Of Art submissions and Accusations of Copying...

[ChristianKitsune]

A funny thing happened to me this week...I wonder if anyone else can relate?

This week (7/24-7-28) marks the week of my county fair. So I decided to enter a few of my drawings...

of my drawings I entered three that were accused of being copies..

My first one was entitled Nothing but the blood of Jesus:

http://img361.imageshack.us/my.php?image=nothingbuttheblood9ts.jpg

And the judge wrote on the back of the form that she had seen something very similar in a show she had been to...and told me that I need to use my own figures. (She said she saw a figure that was in "Shadow" and something else... (her handwriting was hard to read).

First off the person who is black isn't a "Shadow" that shows his sinful life...and I painted over it with redish brown paint to signify the blood of jesus being washed over him...thus cleansing him of his impurities and making him white...

How could I copy, if I have never even saw anything like this before, but it was an idea in my head? This came from inspiration to a song I heard recently. Called "Nothing but the blood of Jesus" It's a newer and shorter version but still amazing!



my next two entries were ORIGINAL drawings by myself...I even tried to break a way from the anime scene...by making the eyes slighly smaller...

my next one is Called "Art Fairy" I have posted it on CAA but for you convienience, here is it's link, for those of you haven't seen it...

http://img225.imageshack.us/my.php?image=artfairy1iu.jpg

the last one was a fun piece I did using paint...and colored pencil. Its called "Spatter time"

http://img86.imageshack.us/my.php?image=spatbren2vn.jpg

these are all original creations or mine, I didn't even use reference pics! So...how could they be labled as copies? I mean just because it was drawn in a certain style...does that automatically make them copied?

Shouldn't art be judged on a different field? Like maybe the use of mediums?

I mean unless someone has the exact same brain as I do, and drew these characters the SAME way that I do...they aren't copied...

maybe I am just ranting?

Has this ever happened to you?

BTW they all got blue ribbons..thats like one step under champion, so I am not really complaining...I just kinda find it funny...

[White Raven]

Sounds like they need more then one judge in that contest.

Is there anyway you can dispute her claims?

[ChristianKitsune]

I am not sure...I really care about my art...and something like this was a bit offensive... I worked hard on these drawings they took me hours to finish... and I dunno..my mom says it's sorta a compliment that they thought I copied..but still... I think it's a bit unprofessional to say that I copied....

[Sammy Boy]

Plaigiarism is a very serious accusation, be it for literature or art. Ask that judge to show that you copied beyond a reasonable doubt.

Similarities do not make someone's work a copy. And there is this thing called "coincidence". Unless she can show the originals (and not just say "Oh I saw this somewhere once...") and that there were striking similarities between those and your art, her argument cannot hold water.

If she cannot provide such information, ask her on what grounds (besides her word) that she is making these accusations.

[Riku777]

^ Owned. Nuff said. I love the drawings. At LEAST you still got the rewards for your drawings instead of being disqualified. But yeah, I bet it'd be a little offensive. GJ though, love the art =D

[Silent Hunter]

they look awesome to me. No, i can't see calling that first one a copy. Keep up the good work.

[termyt]

It seems to me that the judge's claims fell short of a plagiarism accusation, or the drawings would have been disqualified, I'm sure.

It’s probably pretty easy to draw something that looks like something else, considering the number of artists and art contests out there. Given the opportunity, I would simply and politely state that I was not aware of the piece the judge was referring to and my work is an original. Whether the judges decide to believe me or not is their business.

At any rate, apparently the other judges didn’t feel the same way, since your work earned blue ribbons. I’m happy for you. Good work!

[kaze]

I never really understood how people can judge art...I guess they try to see if the artist was able to clearly convey something? It seems like the judge wasn't very clear in what she said...even if it resembles a piece from somewhere else, it doesn't mean it was done on purpose! It would be nice if you had a chance to speak to the judge and clear things up...I would feel pretty offended if that happened to me too. Congrats on the ribbons though, you really deserve them~

[Radical Dreamer]

Those drawings are all fantastic, CR-chan! And there's no way they could have been copies, because it's not like you had seen the pieces that the judge was talking about anyways. Those are all really original and well-done pictures, and I'm glad you won the blue ribbon for them; you deserved it! Nice work!

[ChristianKitsune]

haha thanks for the support everyone...thankfully, this wasn't a MAJOR problem just a nit picky not on the back of the entry form..

I am really thankful they weren't disqualified...I just wish they would look at the way it was done and not the style that it was done in...

If I ever find out who the judge is (because I really have no idea)... I will see if I can tlak to them about it...