Copy KATS. Artist beware!

Hey Everyone.

Wanted to share a little situation that has happen to me and boy it has just blown the wind out of my blond hair doo. Skip can validate via the show in Myrtle Beach.

My crabs are being copied and repainted in a classroom for profit studio!

I found a web site that has done a fantastic job of clipping YOUR artwork. They teach it in classes and they are located in Mt. Pleasant SC. The take on the studio is that you pay them $30-$40 dollars and you get a canvas, frame and a bottle of brewski or wine for a couple of hours. Great concept a buzz and a painting.

When I went through a search saw one of my crab paintings that I had not painted. I searched it to a studio not far from me in the Charleston area. These rats are using so many paintings from online artist to teach in classes. My crab painting had been painted over 150 times. After I contacted them last night they quickly fixed the web site. But hey Mrs. blonde HTML is snazzy. I have contacted over 7 artist to let them know about these money mongers and saved the web page on my hard drive. I Also purchased the other part of their domain name, which when done will go to the top of the search for their term. Blond, a computer geek and a painter. Look out baby this could get a little scary. I have been slinging paint and snot all morning, brewing a good batch of steaming mean girl face stew. My husband said I need to go and dig a hole in the field.

What do I do?

The owner of the original red crab painting that I painted and wanted to know if I was a "Student" Painter! This has sent me to a place. Imagine all my hair standing on end only fried, with my meany girl face. This is really a bad deal here. Watch out for your images you never know where they will turn up.

They place is called Bottles n Brushes. Do the search to see if your work is not being copied in the "Gallery" area were the students hold up the finished work they have just painted. The happy owner collects around $400-$500 every night and smiles all the way to the bank.

Happy hair day! (Ok I did let go of the mean girl face, but the hair is still on end!)
Heather

(Hope this wasn't to negative just wanted to warn the artist.)

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  • Having had my paintings copied by painters in China (there are whole city streets where you can go into any store and have an image copied) I truly sympathize with you.
    I’ve also signed contracts with “poster” companies and have found my work reproduce - not just the look of my brush strokes but the actual height and depth of my brush strokes in the discount bin at TJMAX! I was sick to my stomach and shaking for a day or two!
    I NEVER will sign another reproducing contract and as for those folks in china….I’ve embraced an attitude of constantly producing new and divergent works of art in order to stay ahead of the “Game”. Yes I’ve lost some very excellent sales because people aren’t confident that MY original IS an original…. I'm putting a handprint on the backs of my paintings, just as an added mark , as well as copyright and date (the date is important to have)....
  • I first heard about this "trend" from a friend in Birmingham, AL who had taken many of these "wine & paint" classes. I think the best way to stop it is for your story to go viral on the IT so let's all get it out there on T and FB, and blog about it, so your followers know and understand how this affects an artist's credibility and income. Don't just breath in and breath out - zen is fine but inaction simply allows bad things to continue happening.
  • I am really trying to have a light heart about the entire thing. They have told me to contact their attorney! No were are sorry it won't happen again. Heck they taught the class last night with a different crab off the web page! Ok no mean girl face at the terminal. Just breathe and think good painting thoughts. Thanks so much for everyone's support. I would have never in a zillon years imagined something like this happening right around the corner. How blind!
    Happy Day. Put a good 1" of face cream last night to smooth out the meany face. Kinda worked, but scared the kids.
  • You go, girl, and give 'em HELL!! "Students" can legally copy the works of Old Masters because no copyright law applies, but it certainly does here! Too many times school teachers will come in my booth and want photos of my paintings to "teach" their kids in the classroom. I clearly state, "Real art is about CREATING, not copying. Please don't teach your kids it's all right to be criminals." That usually gets 'em out of my booth in a hurry and, I hope, gives them something to think about.
  • Don and Judy, Thanks for the response. They cleaned up the web again this morning. They do have a face book page with another artist shrimp for a class this week. I am going to search through face book and see if I can figure out how to have them reported. Thanks for all the tips. Education purposes is great but to educate for a heavy profit it different.
    Happy Day
  • Did you inform them that they are using your images illegally? What was their response?

    They have a facebook page where it appears you can report them for using your intellectual property:

    Report Bottles 'n Brushes
    You are about to report a violation of our Terms of Use. All reports are strictly confidential.
    Reason:
    (required)
    Impersonated profile:
    (required)
    Is this your intellectual property?
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