We need to talk . . .
We need to stop the tracing and the reposts.
This is mostly about @kalynatehortua59, and yes once I've posted this I will be blocking them.
I really don't know how to go about this because the situation is weird. (Please read to the end for the safety of all Octonauts Artists)
This is not to bash on this creator, that's just not the kind of person I am. This is genuinely out of concern for my art as well as other artists out there, and is more of a warning if anything. Unfortunately for those who haven't been here for long kalynatehortua59 is a chronic art tracer within the community and it needs to be addressed.
Now my opinion on tracing is actually very positive, (which is ironic considering my art was traced in this example) so allow me to explain.
Tracing: A type of technique that is usually used by younger/inexperienced artists to practice their skills, tracing over someone else's artwork usually to practice. However it is also a technique used by art thieves to claim another's hard earned artwork/style as their own.
I know this is a very touchy subject in the art community. It is actually one of the techniques I used when I first started my art journey over 12 years ago. However the difference I find with a LOT of younger artists nowadays versus myself at that same age, is the fact that I NEVER claimed those pieces as my own. Nor did I EVER post it anywhere on the internet for anyone to see.
However if I had done so (posting a drawing to one of my blogs that was not mine to begin with) and the original artist who owned the ORIGINAL piece, came to me asking me to take it down I would immediately do so and never put it up again and never even TRY to put up anyone else's art as my own. I don't care if was my "best piece yet", there is NO excuse for stealing.
There was a piece of mine a while back that was stolen from me and reposted on Pinterest and ever since, even though I was able to get it taken down, I have never been able to look at that piece the same. I realize that yes, it was a "redraw" of a scene in the Octonauts show, but I still redrew every part of that concept by hand so it is still considered my piece.
I genuinely hate that drawing now and it is one of my MOST "liked" drawings on my blog to this day. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ (And no I will not be linking the original drawing because I genuinely hate it that much.)
I can’t believe I have to make a post like this, it makes my heart hurt. I feel sick just thinking about this. Guys I have a Business Accoun
When you post someone's art, whether it is a raw copy of that piece or it is a traced version you are stealing. No if's, no and's, no but's. It is theft. And that is exactly why I am making this post because once again there are people in this community (I constantly see them) that are tracing and posting it as if it were their own piece.
And it's not just tracing, if you are reposting someone else's work and then talking about it as if it were your own idea that is also theft and it RUINS a lot of artist's work because now there's a stain on that piece that SCREAMS "I was stolen" and now that creator wants nothing to do with that drawing.
Tracing to me is a form of practice. It allows you to better understand brush strokes, shapes, line in motion, etc. It was how I learned what styles worked better for me and the vision behind my ideas. It was how I learned to do what I do now. So when (older/more experienced) artists, who have never experienced that kind of technique, attack younger/less experienced artists for doing that, it rubs me the wrong way.
I know not every young/inexperienced artist knows the etiquette of tracing, reposting, etc. that's, again, why I am making this post. To spread awareness on this topic. If you are a young/inexperienced and you post traced art, we need you to stop. It is theft, it is stealing. If you want to post your ideas then please do so, but do NOT share traced art because it will eventually get reported and you may get banned if you aren't careful. Please wait until you yourself are able to draw your idea purely from your own imagination and not someone else's premade drawing.
When you get older and you stop tracing and learn how to do your own style, if you're not careful, someone may one day find your traced piece on the internet somewhere and from then on you will forever be known as a “tracer”. The internet is FOREVER. Everything is saved at least 300x to every storage website imaginable. As soon as I started posting my art on Instagram when I was 16, my art was all over google anytime you looked up my username @cookiecrumbles52.
Now finding references and getting ideas from pictures/drawings/etc. is a whole other ball game, so if you would like me to cover that please let me know. But I will not be discussing it here because there are other things I want to cover.
@kalynatehortua59 needs to stop.
I have been very kind towards this creator but it has been proven just today that they aren't going to listen. I know for a FACT that they will not stop tracing, especially pieces from other creators. Not only have I been effected but I know creators like Cacartoon & Factual-Fantasy have been affected by this creator whether they know about it or not. And this is purely from what I have been observing over the past few months.
Over and over again they have traced pieces that did not belong to them and told off by the original artist. Especially from Cacartoon. I will see them trace over someone's work, claiming it as their own, then when it's asked to be taken down they will in fact do so, but then a few weeks later they will steal another artist's work and it will be the same dance all over again. It's one thing to be inspired by an artist, it's another to trace/steal their art completely with no context to who it actually belongs to.
This was my drawing that was traced over from this post, and once you put it side by side you automatically see the resemblance.
The original Ask that they sent me as well as the post I made was taken down, only so I could make this post. 1. Because no one was actually reading the concerns I had & 2. They were spamming me to delete the post. (Which, yes I do slightly regret that I deleted it but that's why I took screenshots of the conversation - @calamaroo plz don't get mad I deleted it before you told me not to TwT it was dumb I know)
And yes I was very kind about it because it's clear that this "artist" does NOT understand English, and whatever translator they are using is doing them a disservice. However, I can still see the disrespect because of the very fact that they will post something, it will be asked to be taken down, they take it down, and then the very next post will be someone else's stolen work.
I was very kind in explaining myself to this creator but the response I got was very clear, they wanted all "evidence" to be wiped of their "mistake". I was spammed several times after posting it and eventually (because it was getting the wrong kind of attention) I did take it down.
My Response: "I would also appreciate it if you did not trace my art, it's super disrespectful and is actually considered stealing. I spent over 5hrs just to digitally transfer that sketch for that particular piece, and that's not including the extra time I spent just to create the drawing in the first place. I realize it is just a silhouette but it is still stealing. To this creator, I do appreciate you including me in your posts, sending Asks, and tagging me so I can see what you've made, but from now on do not trace over my art. It puts me in a very uncomfortable position, and I would rather not have to report/block you. I do hope you have a wonderful day. No hard feelings, just a gentle warning."
Their Response:
But like I said, this is not the first time I have interacted with them. I do know that they are a fan of my work solely because they keep putting links to my posts in their "lore drops". Which I do appreciate them even giving me credit. Not to mention that they occasionally send me Asks, but they aren't really "Asks" they're more like advertisement for their story.
I have stated before that I LOVE when people are inspired by me because that's one of the main reasons why I create. It is also one of the most human things a person can do. Humans were built to inspire one another and it has always been beautiful to me. So I'm NOT discouraging you from sharing your ideas with me, I just wanted to point this out because it felt more like they wanted to get everyone's eyes on their blog/art/etc. instead of "hey you inspired me, this is what I made from that". (If that makes sense)
However in this case it just felt . . . weird. They would tag me or link one of my posts in theirs and it was somehow supposed to relate to what I said before in my own lore drops. Again it's always been hard to understand them, not that it's their fault. Language is a very hard thing to learn, especially English.
[ A.S.A.'s OG Post ] - [ kalynatehortua59's Post ]
This is more of an innocent example, and a good reason why I haven't addressed anything before. This post (the one you're reading) was more of a PSA. I don't want things to keep going like this. I'm uncomfortable and instead of doing what I want to (art/writing) on my one "free" day I have instead opted to making this post so the issue is addressed.
And again, unfortunately for my safety as well as the safely of my art, I will be blocking this creator and will not be interacting with them from now on. I don't feel safe allowing them to see what I create because I don't trust them to not use it against me.
Sorry this was a longer post. I haven't posted art in awhile, mostly because my energy levels have been in the 10-20% range the last two months and the little free time I have after taking care of my health (food/shower/laundry/etc) every day is usually spent on things that I want to do and not necessarily anything that would benefit the blog. There is also a lot of IRL drama that I've been dealing with specifically towards certain friendships as well as family issues.
I am trying to get things done. I finished all of the Vegimals' redesign sketches and I've been working on lore. But sadly none of it has quite made it to the blog yet. This was my one free day of this week and sadly it wasn't much of a free day because I was with family, and the moment I came home I took a 2hr nap and had to make this post after.
Things are coming, I just need more time. Thank you for understanding. <3
(Again there is no hate towards this creator, but I genuinely cannot trust them with my art or anyone else's.)
Disclaimer: Harassment and bullying of anyone mentioned will not be tolerated, and if you do that then you’re no better. Be mindful, respectful, and engage at your own risk
I unfortunately have experienced this plenty of times before
I mainly stay out of stuff because conflict freaks me out and I’m more than certain I’ll overreact one way or another through being too passionate or somehow misunderstanding stuff (I’m working on that)
But because this is affecting a fellow artist, I think I should show support for @animalsalvationassociation and all those who have been affected
Tracing isn’t necessarily bad, if it’s being done for practice (we’ve all traced when we first start out whether it be to learn a style or one of those see through papers) but using artwork to trace over for your own content is not okay
It’s happened to me plenty of times and I’ve always said “Don’t do that”
If you’re inspired by an artist and are trying to replicate their style, that’s one thing
But it’s another to take art, trace it, and claim it as yours.
Art is not easy, it’s a skill that takes a lot of work and dedication and patience. You will be AWFUL at first, even people who have a knack for it will not come out with Mona Lisas, but it’s worth learning and practicing.
So please do not be discouraged from practicing, but show some respect to your fellow artists and not steal their work
