I recently did a drawing from a picture of Nira Dabush I hope I have broken any rules by doing that
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I cannot speak for Nira, but I have personally encountered this, so I'm going to chime in and give you some information. I certainly hope you don't mind. I think it is wonderful when other artists inspire and are given credit! However, it is always best practice to ask the artist/photographer first for permission to use their material. From a legal copyright standpoint, artists have exclusive rights of ownership to their work. #1 The right to reproduce and make copies of an original work. #2 The right to prepare derivative works based on the original work. #3 The right to distribute copies to the public by sale or another form of transfer, such as rental or lending.
Normally, if it is for personal use (learning, for your home, etc.) where no outside eyes will ever see it, there is no harm in it. But the moment you post it online, sell it, take credit for it or even give it away, it could cause problems. What most artists do, is use several different references to create their very own rendition of a particular subject. Or even better, take their own photos to use as reference material. If you cannot trace your art piece back to an original artist source, chances are you're good. But, if it ever came down to it, courts can use what is called a "substantial similarity" test, where if an average person would confuse the new work with the original work, then there is a strong likelihood that it would be considered infringement. Bottom line, it is always wise to ask first.
I loved Artwanted back in the day to. I would like to see this site grow and become as popular as it once was. Things seemed easier back then to and people were able to share without fear of being robbed. I have left this site for short periods but always find myself coming back. Every time I do come back, there are more features and it gets better and better. It's comfortable here. I have tried other large selling sites like FAA and they don't do a very good job of protecting artwork. They require large image files and are lacking in safety features. I'm glad I'm here and still seeing names I recognize from over a decade ago. Take care and be safe.
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