julia hendrickson
  • Fresh
  • Archive
  • Missives
  • Offerings
  • Context

Artistic Generosity and Being Taken Advantage Of

10/12/2024

0 Comments

 
Picture
For years I shared which materials I used freely with anyone who asked and even had them listed in multiple places for the curious. Coupled with my detailed process videos, those interested could make work fairly similar to my own, if they so chose (with lots of practice). Content creator "artists" asked if they could share my technique and give me credit. Sure. They shared my process and mentioned me. Then they shared my process and materials, over and over again, without mentioning me. And because they did not practice attribution, neither did those that saw the work in this context. And now I see "copies" of my work from people who have no idea they are mimicking another living artist.
Let me clarify that copying in the artworld is a time-honored tradition, as is attribution. The problem in this situation is that people are using the same materials and technique to copy, but not stating the source. They are  profiting off of it, thru views and engagement, and taking it a step further by offering workshops on techniques they did not pioneer. In the midst of all of this copying, I continued to answer material and technique questions, often the same ones, over and over, often on the same post. And then I realized this does not serve the work, or why I share it. This repetitive drain harms my practice, and it harms those who copy it. With all of that in mind, I will no longer be answering questions about my materials or technique.

Artists that I know create work similar to mine, who are not copying me: 
Tiffani Erdmanczy The only other original abstract watercolor salt artist that I am aware of
Roanna Wells I gasped when I saw how similar our work and intent is
Charles Nanopoulos Brushprint work specifically
​Please support these original artists!

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

©julia hendrickson 2025
  • Fresh
  • Archive
  • Missives
  • Offerings
  • Context