MY INFLUENCES
An account of my artistic influences.
MY INFLUENCES belongs to the following groups:
"Exceptional Ekphrasis", Acrylic Painting, All Around the Styles, All the Colors of the Rainbow, Bits and Pieces , Dragon's Fire, Ebony and Ivory, Escher and Perspective Art 5/24, Fantasy Art, First Things, Freedom to Shine, Green!, If it doesn't belong, Japanfluence, Living Christianity, Melbourne & Victoria, North East England, Painters In Modern Times - TWO PER DAY, Safe Haven, Shameless Self-Promotion, Steel Blades and the Power of Viscosity, THE DARK CELL, The Patchwork , The River Tyne, This is England, Unconventional Artistry - 3 per day, United Kingdom, Vibrant and Vivid Color, Wales, Rich in Beauty, Who are YOU to Judge? and You're AcceptedI have created a virtual art gallery of my own personal favourite works of art.
This is mainly the work of the great artists such as Picasso, Van Gogh, Dali, etc. I enjoy comparing work and seeing who influenced whom.
As I consider there are lots of good artists on Redbubble, I approached a few to ask permission to include them in my virtual art gallery. Most were delighted and flattered that I admired their work so much. for copyright purposes I keep copies of the emails granting permission to use work. This is uneccesary really, as those whose work I chose are also my friends and they trust me. Still, I like to do things properly and legally.
I’d like to record here the conditions under which I use art from Redbubble for my personal study in my own private folders on my own private computer:
1 – I ask permission first.
2 – I always reduce the images to under 40kb. If they fell into the wrong hands (for example, if my computer was stolen) and someone wanted to print them, they’d have to enlarge the image and it would become too blurred to use.
3 – I never copy anyone else’s art and if anyone can produce evidence to prove that I have accidentally plagiarised them I will remove any offending images from my portfolio.
4 – I am more than happy to send copies of the folders I produce to anyone whose art I have used.
5 – I have a conscience and would not sully it by using art for which permission has been refused. One of the only artists I recall who ever refused permission was Sword of Redbubble and I do not have any of his work on my computer, much as I still admire it.
By openly admitting that I admire other people’s work I suppose I am setting myself up as a target for all those mean-minded people who suspect everyone of plagiarism.
Truth is that as I try hard to be original, what I am doing by studying the art of other artists is actually making it MORE of a challenge for myself to be original, as I am more aware of what others have created in the past and have more to avoid.
If I was ignorant of the art of others, I’d be less likely to worry about accidentally plagiarising someone’s work. As it is, for example, I may start a drawing and think, “oops – can’t do that – Karin’s already done that” or “Oh dear, this looks too much like Deb’s style.”
One lady once did a couple of paintings in what she called “the Dave Edwards style” and I was really flattered. It did however make me feel that if my style is so easily copied then maybe I should develop it more and I am still striving to do that.
I am an honest and transparent person who never deliberately seeks to deceive. All my cards are on the table. I therefore make no secrets of my artistic influences. As a small boy I was sent to live with my Welsh grandparents for a few weeks while my mother was in hospital. My nain (grandma) tucked me up in an iron-framed bed covered with a lovely home-made patchwork quilt. Thus started my love of patchwork.
As my father was a Methodist preacher, I had to attend church four times a week from a very early age. Most of the lengthy sermons went over my little head and I spent a lot of time admiring the stained-glass windows in the various churches where my father preached. Thus started my love of stained glass.
I had a collection of loads of old Sunday supplement magazines and would cut out secti0ns of colour or pattern. I produced a lot of collage that way.
More recently, I visited Barcelona and walked in Parc Gruelle, which is decorated throughout with Antoni Gaudi’s mosaic tiles. Hence my love of mosaic.
I also love Celtic art, having Welsh, Cornish and Northumbrian blood running through my veins and being married to an Irish girl.
So look there if you seek my influences, but please everyone, trust me when I say that I never knowingly plagiarise anyone.
Malcolm Chant
This is a lovley Story, But therte wasn’t any need to have to defend yourself for anything.
Malcolm
BLYTHART replied
That’s how I feel too, but it is distressing when someone questions my honesty.
AnitaInverarity
I’m sad you had to do this too Dave.
I’m frankly quite fed up of people questioning an artists integrity and inspirations. We are inspired by everything around us and naturally by other artists too (we dont live in a vacuum).
I’m very flattered to have a folder in your collection and trust you explicitly with my work.
There is also no copyright on technique, if you liked a piece of cross-hatching in my work, its pretty obvious to me you could try it in one of yours and I look at others techiques a lot, to maybe try a new pattern, a new texture. I might see a theme or idea I want to try too- this could be off the TV, from a story, from a photo or painting (I know it will end up looking like I did it and no one else, because I wont copy- which is the exact same as your work- I know it when I see it).
Its funny you should mention unintentional plagarism- My newest work Summer was done with no reference and direct from imagination- when finished it looked “familiar” to me, could be coincidence, or could be it looks like something I’ve seen (lodged in my subconcious).
Geeeez- Lets just have fun and draw folks. This debate is somewhat ludicrous at times. These people should chase the real copyists, rip-off merchants- after all there are plenty out there. Real artists should not have to justify their existance.
Rant over :))))) xx
BLYTHART replied
Thank you my friend. You are absolutely correct … why waste time being picky when they could be seeking out the real plagiarists. I have had my work copied on one occasion and even publicly exhibited, so I know what it feels like and would ever hurt anyone in that way. Did you read the lady’s comments (link above)?
Deborah Holman
No need to defend yourself Dave I am flattered you have included my work. As for influences any artist that says their work is completely original and are not influenced by other artists etc are only lying to themselves. Of course we are influenced by everything we see with our eyes and this can only enrich what we produce. As for style I have found this is not something you choose, rather it chooses you and however hard you try to paint in a certain style yours will always come out and rather than fight it, it is better to go with it and not even think about it just do what you feel. Keep producing your unique artwork Dave and do not worry about what anyone thinks. I know it is amazing to get positive comments and they always spur you on to create, but we have to take the rough with the smooth too and hopefully learn from both types of comments. It is upsetting when your honesty is questioned but it is only one person and I’m sure you have the trust and support of many many people here on RB.
BLYTHART replied
I think the lady now realises I am perfectly harmless :)
Esther's Art a...
I am so glad to hear that you are very honest. I am like that too. Sometimes it’s good and other times it can work against you.
If you have permission from the artists then you have nothing to be guitly about. And there was no need to add this journal, really. There are maybe lots of people who do it but don’t tell. I want to wish you good luck with the art you make where ever you get your inspiration from. There will always people question somebody , that’s some peoples nature. Don’t take that personally. If you know in your heart you done the right thing and be honest to yourself than you can be a proud person !!! Take care.
BLYTHART replied
Thank you for your emotional support. I have seen your portfolio and admire your work.
Esther's Art a...
Thank you very much, I had a look at your work and I can see that you are starting to developpe your own style. Very nice. Keep up the good work !!! Cheers Esther
Marilyn Brown
I feel people get caught up in all of this type of stuff and if everyone took a stance that things are plagiarized then we might as well put all pencils down.
Lets be frank, everything has been done before, what makes it ours is the fact that we have done it.
Photographers tend to be very touchy about artists using their images as reference.
Seek permission, as you do, but sometimes it gets all to hard, doesn’t it.
Painters for centuries have been emulating the masters and becoming masters themselves.
Rembrandt copied Titian, so did Manet.
This topic causes me pain as well Dave and I am conflicted. I love portraiture and celebrity portraiture is rewarding as observers recognize the subject and see the skill that has been accomplished, but then somebody slaps a copyright infringement on you and you just throw up your hands!
I feel for you Dave because I’ve been in the same position. I have nothing to add to this eloquent journal except to say, I’m with you buddy!
!http://tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:DkvaxqVB7OmcJM:http://www.harley.com/art/abstract-art/images/(davinci)-mona-lisa.jpg! Da Vinci
BLYTHART replied
Thanks Marilyn for all the work you put into your excellent comment. I have spent a lot of time reading copyright laws and to be honest I often end up confused, because particularly on an international site like this you have to remember that USA and UK for example have different laws.
So far as I see it, if you ask permission and keep a record of the permission, you are fairly safe in storing images for your own personal education.
I have learned on Redbubble that it is okay to base a painting on someone’s photo (as I once did with a photo belonging to Cadence Gamache) if you first seek permission and ALWAYS remember to acknowledge the donor. Someone did a painting based on one of my photos and sought my permission and also added, “based on a photo by Dave Edwards” and surely that is all we need.
It gets complicated if, for example, Mister X did a painting based on a painting by Van Gogh and I also did a painting based on Van Gogh and Mister x accused me of copying his painting. what I am struggling here to express is that often when we think someone is copying somone else’s style it turns out that they were both copying the style of a famous artist anyway.
Here is some info on UK copyright (and I do hope information on copyright isn’t itself copyrighted, or I am snookered):
The duration of copyright
The time period for copyright has grown continually longer over the last three centuries. Many think it is now absurdly long. In Britain the Copyright Act of 1842 introduced the idea of post mortem copyright protection; it established a copyright period of 42 years from the date of first publication or 7 years after the author’s death, whichever was the longer. The Copyright Act of 1911 extended the period to 50 years after an author’s death; and the European Union Directive on Term of Copyright (adopted by the UK on 1 January 1996) further extended the standard period to 70 years p.m.a. Thus in 2009 works by authors who died in 1939 or any year thereafter remain “in copyright”.
If you think that sorts things out – read on:
“Revived copyright”
As a result of the European Union Directive, published works of authors who died between 1 January 1926 and 31 December 1945 came back into copyright on 1 January 1996. These authors, including some of the great names of English literature, had been out of copyright since the end of the year of the 50th anniversary of their death and returned to copyright for whatever remains of the period until the end of the year of the 70th anniversary of their death. The published works of Virginia Woolf, for example, came out of copyright on 1 January 1992 but have gone back into copyright for the period from 1 January 1996 to 31 December 2011.
By my reading of this, if anyone wished to copy the work of any artist who died before 1926 that would be okay.
BUT – what is the point of copying their work anyway – famous artists’ work is, well … duh … famous … so everyone would know we’d copied it … crazy.
Starz
hi Dave, oh i love to make collages too and do exactly the same thing !! i enjoyed reading your writing and learning about your interests and influences. i like you Dave and i love your art, you have a delightful style which i find to be so creative and magnificent.
fuelthesoul
Sorry to hear you needed to do this dave,Bev
AnitaInverarity
I read the journal Dave and I think the lady is misguided by her suspicions- It seems she thinks you may be mass producing prints to sell. I will have a giggle at the thought of you printing away in your shed and furtively going down the market on a Sunday to flog our works for a few pennies. Roll up Roll up, 2 for the price of one :)))))
Deborah and Marilyn are spot on !! Very eloquently put xx
AnitaInverarity
Oh I feel a little bad now for making fun :(( The lady has obviously taken care to understand and appreciate what you are doing and has apologised for misunderstanding. I have utmost respect for her approach on this. Its a happy ending and I’m verrrrry happy for you.
WTG Dave x
Lynnette Shelley
I read the link and I think it was just your wording that sounded odd to her. I remember once, another artist came up to me and asked me if I minded if she used my image in her new artwork (she was drawing a picture of The Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland). And at first I thought she meant she was going to collage some of my artwork in her artwork or somehow incorporate one of my drawings into the piece, and I didn’t think that was too cool. But then after talking with her I realized she meant she wanted to draw ME as the Queen of Hearts. (which was obviously cool, and an honor). Anyway I think i was just a verbal misunderstanding between you, Dave, and the other woman. You strike me as very above-board and honest and anybody that would know you wouldn’t seriously think of you as plagiarizing.
BLYTHART replied
Thank you Lynnette. When I was a child, my Welsh grandmother wrote in my autograph book: “Better to be good than to be clever” and I try to live by that philosophy. I’d rather have a reputation for being average but honest than for being clever but dishonest.
That’s great that you were used as a model for a drawing. May I ask which one please?
I try to be fair and therefore I must add that this lady has apologised for what she said and we are friends now.
Linda Callaghan
I am glad it has all sorted itself out Dave…have sent you email.
Kirsten Edwards
Marilyn Brown said it perfectly.
KristineNora
Stand Tall ... just be you… as not a soul can question truth. ... kris
Chookas
☼ This has been featured in the EEG
[August 09] ☼ B R A V O !!! ☼
I featured this David because it serves as a brilliant example of what we all actually do in Exceptional Ekphrasis – study other’s art to gain inspiration to create our own unique art (and not actually accidentally stumbling upon their ideas or techniques) thereby paying the highest form of compliment to these other artists – sadly though the generally understood insecurities of artistic people mix this up with attempts of plagiarisms revealing the whole crux of my moderating duties!
Thank you for bringing this issue out into the light!
Bravo Sir & Chookas! ♥
BLYTHART replied
Many thanks for supporting me in what is a sensitive issue of late. I’d never given it a thought before the recent controversy and although I am relieved that people are siding with me I still feel wary of asking anyone to allow me to store duplicates of their images on my computer for offline viewing, let alone ask if I can base a painting on their work (for which I would give credit of course).
BLYTHART
As a reaction to all this, I created a personal copyright statement for my profile:
MY WORK IS COPYRIGHTED
If anyone wishes to save images of my work into a folder to view offline, they need only ask my permission and it will be granted.
If anyone wishes to base a painting on one of my photographs (from my Blythphoto Bubble), they can do that too. I only ask that they seek permission first and incorporate my name in the description box. For example, “this painting is based on a photo by Dave Edwards”.
No-one however is allowed to:
1. Steal one of my images.
2. Replacemy name with theirs.
3. Sell prints of my work.
4. Exhibit my work under their name.
I think that is a fair representation of Copyright – do you agree?
EarthquakeBee
Why should you be defending yourself when what you do is wonderful. Nothing wrong in studying, learning, admiring, using others work as inspiration. You yourself are a source of inspiration. From my little corner I encourage you not to stop doing what you do! Big hug Dave.
BLYTHART replied
What a lovely think for you to say – thanks ever so :)
Chris Baker
Good feature Dave – but as said before, unnecessary to defend your beliefs ;)
As you know, I’m happy (and almost flattered) that anyone would want to DL my work :)
.
Also (as you well know), I’ll even send high res images to those who are obviously trustworthy (and don’t intend mass-printing of said images!!) Damn…..what have I said??!!
BLYTHART replied
Aw shucks … I sold that one to President Obama for $100, 000 – oops :)
Oh dear … better not make jokes like that or someone may believe me.
Josh Bowe
Hi Dave , i couldnt agree more so with the above comments and replies, sounds like the people who r accusing u of copyright infringement r plain and simple jealous, keep up the good work
Lance Leopold
Quite frankly,i would be honoured if you used any of my images in your unique work,Dave,pay the critics no mind,all the best!!
BLYTHART replied
You are such a kind person Lance; I really appreciate that.