now offer the production of single items at a reasonably affordable price. A seller doesn't need to risk printing 100 pirated t-shirts with the fear of losing the ability to shift them all if their operation gets shut down or their product is banned [Note- Retailers such as Amazon or Shopify do not typically ban blatant pirate sellers or their operations. Rather, they ban copyright infringed items and only when such items are brought to the attention of these platforms].

[blockquote quote_type="type2" author_name="Ben Krefta, Artist" width="100%"]"Where there are creative people offering quality content, there will also always be poachers looking to take advantage of the fact."[/blockquote]

10 Ways to Protect Your Artwork Images from Being Copied Online

At this time, there is no way to completely prevent your art being taken, reproduced or replicated unless it never makes its way to the web. A tiny percentage of artists might decide they won't ever share anything online and that's fair enough. But if your goal is to sell your work, promote yourself or services through your online portfolio and web presence, then posting your art is a necessity.

My feeling is that the more barriers and obstacles you put into protecting your work, the better. Some thieves will simply be deterred and instead go after images that are easier to attain.

1. Limit the size of your images

Smaller images can look fine on a screen- especially mobile devices. They only print small and when enlarged they become pixilated and grainy. This makes them unsuitable for printing onto products. Another advantage to uploading smaller images is that they load faster, taking up lass space on your hard drive or SD card.

Image size is determined by its dimensions and measured in pixels. For example, 400 x 600 px (pixels). An image's size can be described as it's 'resolution'. A high resolution image is one with large pixel dimensions such as 1000 x 2000 px or more. An image's pixel per inch (ppi) value can affect the print resolution of an image, which will be explained later.

How big should my online images be?

It depends who's viewing them and where they'll be used. If you've put together a slick, full-screen, online art portfolio to show clients, you might want to consider slightly larger files compared to something shared with the general public on social media. Consider who will have access to your art and who's likely to find it. If it can only be found via a direct link and your work isn't popping up on a Google image search despite your best efforts to find it, then it's safe to say that thieves will struggle to find it also.

◾ If the art is just going on social media, something like 700 x 700 px will suffice.

◾ When your work is featured in video content such as a Youtube video at high-definition 1080p, then you'll want to consider a bigger image to fill this 1920 x 1080 px resolution frame. At this time, stealing images from Youtube screenshots to later use on a printed product isn't common.

◾ For online use, I generally try to keep the widest part of an image at 900px - 1200px maximum.

2. Lower the print resolution of your images

Not to be confused with screen resolution, when an image is printed, it's pixels per inch (ppi) is taken into account to determine its print resolution and level of quality. [Note- for the sake of argument, I sometimes use the terms 'ppi' and 'dpi' (dots per inch) interchangeably]

Pixel dimensions and ppi are somewhat interlinked. If saving art in Photoshop, you can modify its dimensions and amount of ppi independently and under the setting: Image -> Image Size.

Lowering the image size and resolution before putting it online is one of the best ways to prevent art theft. However, some thieves will still attempt, and in some cases succeed, in selling low-res printed products to unfussy customers. As a consumer, you should always expect the artwork on any product you buy to look sharp as a knife. If it's not, ask yourself- Is this product counterfeit? And if so do I want to support counterfeiters? Less demand for low quality, stolen 'toot' = less reason for art to be taken in the first place.

Also, it's worth being aware that A.I. software exists which can attempt to up-scale low-res art into high-res sizes. It's not perfect, but something to consider.

3. Compress your images and save as JPEG

Most images shared online will be saved as a compressed JPEG file. This typically uses .jpg extension at the end of the file name. Even a large, high-res Jpeg won't be suitable for print if it's been super compressed.

You can vary the amount of compression applied to a jpeg. But the more compression, the uglier it looks on a display. You want to find a sweet spot where the quality will drop by a few notches but the image still looks decent on the screen. A Jpeg should still look fine on screen at 60-70% quality and also benefit from a smaller file size. Certainly, 100% quality shouldn't be shared online.

If I'm saving a jpeg for the web with Photoshop, I'll typically use it's 9 out of 12 quality setting.

4. Add a Watermark to artwork

Your digital watermark could be a logo or signature. Watermarks usually cover a portion of the art with a semi-transparent logo or word which makes the image less useful without totally obscuring it. 

I've found a 50-50 split with some artists advocating watermarks, while others think it degrades the quality of their work. Sure- a watermark will always somewhat interfere with the beautiful artwork beneath, and that's the point.

It's worth noting, anyone selling products containing watermarks is making use of 100% stolen art. Again, as consumers, we should resist the temptation to purchase these products so as to not support the pirates.

Amazingly, I once saw a stolen, watermarked artwork with a huge DevianArt logo over the top being sold on a garment by a printed hoodie business. The audacity to openly commit this act of fraud was remarkable. I would often troll their social media account asking why they steal all their art and don't pay artists for the privilege. It was an attempt to shame them into stopping the practice. Sure, they'd delete my comments and attempt to ban me, but when I see things like this, I can't ignore it. I don't like to see other artists being taken advantage of, whether they are aware of  it or not.

How do I know if I should watermark my artwork?

I've noticed certain styles and themes of artwork are more likely to be stolen. And so the need for a watermark is more important. Do you create fan art? Paint celebrities? Draw actors or characters from popular culture? Is your subject easy to cut out and paste on products, e.g. a character on a flat, plain coloured background? If so, consider watermarks. Something like a generic boat sailing on the ocean or a nice looking photograph of a local landmark is less likely to get swiped, even if it's a good piece of art.

5. Add a copyright notice or website address to images

Similarly to adding a watermark, you could add a copyright notice to your image. By default, any artwork created by an author grants them automatic copyright and ownership (other than in work-for-hire or other contractual relationships). However, adding a line of text to state the artwork has an owner may deter a few thieves and make people aware of the image's author.

Adding your website address to the bottom of an image could also deter and, in some cases, work as an extra benefit to the artist.  If it's the type of art that could get shared around a lot on social media, it could potentially earn you a few new site visitors. Or at least it gives no reason for anyone else posting the image to not give you credit for having created it.

6. Let people know you're the artist

Rather than adding copyright info or a web address to the image itself, you can always add this to any web page you post your images to. On social media, add hash tags including your name, company or brand in the description box. This helps mitigate the damage from social media shares where people don’t give credit.

A lot of people don’t understand the importance of giving credit and not stealing ideas. Add reminders explaining how giving credit helps you as an artist. These can be added to social media posts discussed on your blog or website. Anywhere you might post your intellectual property. No need to moan about it. Be professional and let people know why crediting artists is important.

7. Don't share the full image

You could decide to post just a cropped version of the full image you have. This isn't necessarily a great solution and the crop still has a chance of being taken, but in a few select cases, it could work as a deterrent.

8. Only post photos of your art

Particularly for digital artists and photographers, one thing to consider is printing out your work, then taking and sharing photos of it. It can be taken at a slight angle by tilting the work, placed in a frame or held up to the camera. Any ambient shadows or lighting stops a thief from being able to download a clean version of the image suitable to add to products.

I see this from a few Instagram artists I follow- they add overlapping pens or paintbrushes to their art before taking a photo. It looks cool. Or they shoot their work in different environments- perhaps with plants or other accessories surrounding the image.

9. Disable the right-click function

If you manage your own website and have some coding know-how, you can disable right-clicking on your images. Therefore not allowing the option to save them. Or you can make images only downloadable 'webp' files which means they'll only open in a browser. This makes it a bit harder for some people to save your images to their devices.

However, there are still several work-arounds to this. These include saving using a screenshot, searching through the website's source code to find the unprotected image location, or searching through their browser's cache of temporarily downloaded images.

10. Be easy to contact online

If you make it easy for people to contact you, they’ll be more likely to ask for permission to use your work. Mention your web address or how people can contact you on the sites you post on. If you don’t want to grant permission, you can still politely decline. On my site, the Contact page even has a drop down heading for 'Usage rights' so that I can address this topic more efficiently.

[blockquote quote_type="type2" author_name="Ben Krefta, Artist" width="100%"]"As a consumer you should always expect the artwork on any product you buy to look sharp as a knife. If it's not, ask yourself- Is this product counterfeit? And if so do I want to support counterfeiters?"[/blockquote]

Battling Art Theft

I appreciate the war on theft isn't the most uplifting of art-related topics. There are many articles and websites which promote posting your art online to gain exposure, or e-commerce sites promoting ways to display and sell your artwork with relative ease. However, it's worth being realistic and spending some time considering the 'dark side' of putting your work on the web.

How do thieves find my artwork?

You've created an amazing image and want to share it with the world. For the majority of web users, this will be limited to friends, family and a few strangers picked up on the way. You might share it on social media platforms or art-related websites. Most artists, or at least, aspiring artists, won’t need to worry about their work being ripped off because they're simply not famous or easy to stumble upon.

If you've managed to not only create beautiful art, but gained notoriety, fame or followers as well, Congratulations! You've made it into the upper echelon! But unfortunately, now you're a target.

Is your work is east to find?

Perhaps you’ve considered Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for your personal website? Or maybe you’ve shared it on a site which increased its findability with its own SEO? If your creations have proved popular with lots of shares, likes, sales and so on, they'll likely rise up and become easier to stumble upon. Is your work ranking high on a Google Image search? Or perhaps it is one of the first items to appear via a Pinterest search? Great! It's not easy for one’s art to gain that level of exposure. However, thieves now know it exists too. They also know that the cream of the crop rises to the top, so they're far more likely to see value in your digital offering/s.

The prime targets for thieves, however, are existing online stores. Thieves pay attention to the best sellers on each platform to determine which art will more likely award them higher profits later on. If you’ve been successful at selling your work on retail sites like, Red Bubble, Zazzle, Fine Art America, Society 6, Etsy, Amazon and Ebay, then you’ll need to understand the artworks on those products are at higher risk of being taken.

Some of these sites will put some measures in place to prevent art theft. After all, it’s in their interest to not have to compete against their own offerings on alternative sites. Unfortunately, for me personally, their measures have been insufficient. Most of my work is typically taken from various other retailers I’ve licensed with.

Thieves using their stolen art to sell their own products is only half the story. The other half is made of thieves re-selling artwork to other manufacturers or Print-On-Demand sellers.

Many sellers don’t even realise they’re effectively handling stolen goods when they buy a ‘digital image pack’ containing hundreds or thousands of popular images they can make use of on their products. Well, I say they don’t realise, but you’d have to be pretty naive about copyright law to think a nominal price for a huge collection of royalty-free professional art is legit.

I give a tiny bit more leeway to sellers who buy existing products already containing your artwork from sites like Alibaba in China. It’s funny how such a huge corporation can float on the stock market despite being a huge hot-bed of blatant illegal activity. Don’t take my word for it; just search for your favourite, popular IPs and franchises to bring up pages of unlicensed goods for sale.

There isn’t a solution to the whole 'being found' issue- we want our artistic efforts to go noticed. And we want our art-based merchandise to become the next hot seller. If it does, art theft is simply an inevitable consequence.

Should I always bother protecting my artwork?

Some things aren't worth bothering to protect. For example, thumbnail images for your online gallery will be too small to do much with.
Quick sketches, work-in-progress images or idea posts don't have a lot of commercial value, although the idea of having a link back to your site or including a web URL on these may still be worth considering.

Realistically speaking, is your art good enough to steal?

For most of us, we wouldn't even bother sharing our art if we didn't see at least some value in it. But while we may love our creations, would an on-looker sit up and take notice? After all, there's already such a huge buffet of pre-existing, quality content floating around on the internet. Perhaps there's no need for concern if you're just starting out on your artistic journey. Maybe wait until your work is good enough to steal or you've found it's been stolen before you worry about putting in more measures to protect your portfolio.

Your art may be good, but could still be safe if there's already something very similar ranking high on search engines. Or other art that already has a proven track-record of generating sales on other online stores.

It’s a waste of time to even worry about art theft

When it comes to taking measures to avoid art theft, such as adding watermarks to your art, it will be up to you to decide if it's worth the effort. Some artists just want to post their artwork online, then move onto the next thing. They don’t want to hang around, wasting time to consider if or when it could get stolen and used without their consent. This is fair enough.

I understand that life is short and we don’t necessarily want to worry about the dodgy, objectionable practices that take place within our global society. It can be a waste of life if you’re forever chasing thieves instead of moving on to your next exciting creation. Many artist friends of mine say the battle against art theft is too emotionally costly. The stress that comes from seeking out instances of theft or taking steps to resolve these infringements is too upsetting and not worth the distress.

Therefore, ask yourself, is it worth your time to take measures to avoid art theft? Is it worth your time to resolve an instance of copyright infringement? And do you have the mental fortitude to engage with the stress it causes?

Speaking for myself, my sense of justice and fairness is baked into my personality such that I can’t let artwork theft slide. Despite the mental toll it takes to deal with these instances, it’s even worse for me to do nothing while I know there are people out there profiting from the fruits of my labour. Also, if I am to sell my artwork on a print, canvas or product on Amazon, for example, I don’t want to have to compete against other sellers who are illegally offering the same art and product type, albeit of a lower quality.

Flattery

There is an argument I've never understood - "Why is this so bad? You should feel flattered that your work was good enough to steal". I understand there are many non-artists out there who'd love the ability to create good art. Art so good that it's noticed and appreciated. So much so that it warrants being stolen! However, they do not understand the effort and commitment that has gone in to creating the art.

Artists have developed their craft over many years to get to a point where they have become competent professionals. It has taken passion, effort and a degree of sacrifice (such as time) to have reached their level of ability. And with each artwork, a small part of them goes into its creation. An artist's knowledge, preferences, tastes and loves have been distilled into their work. It's personal.

But for thieves, it's not personal. It's business. The business of exploitation. This isn't something to be encouraged or thought of in a positive way.

Perhaps, for some, the theft provides a little boost of self-esteem? It makes them feel their efforts have value and so they are of value. I understand. It's nice to know we have something positive to offer the world, but that's not what this discussion is about. It's about acknowledging an injustice and considering what you can do to battle it.

Where do thieves sell my artwork?

Sometimes you'll stumble upon an e-commerce site making use of your work. Other times, a friend, follower, or good Samaritan will notify you so that you can take action. But if you are prepared to see if your work has been taken and is currently being sold online, there are a few sites you can use to assist:

Google Image Search - Upload your art / image and search for visual matches via  Google.

Tiny Eye Reverse Image Search - This works in the same way and can bring up matches from alternative sources.

[Note: In testing these sites while writing this article, I unfortunately found 7 instances of my artwork being used on Diamond Painting Kits and Jigsaw Puzzles by Amazon sellers. They've since been reported.]

In addition, you may want to try manually searching for products containing your art on sites like Amazon, eBay, Etsy, or Print on Demand Stores like Red Bubble. This is easier if your work is more niche. For example, if you've painted a blue fairy riding on the back of a toad- you might try searching for "blue fairy on toad", "blue fairy on toad art", "blue fairy on toad canvas" etc. It may yield product results. It may not.

If you'd previously listed and sold your artwork for sale on a site like Red Bubble, a thief may have also found it. You might try searching sites for the same title you'd used on the original product listing.

What to do when you find someone has stolen your art

Many instances of theft are by kids or naive idiots taking your image to use as a wallpaper, avatar or perhaps an album cover for their stupid little song. Over the years, I've found my art posted on forums, in signatures, as a Youtube thumbnail or Ad banner, as a logo for a tattoo shop. I've also discovered it on several hundred different retail products and can still find them being sold illegally today. Typically, an artists work will be taken and used to sell posters, canvases, shirts, mugs, or any product where 2D printed artwork can be applied.

For non-profit use, I typically don't mind my work being taken and shared online. However, I have a problem when I find it's been stolen and used for profitable gain. 

If that's the case, firstly, try not to get too upset and know that it happens to a lot of artists.

From there you work out:

• Who's taken it?
• Where is the individual or business located?
• To what extent has the art been used?
• What will you do about it?

If it's an offender in the USA, Europe or English-speaking world, there's usually measures in place to potentially take legal action. But you may simply want to request the art/product be taken down. Contacting a site owner / seller, explaining the situation and threatening further action is often enough for them to take down the product.

Takedown Forms

On bigger sites, there's usually a form you can fill in if you want to request a product be removed which infringes on your copyright. I'll list a few of these below:

◾Etsy has an official Intellectual Property infringement report you may want to submit. I once submitted a report against a seller who was illegally using my work. The seller then issues a counter-notice to declare they had permission (a lie). They would obviously never win if the case was brought to court, but Etsy then requested that I submit evidence of taking legal action in order for Etsy to take down the infringing product. It made me realize, sellers can game the system if they are ballsey enough to deny their crime.

◾Pinterest - You can fill out a take-down request. I usually just do these if the Pin is pointing towards a for-profit site/product.

◾Amazon - You will need to have an account with Amazon to use their infringement form. You may find instances of infringement on multiple Amazon territory sites- i.e. Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk and will need to submit reports to the appropriate site. Years back, Amazon often sided with Chinese counterfeit sellers when it came to infringement reports, but thankfully, things have changed. These days they've usually been pretty good at dealing with the hundreds of reports I've submitted over the years, with the exception of Amazon Germany, often siding with the thieves for reasons unknown.

◾Red Bubble has an IP Report form. As do many of these large print-on-demand websites.

◾Shopify also makes you sign up to their platform in order to submit a copyright report. I'm not impressed with them as a company. I've contacted their trust and safety team on 3 separate occasions to report a seller who uses their platform. This seller frequently steals my art to sell on their products. Everything they sell is blatantly stolen from many different artists, but Shopify refuses to take action against them.

Issuing a complaint

Here are some examples you can copy and modify when registering a notice of copyright infringement via email or web forms to sellers:

1.

Dear Seller.

My name is [insert name] I originally created the artwork on this [insert product] and its copyright belongs to me. I have not authorized the sale of or reproduction of this work and therefore it is a crime for it to be sold. I would request it be removed from your store immediately.

If you fail to comply, I shall be taking legal action against you and any other sellers attempting to profit from this or any other product containing my artwork.

For more information about me and my work, you're welcome to check out my site at [your website].

Regards

[insert your Contact Details]

2.

Regarding Copyright:

Hello. One of my followers informed me that my artwork is being used and sold on your listing:

[insert URL]
My Artwork:
[insert URL of your art]

I appreciate this product was likely bought from or will be drop shipped from a counterfeit seller based in China, but as I have not given permission for my artwork to be used on this, I would like to request it be removed.

If you would like the rights to use this artwork however, let me know and a licence can be arranged. Costs start from [Insert Fee] per design.

Regards

[insert your Contact Details]

3.

Details about Claim:

THIS IS A COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT CLAIM. The manufacturers of these products are illegally reproducing my intellectual property on this product. The products feature artworks of which I am the artist and copyright holder. The use of my artwork on these products infringes my COPYRIGHT. I have not licensed or given permission for my intellectual property to appear on these products. Therefore, these physical products include unauthorised copyrighted images. As a result, these products infringe my copyright under International Law and I require that they are immediately removed.

What to do when you find another artist's art has been stolen?

If you can spare 5 minutes, contact the artist. I'm sure a few artists would rather be blissfully ignorant about the fact, but overall, I feel that making the artist aware, at least gives them a chance to take action.

It's useful if you're able to supply:

• Who's taken it?
• Where is the individual or business located?
• To what extent has the art been used?

And then it's up to the artist to decide what to do about it. I'd imagine most artists aren't going to care if their work was used, for example, as someone's personal avatar on a website. And consider that perhaps the artist has licenced the artwork to be used legally.

Personally, I might not mind it if some mid-sized company blatantly rips me off so that I can potentially sue for a hundred grand!

When should you find a Lawyer?

I use a site called Pixsy. It's purpose is to find and tackle image theft on your behalf.

You upload your art or portfolio of work and they will display websites they find which make use of it by finding visual matches online. After that, you have the opportunity to allow Pixsy's legal team to chase any unlawful seller for damages or fees to continue using the art by officially licensing it's use.

If you've been selling your art and images online or licencing your work for some time, it might be worth signing up to see what they find? It seems most suited to digital artists, illustrators and photographers.

Over the last few years, I've asked Pixsy to chase several offenders on my behalf. You put in a no win - no fee claim, so there is no risk. 

One claim netted me a few hundred dollars after Pixsy took their cut of fees. Another claim allowed Pixsy to register one of my artworks with the USA Copyright office on my behalf without needing to pay a fee up front in order to chase a compensation claim.

However, it is often the case that they are unable to recoup damages as the companies/sites using my art have been small-time 'pop-up' stores which don't list a business address and info you'd need to pursue a law suit. Similarly, they find many instances of infringement, but are unable to pursue sellers in countries they don't have jurisdiction in.

Other than Pixsy, you may want to contact an independent lawyer who specializes in copyright infringement. There are also lawyers who specifically focus on online image or art copyright infringement. It's worth noting there will often be fees to pay up front and know that any legal battle will be lengthy and stressful to deal with. 

[blockquote quote_type="type2" author_name="Ben Krefta, Artist" width="100%"]"with each artwork, a small part of them goes into it's creation. An artist's knowledge, preferences, tastes and loves have been distilled into their work. It's personal. But for thieves, it's not personal. It's business. The business of exploitation"[/blockquote]

What to do when a seller reaches out to use your work, or has used your work

In the event you have a genuine customer interested in using your work- well done. If its for use on a product or service, this is your chance to sell it's use for a licensing fee. If its for the promise of "potential" profits or "exposure", I'll often decline it's use.

Any business or serious individual will expect to pay you for the right to use your art. If they've scoured the net looking for the perfect image, and your art is it, then that puts you in a good bargaining position. Don't sell your work short. Of course, you'll then need to determine who exactly the buyers is and exactly what they want to use your art for before giving a price. I'll leave the details of how to price your work for another time.

If a seller has already taken your work, applied it to a product for sale, then at a later date asks for permission, again this is a chance to charge a usage/licencing fee. Of course, this puts you in a bind as you will be going into this new business relationship without having had the opportunity to negotiate terms up front. You may otherwise want to refuse a licence to use the art and potentially sue the seller for using your artwork to begin with. 

I had this happen on an occasion and decided to charge a relatively small licensing fee for the art already used. I thought it was better than nothing, compared to over-demanding more than the seller could afford. And at least the seller realized the error of their ways and wanted to put it right by later finding me and paying for usage. It highlighted the problem that, with so much art floating around online, it can be hard to find the original author. And so, can be tempting to simply just use the art for one's project without investing time trying to find the original creator.

Will people still be stealing your digital art in the future?

The online space is still very much the wild west and in it's infancy- there aren't measures in place to deal with digital crime or to cope with the vast amount of counterfeit sellers abusing the systems that currently exist.

For many years I've speculated about the internet changing in a way to safeguard digital content. Around 2010, I dreamed up an idea to publish or share images online via blockchain technology which keeps a ledger of ownership or transfer history. Funnily enough, NFTs started becoming popular with artists a few years ago and although owning an NFT isn't going to prevent it being stolen and used on products just like any other image, the concept at least has the potential to develop.

With A.I. now able to reproduce "original" art based on existing image data, I suspect it will become easy for many sellers to profit from these derivative artworks as an alternative. Less art may get stolen, although it means artists will need to work harder than ever to promote themselves and their 'brand' over and above creating glossy professional-looking artwork, after such work continues to flood the internet. 

Summary

Ultimately, it's important for artists to take proactive steps to protect their work, but it's also important to recognize that it can be difficult to completely prevent online theft.

If you found this post insightful, please share it a link to it. The more we can do to highlight this stolen art issue, the better.

The goal of being an artist

From a young age I was fascinated by art. Specifically, all the visual media you'd expect a boy a come into contact with- cartoons, comics, video games, anime. For some reason my passion for art only grew as I got older and I decided to turn it into a career. Over 20 years later, I wonder- was it worth the struggle?

I always wanted to express my passion for the things that brought me joy. I wanted to share this passion through my creations, to inspire others. And in some small way, bring joy to those who aren't able to create their own art, yet want it to feature somewhere in their lives.

I may not have been trying to develop a cure for illness or bring world peace, but at least it was a goal. Sometimes just having the goal to begin with was enough to get me though tough times in life. Times when my art wasn't enough to pay the bills, when I became seriously ill or when I'd deal with the loss of a loved one.

Pursuing my artistic ambition was a great thing.

Every career is going to have a list of pros and cons

- If I'm going to spend a huge part of my life working, it might as well be doing something I'm interested in, right?

Below I've listed some of the top 10 pros and top 10 cons when it comes to working as an artist:

Career as an artist PROS:

1. Creative fulfilment
2. Flexibility in work hours and location
3. The ability to express oneself
4. Potential for financial success (un-capped income)
5. The ability to impact and inspire others
6. Constant learning and improvement
7. Opportunities to work in a variety of mediums and styles
8. The ability to turn passion into a profession
9. The opportunity to work independently
10. The ability to work on meaningful and impactful projects.

Career as an artist CONS:

1. Financial instability and unpredictability
2. Difficulty in finding steady work and clients
3. Lack of job security
4. Constant competition and rejection
5. The need to continually market oneself
6. The pressure to consistently create new and successful work
7. High likelihood of low pay and limited opportunities for high-paying work
8. The need to continually adapt to industry changes and technological advancements
9. The challenge of balancing creativity and commercial success
10. The potential for criticism and rejection of ideas, which can feel personal

In my previous blog post about "being an INTJ artist", I mentioned how I'm "high up on the negative emotions spectrum". The result = being someone who has a much greater need for security.

Unfortunately, due to some of the cons listed above, this gave me a problem. A big problem. Deciding to become an artist, musician, dancer or indeed, anything most people enjoy and engage in for free, as a hobby, means a high probability of financial struggles if turning such activity into a career. That's just the hard truth of it. Indeed, a lack of cashflow was something I battled with constantly.

When it comes down to the questions of "did I waste my life?" and "was it worth it?", it's only something I consider when reflecting upon the sacrifices I made. I was forced to live with certain restrictions. To live a modest life. I couldn't afford the latest gadget, to move out when I wanted, or settle down with a family. Surviving and 'getting by' took up too much time and attention. 

Pursuing my artistic ambition prevented me from having a "normal" life.

I often wonder if I would have gone into the artist game if I was aware of the many obstacles I'd need to overcome? ... Probably! Like I say, without the art career goal, I might have been completely lost or without hope. If I'd pursued a run-of-the-mill job to pay the bills, perhaps I'd ultimately end up living with regret for never making a good go of the art career?

However, it certainly would have helped to have been prepared for some of the dragons I'd need to slay in order to pursue this artistic journey. I want to discuss some of the obstacles I've faced, offer some advice and, hopefully, aspiring artists can then walk away a little more informed than before.

Obstacle 1: Learning your Craft

Before working as a pro, you need to be able to produce work to a professional level. Learning a new skill is never easy, and this is especially true when it comes to drawing and producing art. It requires a lot of dedication, patience, and hard work, and it can often be frustrating and overwhelming. 

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Overview: 

One of the biggest difficulties in learning to draw and produce art is developing the technical skills needed to create the images in your mind. This requires a lot of practice and repetition, and it can be frustrating when you're not able to get the results you want right away. You may find yourself comparing your work to others and feeling like you'll never be as good, but it's important to remember that everyone starts at the same place.

Another challenge is finding the time and motivation to practice. It's easy to get discouraged when you're not making progress as quickly as you'd like, and it can be tempting to give up and move on to something else. However, I learned it's important to keep pushing through and to keep practicing, even when it's tough. Learning to draw and produce art is a journey, and it's not something that you'll master overnight. It takes time, patience, and dedication to become a skilled artist, but with practice, you'll get there.

In conclusion, learning to draw and produce art can be a challenging and difficult journey, but it's also one of the most rewarding things you can do. With time, patience, and dedication, you'll be able to develop the skills you need to create the art you've always dreamed of, and you'll be able to see the world in a whole new way.

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Obstacle 2: Taking Commissions

After getting to a point where I was capable enough to turn out a half-decent character artwork, I started out by taking commissions for people who wanted custom artwork. I was always amazed at first that there were strangers out there who would pay for me to work on their projects on a freelance basis. During my teen years, and without easy access to answers on the internet,  I naively expected that working as a professional illustrator meant going to a studio and being employed full time.

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Overview: 

Taking commissions as an artist can be a great to way to generate your income, but it can also be a significant obstacle, especially for those who are new to the art world. Commissioned projects require artists to work closely with clients, who may have different ideas and expectations about the final product. This can be a challenge for artists who are used to having complete creative control over their work.

One of the biggest obstacles in taking commissions is managing client expectations. Both private individuals and companies often have specific ideas about what they want the artwork to look like and how it should be executed. Artists must be able to balance their own creative vision with the client's needs, while also ensuring that the final product meets the client's standards. This can be challenging, especially when dealing with clients who may not have a strong understanding of the art world.

Another obstacle is managing the timeline and budget. Commissioned projects often come with strict deadlines, and artists must be able to work efficiently and effectively to meet these deadlines. Additionally, clients may have a specific budget in mind, and artists must be able to work within these constraints while still delivering a high-quality product.

Artists must also be aware of the legal implications of taking commissions. It is important to have a clear and detailed contract in place that outlines the scope of the project, the deadline, the budget, and any other relevant details. This can help to avoid misunderstandings and disputes down the line.

Another challenge is finding the right clients. Private individuals and companies often have different needs and preferences, and artists must be able to cater to both. For example, private individuals may be looking for a unique piece of artwork to decorate their home, while companies may be looking for something that represents their brand or promotes their products. Artists must be able to understand these different needs and tailor their approach accordingly.

In conclusion, taking commissions as an artist can be a great opportunity, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Artists must be able to manage client expectations, work within tight timelines and budgets, navigate legal issues, and find the right clients. With hard work and persistence, however, artists can overcome these obstacles and make a successful career out of commissioned projects.

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Obstacle 3: Diversifying your skills

As I gained more experience and recognition, I started working on a number of how to draw manga books. These books were a great way for me to share my knowledge with others who were interested in learning about anime and manga. I loved helping people achieve their artistic goals and it was a great feeling to see others succeed because of my work.

After years of working in the world of anime and manga, I decided to branch out into web design and graphic design. I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could create stunning designs in a different medium. But most importantly, I needed to find new ways to boost my income and back in the early 2000s, web design became a big deal.

[blockquote quote_type="" author_name="" width="100%" float="left"]

Overview: 

Being an artist can be a rewarding and fulfilling career, but it can also be challenging to make a living solely through your art. Many artists find that diversifying their skills into other fields, such as graphic design and web design, can help increase their income and provide more stability in their work.

Graphic design is a field that requires a combination of artistic ability and technical skills. Graphic designers create visual concepts, using computer software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. The field has grown in recent years with the rise of digital media and offers many opportunities for artists to use their creativity in new ways.

Web design, on the other hand, involves the creation and design of websites. This can include everything from creating website layouts and user interfaces to writing code for various functions and features. A web designer must have a strong understanding of the latest design trends, as well as a good knowledge of web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Diversifying into these fields can provide artists with a new source of income and can also help them gain regular work. Many businesses and organizations need graphic designers and web designers for various projects, and having these skills can make artists more attractive to potential clients and employers.

However, diversifying into other fields is not without its challenges. Artists may need to spend time learning new software, programming languages, and design techniques. They may also need to adapt to different design styles and processes, which can be difficult for those who are used to working in their own unique style.

Despite these challenges, diversifying into graphic design and web design can be an excellent way for artists to increase their income and stability. It can also provide them with new opportunities to showcase their creativity and reach new audiences. Whether it's through creating unique and eye-catching designs for websites, or by developing engaging visual concepts for marketing materials, diversifying into these fields can help artists reach new heights in their careers.

In conclusion, diversifying into graphic design and web design can be a valuable step for artists looking to increase their income and stability. While it may involve a learning curve, the rewards can be significant, including new opportunities to showcase their creativity and reach new audiences. With hard work and dedication, artists can successfully expand their skill set and reach new levels of success in their careers.

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Obstacle 4: The Lonely Artist

Working on my own all the time wasn't easy. After years spent working as a web and graphic designer, I branched out to become a part-time tattoo artist. Not only did this help give my eyes a break from an entire day of staring at a screen and dealing with constant eye-strain, but I was able to get some social time with my customers face-to-face. 

It was a great opportunity for me to combine my love of art with my desire to help others. I was always amazed by the transformations that people underwent when they got a tattoo and I loved being a part of that process.

[blockquote quote_type="" author_name="" width="100%" float="left"]

Overview: 

One of the biggest challenges that many artists face is the loneliness that often comes with being self-employed. It's not uncommon for artists to spend long hours working in solitude, without the social interaction and support that a traditional workplace can provide. This can lead to feelings of isolation, burnout, and decreased motivation.

However, there are ways to mitigate the loneliness of being an artist. One option is to seek out alternative forms of employment within the art industry. For example, you can work as an art educator, museum curator, or gallery manager. These jobs allow artists to be surrounded by the art world and engage with a community of like-minded individuals on a regular basis.

Another way to combat loneliness as an artist is to seek out opportunities to collaborate with other artists. This can be through group exhibitions, artist residencies, or simply by reaching out to other artists in your community and setting up regular critique or brainstorming sessions. Collaborating with others can provide a sense of community, and can also lead to new friendships, mentorship opportunities, and professional growth.

Additionally, many artists find it helpful to join professional organizations or attend art-related events and workshops. This can provide a sense of connection with others in the industry, as well as a chance to network, share ideas, and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your field.

Finally, it's important to maintain a strong support network outside of your work as an artist. This can include friends and family, or other groups that share your interests and values. Having people to talk to about your experiences and challenges can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness and provide a source of emotional support.

In conclusion, being an artist can be a lonely experience, but it doesn't have to be. By exploring alternative employment options within the art industry, collaborating with other artists, joining professional organizations, and maintaining a strong support network, you can mitigate the loneliness that can come with being self-employed and find fulfilment and satisfaction in your work.

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Obstacle 5: Selling your Art

Despite my success as a tattoo artist, I eventually decided that it was time to take my career to the next level. I wanted to focus more on my fine art and sell my artwork to a wider audience. I started selling my artwork and prints online and at conventions, and I was amazed by the response I received. People loved my artwork and I was quickly able to build a loyal following.

Although the art of selling was yet another new skill that needed to be learned.

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Overview: 

Selling art as an artist can be a significant obstacle for many creative individuals. The process of promoting and marketing one's artwork is often challenging, time-consuming, and requires a great deal of effort and persistence. In today's competitive world, artists must find unique ways to stand out from the crowd and attract potential buyers.

One of the biggest obstacles in selling art is finding the right audience. With the rise of technology and social media, artists are now able to reach a broader audience than ever before, but they must still navigate the complex and crowded market to find their ideal customers. The challenge is to find the right platform that reaches the right people and effectively showcases the artwork. Additionally, artists must also consider the cost of promoting and marketing their work, which can be significant and may eat into their earnings.

Another obstacle in selling art is the perception of value. While art is subjective, many people may not understand or appreciate the value of an artist's work, making it difficult for them to justify paying a high price for it. Furthermore, the prevalence of imitation and counterfeit art has led to a distrust among many buyers, making it harder for artists to sell their original works.

In addition, artists must also contend with the challenge of establishing a reputation and gaining recognition. Many established artists have spent years building a following and a name for themselves, and it can be difficult for new artists to break into the market. Even with hard work and persistence, there is no guarantee of success, and many artists may face rejection and criticism along the way.

Lastly, artists must also manage the cost of supplies and materials, which can be high. They must be able to invest in their craft and purchase the right tools and materials to produce their work, while also making sure that they do not overextend themselves financially.

In conclusion, selling art as an artist is not an easy task and requires persistence, effort, and a well-thought-out strategy. Artists must find ways to overcome obstacles, including finding the right audience, establishing a reputation and gaining recognition, and managing the cost of supplies and materials, in order to achieve success and make a living from their passion.

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I didn't waste my life

There were many times when I was filled with doubt. I was always worried that my work wasn't good enough, that no one would appreciate it, or that I wouldn't be able to make a living as an artist. But despite these fears, I never gave up. I continued to work hard, perfecting my craft and expanding my portfolio.

Now, years later, I am proud to say that my hard work and determination have paid off. I am now a successful artist and illustrator, selling my artwork and prints online and at conventions. I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have had in my career, and I am proud of what I have accomplished.

My journey as an artist has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs. But through it all, I have remained true to my passion and my love of art. I am proud of who I am today and I am grateful for all of the opportunities that I have had in my career. I hope to continue to inspire others to follow their dreams, just as I did, and to never give up on what they love.

Creating Kaleidoscopes

After completing my Unicorns Colouring Book, my publisher asked if I'd work on some sample pages for a potential, new Mandala / Kaleidoscope Colouring Book.

Pattern work isn't something I'm especially known for creating. I wondered, would I be able to create something worthy of being published? I was willing to give it a shot. Thankfully, after having now been producing artwork for decades, I felt like I've become versatile enough to tackle most styles of illustration. And so I began creating a short series of symmetrical patterns, kaleidoscope images and mandala artwork.

To try something new like this was great fun! The possibilities for creating unique, abstract images is limitless. Without the technical requirements of drawing, say, a figure or a scene, this type of line art is quick to create. It's artwork that can be completed in a matter of hours, as opposed to days or weeks.

I've never considered myself a particularly spiritual person so the religious or traditionally symbolic significance of the Mandala is somewhat lost on me. Although, once you spend some time immersed in these types of patterns, there is definitely something to be noticed. Something which has a sense of depth and meaning.

Here's some samples for the book:

[caption id="attachment_5347" align="aligncenter" width="918"] The cover art sample was provided to the client. Despite being a black and white colouring book on the inside, I wanted to give it a colourful, psychedelic vibe.[/caption]

[gallery type="square" columns="2" size="large" ids="5351,5350,5349,5348"]

You can't win them all:

As is the nature of these things, the book never ended up making it into production. My publisher had tried pitching it along with dozens of other titles to their customer (a big US- based publishing house). They liked the direction it was going in, but with so many similar books already available on the market, it made it harder to justify producing another.

I'd like to one day have the chance to pick up the project again. If there are any book publishers out there who produce similar titles, give me a call. I sure we can find a way to improve upon existing, similar books already out there!

Benefits to Creating Mandalas

I'd read that creating mandalas (and I'm sure is true of all self-repeating and symmetrical patents) can:

• Help reduce stress and anxiety
• Help connect with one's self and others
• Activate creativity
• Improves one's sleep
• Enhance focus
• Produce feelings of happiness and calm

Certainly it's something I found myself enjoying far more than expected. Even though I tend not to produce abstract art, there is something amazing about it. Well, some of it. Some abstract art can also be a load of pretentious, ugly-looking mess with the label "art" slapped across it.

If done well, a good abstract artwork can reach something deeper and feel more significant than illustration. Sometimes too much true-to-life detail can just get the in way of what is real and true.

Although there is an art to create good-looking patterns. What makes aesthetically pleasing shapes? It's difficult to put in to words. I found that the more of these kaleidoscopic patterns I worked on, the better they looked. Using a re-iterative process of trial and error is often the best way to hone in on what works. Or at least, that process works for me. It's very strange that certain shapes and arrangement of shapes are pleasing, while others feel unpleasant and disjointed.

Designing a set of Art Prints

I create several new mandala artworks. Each with a motivational message.

Sometimes life gets tough, and negativity limits our potential. Inspirational quotes can help remind us how to live or that adversity can be overcome. And so the idea to was to fuse these messages with a mandala. Something to help give the the message focus, while making for an aesthetically pleasing image. An image people might like to have displayed on their bedroom, kitchen or living room wall. Unlike the black and while line artwork for the colouring book, they were each given a unique colour scheme. Then converted to A3 size images suitable for high-resolution print.

If you're interested in buying one to decorate your home or give as a gift, they're now available for sale in the Shop. Each sale helps support my artistic endeavours and lets me know what type of artwork people like. 

[caption id="attachment_5355" align="aligncenter" width="900"] You only live once. But if you do it right, once is enough[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5356" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Dream without Fear. Love without Limits.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5354" align="aligncenter" width="900"] The best way to predict the future is to create it[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5357" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Turn towards the sun and the shadows fall behind you[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5358" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Seasons change and so do we[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5359" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Don't wait for the storm to pass. Learn to dance in the rain[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_5360" align="aligncenter" width="900"] To be the best, you must be able to handle the worst[/caption]

A final comment

Are you a fan of the mandala? Would you like to see me continue work on the Kaleidoscope colouring book? What's your favourite motivational quote you'd like to see turned into a kaleidoscopic artwork? Let me know 🙂

My Art theft experience

It's still happening. Every month dozens of new products spring up on the internet featuring my artwork. Art which I'd not given permission to use. I'm not a fan of my work being taken by someone else without consent- especially when it negatively impacts sales of my own products. I've added a video discussing (and ranting about) my experiences on YouTube and thought I'd share it here:

Removing infringements

After posting the video, I went on to remove 182 instances of copyright infringement! That's at least 300 removals so far in total. There's still more which needs taking down, and no doubt there will be hundreds more to remove over the coming year. For now it's a job I'll have to maintain like cutting my hair or mowing the lawn. If anyone reads this and wants to use my work, that's fine: For non-profit use, be sure to include my name and a link back to this site. For commercial use, send me a message and we can discuss rights to licence high-res versions of artwork you're interested in.

Your thoughts

Has art theft of this nature always been around? Am I wasting time by stressing over it? If people take your art/music/writing/content and sell it without permission online, would you try to do anything about it? Should companies such as eBay or Amazon for example take more responsibility for moderating products for sale on their platforms? If so what might you suggest they do about it? I'd love to know your thoughts.

Also see my previous related posts: 'Art theft and stealing images online' and 'Art theft and further criticism of pod sites' and most recently 'Art theft: The Story continues' for further reading.

It was about time I created some new artwork. This time, an anime style school girl; A design I thought might work well as on a T-shirt or Art print with appeal to fans of Japanese anime and video games. I needed an object or symbol floating between her hands in the middle to denote a video game theme. A '1-up' mushroom (an in-game asset granting 1 extra life as originally seen in the Super Mario games) was added. The piece then gained the title 'Get a Life'! To start with, here's some progress images explaining the process.

Digital Sketching

The digital sketch was created to begin with. As with other recent works, I'd use multiple colours to separate out different parts of the image. This makes its easier for me to read should the line work start getting too messy and complicated. I also sketch the clothing and hair on different layers in Photoshop just in case I decided I wanted to change the hair style or outfit to something else, but still didn't want to lose the pose information. Then the outlines were digitally inked with a thin brush. The original canvas is big- About 12,000 pixel height. this means the image should like sharp even if printed out huge.

Adding Colour

Next I added the flat tones, followed by the first layer of shadows. For a higher quality 'cel' style (using flat tones) I'll usually add at least 2 tones of shading for added depth. Sometimes I'll add another layer of highlights as per the hair in the second coloured image. As mentioned earlier, the 1UP mushroom was added in and some Kanji added to the background. Time-wise I think it took around 20 hours to complete. 15-40 hours for a single character illustration is pretty typical for me.

Now available to buy

[gallery link="none" size="medium" type="square" ids="4963,4964,4965"]

If you like the artwork and would like to support my artistic endeavours, I've turned it into an A3 print, available to buy on my store. It'll be hand signed and shipped internationally. Alternatively, the design is available on a T-Shirt in either Men's or Women's fit. All shirts are currently on sale in the site's shop at a reduced price. Thanks for checking it out :)

Draw and Chill

Growing up as a kid I'd always be creating my own monsters, mutants and robot characters. Now, as an adult, whenever I have a few free hours to draw something, I often turn to my 'Monsters and Mutants' sketchbook to see what I can come up with. The aim isn't to create anything glossy and polished like a lot of my typical digital work. Instead, it's just about having fun and seeing what ends up on the page.

Creation Process

Most of the time I'll just start drawing random shapes and a creature seems to emerge from the page. Occasionally I'll have an idea to begin with. It might be to re-work one of my childhood drawings, or I'll use something from a film, or game as a starting point.

No-Pressure Drawing

To be honest, I never intended to share any of these. Whenever there's an intention to show off my work it creates an added pressure to try harder or even be more self critical. That's not the point of this sketch book. It's all about drawing to relax and have fun with it. If you're an artist or creator, perhaps it's worth also considering the idea that just because you made a thing, it doesn't have to get posted online. It's quite freeing. But if you decide at a later date to share what you do with the world, there's no harm in that either.

Pen and Ink

For some reason I decided to stick with black and white pen drawings for these. Each image starts off as a pencil sketch. I use my trusty Pentel mechanical pencil with a 2B lead. After I've got the basic gist down, I take over with a Zig Manga Ka Flexible pen. I use Fine for the lines and Medium for larger areas of black. Occasionally I'll use black Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pen. Although the Fudegokochi pens have a nice flow of ink, sometimes they can over-flow and spill out a bit too much. I've quit using them as I don't want to wait for ink to be drying. I've recently bought a set of white Gel pens, which I expected to use on these, but not had too much opportunity soo far.

These are all drawn in an A5 Molskine sketchbook:

[gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="4823,4821,4824,4822,4857,4856,4855,4854,4853,4852,4851,4850,4849,4848,4847,4846,4845,4844,4843,4842,4841,4840,4839,4838,4837,4836,4835,4834,4833,4832,4831,4830,4829,4828,4827,4826,4825,4820,4819,4873,4864,4872,4863,4865,4866,4867,4868,4869,4870,4871,4862,4861,4860,4859,4858,4818"]

More creatures to come...

I'm just over two thirds through my sketchbook so far. I intend on finishing it, even if it takes another year or two! If you're interested in commission me to draw you a creature of your own like the above, let me know. Otherwise, I'll continue to rely on what my crazy mind can come up with :)

I'd recently finished binge-watching the first 4 seasons of super-hero anime 'My Hero Academia'. Despite initial reservations after the first episode, I ended up getting into it and really enjoying it. My goal was to create some All Might fan art in a similar style to the Tattooed Goku I'd created a few years back. Here's some work in progress images to show the process:

Digital Sketching

I started with a digital sketch using reference from bodybuilder Jay Cutler who reminded me of All Might. This was then refined and tidied up, adding his "I am here" catchphrase to the banner- a line he must have used a million times in the My Hero Academia anime!
Time: 7 Hours to draw

Adding Colour

The first image on the left is probably around 60% through the colouring process. It was getting a bit dark, so brightened it up and added colourful background splatters to finish. I'm very happy with how it it turned out- makes a nice little tribute piece to the series 🙂
Time: 10.5 Hours to colour – 17.5 hours total.

Own The Art Print

As the icon of virtue, hope and strength, All Might can remind us to do good, help others and be strong. Would you'd like the symbol of justice to hang on your walls? And would rather display art which looks a little prettier than a copy-and-paste screen capture from the My Hero Academia anime? I've turned it into an A3 print, available to buy on my store.

[gallery type="square" columns="2" link="none" size="medium" ids="4387,4390"]

Buy The T-Shirt

I'd thought about creating and offering shirts featuring this and other designs in my store for some time. There was enough interest to make it happen, so have also now added All Might:

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Thanks for supporting my artistic endeavours, and if you're a Hero Academia fan, let me know. See you next time :)

I wanted to create a couple of new fan art pieces for fun. This year I decided to take a crack at Bowsette and Boosette (aka Booette)- a couple of spin-off meme creations from Nintendo’s Mario game series. The goal was to go full-on kawaii manga style with these two- huge eyes and small mouths.

Digital Sketching

I started with a digital sketch. Using multiple colours helps prevent getting confused by too many messy lines all over the place. After Bowsette was finished, I used her as a template for creating Boosette.
Time: 16 Hours

Neat Outlines

Then came time to clean up the artwork by digitally inking it. I kept the line work pretty thin for this project and not using thicker, heavier lines for the outside or varying line weighs like I might do in previous images.
Time: 11.5 Hours

Flat tones

The next stage is laying down the flat tones. The process of sketch, ink, flats and then rendering the flats is a technique and workflow I’ve been using in digital artwork since the late 90s. It’s a process that works out great for being able to isolate certain colours and parts of an image, keeping the artwork looking tidy and smooth, while retaining the line art, rather than painting over it.
Time: 1.6 Hours

Colours and Shading

Then it’s time to choose colours and a light source. This time light is coming from the centre/ top left. I start with an ‘anime cel’ style to figure out how much shadow the put down and I could leave it at the cel stage by sticking with the flat tones but I’m always too tempted to start rendering and adding gradation to tones. As much as I love anime, I thing I prefer a more rendered artwork look aesthetic.

Finished Artworks

Lots of rendering time later and both are finished. They make a good pair- by having opposing colour schemes- one with red/orange and the other with purple and blue. The artwork is tight and polished, making it suitable for large scale printing with the original images each being close to 14,000 pixels high.
Total time: 56 Hours – 28 hours each.

What’s next? I love experimenting in different styles, so I’ll probably take a break from the Kawaii manga look for a while and try something else. But this project showed me if I ever want to create more artwork in this style, I know I can nail it successfully 😊

Prints for sale

Print sales both online and at comic conventions have increased this year, which is a definite bonus. I've always been a commission artist; taking on projects for both business and individuals alike, and it was only in recent years I'd made some effort to produce art prints to sell. I'm focusing on A3 size and still keeping them at the lower rate of £11.99 on this website, compared to £15-£16 at other online retailers. They'll continue to be sold for this rate for at least the rest of 2019, so head over to the store for last minute Christmas shopping.

Colouring Book

I've more or less just finished working on a colouring book I had been commissioned to create around 3 months ago. The title is 'Manga Unicorns' - Yep, a combination of Unicorns with manga characters! It will be released next year and will post some more info once it's available. To work on a colouring book had been on my to-do list for a long time after the adult colouring book boom started around 3 or 4 years ago but at the time I was still busy finishing The Artist's Guide to Drawing Manga whilst working on my tattoo business. Although now I've finally got one colouring book under my belt, I'm considering working on at least another for 2020.

Tattoos

Despite my website focusing on my illustration and manga artwork, I'm still spending half my time tattooing and like the mix of working with a customer in my studio as well as times to lock myself away and sit in front of the graphics tablet for hours each day. My thought right now is finding time to produce some custom flash (tattoo designs) to pitch to potential customers. You might be surprised at how many people like and want tattoos but don't really know what they want. They often end up settling for whatever is fashionable at the time, so if I can provide an alternative to 'pocket watches' and 'dream catchers' then I'll be able to start cultivating a tattoo portfolio showcasing the artwork I'm best at and like to produce.

Finding the time

Like with many creative types, I think the tough part is often finding enough time to complete the many projects and ideas floating around in my head, and in that to-do list I mentioned earlier! If artworks like the ones above can take 10-20 hours or more to produce, there's only so many images that can be made each month alongside the usual tasks of admin, social media management and client communication. The challenge then becomes trying to narrow down exactly what to work on and when. Taking on new projects is exciting. I just wish there was enough time to turn them all into reality!

Will I make money as an artist?

Years ago I documented my early experiences with 'Print on Demand' Site, Society 6. It was short article, mostly to complain about a few problems I had with S6's platform. This time I'm going in-depth. Addressing my experiences, thoughts and issues with a similar Print on Demand site- Design By Humans (DBH). With so many aspiring artists asking me, "how do I make money online?", this article should give some insight.  It doesn't necessarily point the way to the pot of gold every artist is looking for, but hopefully you'll appreciate an honest, critical perspective.

What is a Print on Demand (POD) site?

There’s now dozens of online stores/platforms which allow artists and designers to create their own store page and upload their artwork, designs and digital assets to be sold on prints, products such as phone cases and apparel such as t-shirts. A royalty or commission then gets paid to the artist after the store sells, prints and post orders which make use your artwork.

It seems like a great idea. You earn a small passive from income your artwork without needing to develop and run the platform from which you sell it on. You just spend a little time putting the art online (which you may have already have created) and then wait for the money to begin rolling in! Or rather, more often than not, then wait for the tumble-weed to go rolling past!

What is Design By Humans?

It's a USA based POD site, born over a decade ago, which specialised in printing T-shirt designs and has now branched out to offer other products in addition such as prints, stickers and mugs. Several years ago when I first joined the site, it was a small artist's hub offering up designs which other artists and customers alike had voted for in a competition-like format. The voting system generally ensured that everything the site printed and sold featured a quality design worthy of being worn in public. A number of years ago the site updated their business model to allow anyone (artists were initially vetted however) to populate the site with their designs without needing votes, in the same way POD sites like Tee Public and Society 6 work. This now meant artists like myself could at least have the opportunity to sell our designs in a more open market system.
However without the voting system, the quality standard across the site has, in my opinion, significantly dropped. Without wanting to sound like I'm blowing my own horn, many of the more professional artists like myself are now firmly in the minority. Both as an artist and consumer, I find this frustrating. The vetting process for designs that DBH now allow is somewhat lacking, which I'll discuss later as it's kind of amusing.

What Does Design By Humans pay?

DBH is one of several POD sites I have experimented with over the years, which does typically earn me at least something each month; even if it's just a couple of bucks. Although it's hard to say whether or not I'd recommend other aspiring artists and designers bothering with it.

To format your designs, upload your work through their 'add a product' system and create the relevant keywords to aid search results takes a long time, like with any POD site. And you may not end up being adequately financially compensated for your efforts. Like all ventures of this nature, there's some risk involved and whether or not you'll succeed on such as site is not a simple answer.

As an example- I might upload a design which takes an hour to format into the correct size PNG file, upload and configure. That design might not make a single penny over the course of years. Other designs might make a few dollars, while others still could generate hundreds of dollars.

Patience required

In my experience, generating hundreds of dollars for a design isn't common for most but with POD sites it's worth noting you're playing the long game; you go to the effort of uploading your designs in the beginning and might have to wait a number of years before seeing a significant financial return.

For example, one of my Sugar Skull Girl designs has currently generated me over $50 total on DBH. The design was uploaded nearly two years ago. So let's say the design is earning me $25 a year. Not much, right? But providing the design carries on selling for 10+ years, that's $250 of passive income. Is that worth it to you? You decide. Keep in mind I use this same design across several other POD sites. Each earning a few bucks here and there. This design also sells on art prints on my own site or through conventions and events I attend. Therefore when you add up the amount of money this one design makes across different platforms and sales channels over the course of a decade, it's considerably more than if I were to instead work solely as a commission artist who charges, say, $250 for a single, one-off artwork or design which I then never derive any further income from.

How much money can I get?

To answer the question of pay-out royalty; DBH currently offers a designer around $3 every time they sell a $25 shirt. DBH state they offer competitive rates, which is true compared to some POD sites which only offer a dollar per sale. As an artist, do I think $3 is fair? No way! The only reason a T-shirt sells is because the customer is buying the design on it. While I appreciate Print-On-Demand / order quantities of 1 are going to carry a higher cost to produce compared to a mass-produced shirt printed in the thousands, I'd imagine the artist isn't getting even a third of the net profit on each sale and without the designs us artists provide POD sites wouldn't exist in the first place.
When it comes to retail, the artist, inventor or original creator taking the smaller share for a sale is nothing new. It can equally be true to say; without the opportunity to sell on their site, us artists would also have nothing. And so the market determines if DBH's rates are profitable enough for them to run their business whilst satisfying the expectations of enough artists who are willing to give it a go and populate their site.

Are POD sites a reliable money earner?

With all POD sites, you should never rely on them as your primary source of income. Some people seem to have found the magic formula to be able to do this- I know of a few people who make thousands of dollars a month from POD sites, But like with a lot of these types of venture, those people make up a very small percentage of total sellers. For most it's a complete dead-end or just a trickle of passive income you could never expect to live off, especially if living in a first-world country.

While a design has the potential to keep generating a passive income for years, maybe decades, it also has the potential to dry up at any time. The business could cease trading, the search algorithm used to find your design could change (either on-site or via external search engines which point to your designs), or your design could get buried under a pile of other designs which come after it.

Also expect dry spells and more active selling times of the year towards x-mas, where sales will suddenly spike compared to previous months.

Too much garbage

So many POD sites have emerged over recent years, and you can understand why. It seems like the perfect business model: You provide a platform then get online designers and artists to populate it with products for you to sell and make a profit from whilst paying the majority of your work-force (us artists) nothing unless the product sells! And even then, the amount they pay seems a little unfair to the artists. Sure, these POD companies advertise their platform which brings customers to their site, but any business needs to do this regardless. So to reiterate, even though it might be worth artists experimenting with POD sites it's also worth noting you'll likely not earn a great deal and the royalty is kinda lousy (even if it is considered the going rate or better for such sites). If any designer out there is making mega bucks and wants to prove me wrong, great! And let me know. I love a success story :)

What type of artwork and designs sell?

The fact the pay-outs and earning potential is relatively low for most POD site artists, means many top-end professionals are probably going to avoid bothering with it, and instead it attracts designs from the likes of lazy opportunists, kids, novices or amateurs whose standard of work is pretty bad. Part of DBH's mission statement reads, "Embedded in the culture of Design By Humans is a passion for brilliantly designed tees, detailed illustration and a strong appreciation for all things creative." While we can try to appreciate the 'all things creative' part, there are a lot of tees which are certainly not brilliantly designed or illustrated in detail. You might be thinking, but isn't that a good thing as it means your work will stand out above the competition? Sure, it's always a bonus if a large portion of your competition on a site is producing sub-par work to make your stuff stand out. However it's not so good when such work pushes your designs to the bottom of the pile, effectively banishing them to page 10+ of an on-site search result and otherwise making them difficult to find.

DBH, like many POD sites are a bit of a free-for-all allowing almost anything to be uploaded and sold. I'm putting a lot of time into my art and designs, bumping up the quality, adding the "detail" and trying to produce something which I think might sell and do well on the site. It's not just me, but any competent artist in this position who can generate sales on DBH deserves to have their work more prominently placed in search results, yet this isn't always the case.

While I agree it's fair to give every designer the opportunity to upload their work, it's not necessarily fair to give equal allowances or privileges to artists of lower ability levels or standards when it comes to a design holding it's place at the top of a search result.
If an artist practices their craft for decades, gets pretty good at it, attempts to get eye-balls on their design and thus potentially make a sale, that's fair enough, right? But it is unfair for an amateur or lazy designer's work to get bumped to the top of the pile whilst pushing down the experienced pro's offering just because the amateur happened to be the last person to post or because they have lots of designs to populate search results. Basically I'm all about fairness and rewarding designers on a meritocratic basis.

To some degree this issue could be mitigated during the submissions process. Once upon a time DBH only used to allow artists to open a store if they could prove their artistic worth (perhaps they still do, but people are now lying about their credentials?). But I don't think that's the case any more, and I'll show you what I mean below. Therefore the design submission process needs to be a little stricter in regards to quality control.

Examples:

I did a general search for "anime girl" since I've listed several designs with those keywords and here's some of the not-so-great examples of what came up within the first 10 pages, much of which frustratingly pushes my artworks/products further down the search results list:

[caption id="attachment_4171" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Not formatted for a T-shirt[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4172" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Again, not formatted for a shirt[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4173" align="aligncenter" width="660"] The emotion is conveyed at least[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4174" align="aligncenter" width="660"] A poor copy of existing character art?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4175" align="aligncenter" width="660"] This style is better suited elsewhere[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4176" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Not at the commercial level yet[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4177" align="aligncenter" width="660"] How did this pass quality control?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4178" align="aligncenter" width="660"] This seller posted 4 near identical versions of this stolen and poorly optimised art! Why?![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4179" align="aligncenter" width="660"] This artist also uses other artist's stolen artwork in their store[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4180" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Consistent style but...[/caption]

"But Ben, who are you to judge? Art/beauty is subjective". That argument simply doesn't apply in many cases. The artistic rules such as anatomy, proportion, lighting, rendering, colour theory, composition and style apply regardless. By all means draw, paint and design no-matter your level of experience or ability, but please re-consider attempting to profit from what you're doing if you've never encountered the rules above. On the flip side, there are some worthy designs listed also. Again, searching for the keywords "anime girl". And like I say, if you can't tell the difference between the 10 examples above and the 5 below, you shouldn't be looking to sell your artwork or designs on T-Shirts just yet. Level up your skills and come back when you have something of value to offer. And I'll just take this opportunity to make the point that I don't want to appear conceited about my own abilities. My work is by no means perfect but it's good enough to sell, and does.

[caption id="attachment_4181" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Colourful, nicely composed design. Seller: Retkikosmos[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4182" align="aligncenter" width="660"] This guy's a master of exaggerated proportion and anatomy. Seller: Rafchu [/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4183" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Art by yours truly: Seller: bomazu[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4184" align="aligncenter" width="660"] Looks good on a shirt and artist has a consistent style in their store. Seller: Freeminds[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_4185" align="aligncenter" width="660"] This is a cute sticker. Seller: Cayzi[/caption]

I guess ideally DBH expects you, the artist to direct customers to your unique DBH Store page and bypass the need to use their search engine? Personally, if I'm going to market my designs as well, I'd rather direct customers to my own website and have the designs printed myself, or use a drop-shipping service to do this on my behalf. I expect POD sites to direct traffic to my products if they're taking the lion's share of the profits.

What does DBH get right?

My intention isn't just to hunt down all the flaws with their platform and the site has some benefits over similar sites I've worked with:

No pay-out threshold: Some sites, such as Displate and Zazzle require you to earn $50 before they pay you YOUR money. DBH don't try to unfairly skim off the top from their designers and always pay monthly no matter how much you've earned.
Decent Support: I've contacted the staff on several occasions and they've always been helpful and try to resolve problems.
Quality T-shirts: I've bought a number of shirts from DBH in the past and the quality and fit has always been good.
Less Piracy: Some moderation takes place to limit the number of stolen, infringed designs being sold on their site. There's nothing worse than a huge free-for all POD site such as Red Bubble which is happy to allow art thieves to profit from re-posting art they pull from an internet image search. DBH still has too much of this, but not in such high numbers.
Measures to prevent art thieves: Unfortunately It's not uncommon for artists to upload their design to a POD site, for it to then be stolen/downloaded some time after by an immoral dick-head who re-posts it on another POD site without consent. Luckily DBH used low-res images in their store, making this harder to download and use elsewhere.

Final thoughts

DBH- a nice idea and company filled with lovely staff, I'm sure. It creates opportunities to make money which artists wouldn't otherwise have, but the experience of competing on the site can be frustrating and isn't something you'll ever get rich from. If it's not for the fact you're up against the selection of dominant 'popular designs' (which forever prevent new work getting noticed by ranking top of the search listings,) you're also having to deal with the site's many amateur designers and art thieves unfairly given a place at the table. I'll carry on supporting DBH and using their site, but can't give them a strong recommendation to other artists or designers. Making any money from them is too hit and miss.

For independent reviews of designs, shirt quality and POD sites themselves, Check out Teefetch. I stumbled across them recently and noticed the site had featured some favourable reviews on a couple of my own designs which was cool to see.

And feel free to click here if you want to check out the range of anime or tattoo inspired t-shirts and I have available on DBH which features artwork from yours truly. If you want to purchase one too, I'll greatly appreciate the $3 of royalty!