Request for keeping an eye out..

[frisket17.livejournal.com]

This is a request to keep an eye out for Mary Carter (aka: Amber Fox16) from the VCL app' forum. --- She recently took my art work and tried to apply into VCL with it. Granted it was trace. (Whether by eye or actually tracing it) the problem comes with not only tracing my art work, but taking my character as well. (IE: She simply removed her eye markings)

This is just a quiet request to keep an eye out for her and to alert me if you see her applying into YNA, DA, Yerf, Elfwood or any other gallery sites. I'll greatly appreciate this since she mentioned in her post how she was just going to find a new archieve to post it on.


Here's the run down of the posts.. Either read here:

http://vcl.ctrl-c.liu.se/vclforum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=12983

Or read the replies from myself, Ch'marr, and this girl claiming she had never seen my work. Note you need to see the actual thread to see her work.



The pics are copies. Direct. But none the less you'll have to view the actual thread to see the pictures. Here are only the comments:

Ch'marr:
I've split the unnnecessary inflammatory threads off into Closed, and reopening this thread so the issue can be discussed. To those that are watching this thread, this does NOT mean you can continue your whailing on the appplicant, and I will issue temporary suspensions to those that try.

Now...

Amberfox... it is pretty clear that in 'springinked' that you have taken heavy influence from Frisket's characters. While I appreciate that taking ideas and character elements from other artwork to form new artwork is a common occurance in the artistic world, you've simply gone a bit too far, here... The characters are practically identical except for the fur markings (be they natural or unnatural). I can greatly appreciate why Frisket would be upset that you have posted these characters and called them your own.

I'm not sure I feel the same way about 'easter baby'. Again, it's obvious that you've used Frisket's character as a character reference, but in this case, all you're REALLY copying is the 'style', and I don't consider style to be copyrightable.

However, it might still be a good idea to just 'step away' from Frisket's work altogether, and see what you can come up with on your own. A lot of people DO copy other's artwork as a form of practise, but you must step out on your own eventually or all you'll be good at is copying, and publishing those pictures is a big NO-NO, as I'm sure you've discovered just now.

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Frisket17:

Ch'marr... She copied.. IE: Traced.. the last two.

I posted the wrong image on the one. But the easter baby is this one:

http://vcl.ctrl-c.liu.se/vcl/Artists/Frisket17/AwooBaby.jpg

Frankly this is plagiarism. It goes beyond just copying style to simply just taking the red markings off my pre-done work and uploading it. If it had been style I'd have no problem with it. But the point of the matter is they are tracing my work.

The second .. I'm pretty sure the body isn't mine, but the traced the head from this picture:

http://vcl.ctrl-c.liu.se/vcl/Artists/Frisket17/Psloo.jpg

Trust me when I say I know my own art. I refuse to have someone take my work and try and claim it as their own. It's insulting to me - As I've worked to try and establish myself not only for a unique style, but a unique character... I've worked on anatomy, color concepts and many other things to get to where I am today. I find it highly offensive this person is trying to post 'their art' when it's nothing but a trace from mine.

I'll gladly do an overlay should you want it. It's line for line the same.

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Amber Fox16

im confused..what!???!!
im sorry, but WHAT ARE U TALKING ABOUT??! who are u? this is my original art and i dont take crap from others....either your lying or something but these characters i have been drawing since i was seven, it is NOT PLAGIARISM if the chracter is my own. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR im sorry but this annoys me SOOO MUCH!!!!!!I'M SORRY THAT YOURS LOOKS LIKE MINE and i admit there a whole lot better than mine but i respect artists because i am one and ive had art theft before and it bugs the h-e-l-l out of me. And im being totally honest in saying that I'm new to vcl and i have never EVER seen your art before. And no im not gonna step away from a chracter that I created and let u go with this, u have your character and i have mine and i love my character that I TOO have worked hard to create and design and its not gonna change. I must comment on your art saying that it is very creative and well done. I'm sorry if you acuse me of "tracing" your art and if this does cause conflict being that youve probably been a member of vcl longer than i have but if im not allowed to post MY original art here than i can find somewhere else and i will post it there cause it is mine and my own! sorry if im being really mean about this but i can't tolerate accusations...u might read this and still accuse me but I know what ive done and im not parting with my character. I respect your art very much, but im sorry, im not leaving my character. respectfully, ~Amber


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Ch'marr

Amberfox: Firstly, please do not create multiple threads in the New Applicant Assessment forum. Only one thread should ever be created. Even if you don't like what's going on in THIS thread, you MUST use THIS thread for any further assessment-related posts. We, as assessors, need to know the history of your application to be able to make good judgements and helpful suggestions.

Your other thread has been deleted (actually, moved to 'Closed').

Based on Frisket's first posts, I thought you were just using Frisket's character a little too heavily. However, from the URL in the second post it is clear that it's gone a little more than that. Frankly, I would call your 'springinked' a 'line for line' copy of 'Psloo' in a number of aspects. Such as:

- The Shaper of the ear, including the fold line, is identical. The 'zigzag tuft' inside the ear is identical.
- The shapes of the eyes and eyebrows are identical.
- The diamond discolouration in the centre of the head is identical.
- The highlight on the nose is identical.

Now, while you may very well have drawn the body yourself, the head is most certainly either traced, or line-for-line copied from Frisket's work. This is AGAINST OUR RULES. Furthermore, lying about it when challenged is ALSO AGAINST OUR RULES.

I might very well have accepted an apology for trying to pass off copied artwork as totally your own. All you would have gotten is a stern warning, and a discussion of respect for other artists. However, claiming innocence in the face of damning evidence just tells me you have no respect for our rules, and no respect for other artists. As such, your application to the VCL is DENIED, and I prohibit you from re-applying for three months.

Hopefully, during that time, you'll understand that copying, and more importantly disrespect, is not appreciated within our community. After three months, and if you can show original work (or, at the very least, be honest about your methods and references), you will be welcome to re-apply. Not before that time, though.

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So what's your verdicts?


Here's one last thread from her... saying how she's going to be trying to do this again:

http://vcl.ctrl-c.liu.se/vclforum/showthread.php3?s=&threadid=12992

Claiming she'll be posting more of the ripped art of her character 'Amber'...

Anyway. I'm grateful for those who are willing to keep an eye on this and to alert me should they apply with my work elsewhere. Thank you again, very kindly.

-Melsa.

Comments

[puffbird.livejournal.com]

That she was unapologetic in the face of such evidence speaks volumes. Sheesh.

[rip-sama.livejournal.com]

I frequent Elfwoods new updates daily (when it isn't down anyway. ^^; ) so I'll be sure to keep an eye out there. There's also sites such as ArtAttack, ArtWanted, and Art Conspiracy and of course Side7. She might try one of those next (if she's even aware of them), since you don't need approval to gain access to posting your artwork there. She might not bother with elfwood...since it's a long process to sign up. We can hope anyway. ^_^

Humble Pie, anyone?

[edwin77.livejournal.com]

i admit the head was copied but it was not off of frisket's drawing, it was off of a pic that someone sent me cause i needed help on ear shape and so i was sent a pic with the head but not with the picture that frisket made. The head was on a different body and i was given permission to use it for my drawing. The adress is Kalbarez1266@aol.com if u would like to have a talk with whomever it is. She went by the name dreamwolf is that rings any bells. I asked in a geustbook for any advice on dog ears for Amber. Unless dreamwolf got hold of frisket's drawing, thats all i know. I understand i am being denied access for a while and that is fine but i just want to make it clear that i did not copy from frisket directly and if the head came from her than whoever sent me the pic of the head is the stealer. I ask for the upmost respect with art and the head obviously came from frisket as i can see but i did NOT know it at the time. I apologize for the upstart and ill be careful not to use art that is sent to me without knowing its history. Frisket I'm sorry about what has happened but i dont blame whoever took your art in the first place..... your art is extremely good! After the first notice about my art i went to see your art in vcl and i must say it is awesome. As an artist and respectful person i am very sorry once again for the upstart and i geuss i was a little shocked to find someone who had a character like mine, by the way the white stripe on the head was from the pic so i added it in mine but my character does not usually have it, and i hope that u can view my art as originally done as yours because it honestly is......ill wait my three months till im able to apply again, not thinking about how i shouldnt copy because i know that, but thinking about how mad i am at the person who sent it to me. I will be sending them an e-mail on where they got the pic. Until another day everyone and frisket, i am very truly sorry even though i got it from someone, i stilll feel bad for u because it is your art. Sorry VCL for what has happened, and i geuss u could send dreamwolf an e-mail if u wish. Peace ~Amber

She apologizes, but naturally it's someone elses fault, since apparently your head's been used on more than one copy- if we're to believe this story- and it was that copy that she copied from...

...mmm so what I say is, lets see the firts copy she copied from. This Amber person must have it lying around... or is tshe one of those folks that covers her tracks carefully and burned all the evidence? Why do you have to take the trouble of tracking this other tracer down?

Meh... enter the shifting of the blame, if you ask me...

[uminomamori.livejournal.com]

[sarcas] sounds like yet another mature, highly intelligent new "artist" [/sarcasm]

[likeshine.livejournal.com]

her kitty picture looks copied as well, has a heavy WB influence..

ahh, good luck, way to hold your ground there

[reijn.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the kitties... remind me of aristocats or something like that, but it's been a VERY long time since I've seen that movie so maybe someone else could clear it up. o_o

[sadescha.livejournal.com]

I agree with you, it's obvious that "Amber" is based off of your drawings. I don't think 3 months is a long enough ban from applying, but Ch'marr has his reasons.