Reading Ella Masters blog has reminded me of the bad side of doing something you love, in our case Art and Design. Having such passion for something, putting your head and your heart into your work can sometimes end in tears.
People with no imagination, who copy your ideas and work can be harmless. You start off being angry, wondering how they think no one will notice but when you're a student at least you can think to yourself that they won't get far; however when someone copies your work for sales etc and gets abusive, it is taking things to a whole new level.
Ella Masters is a Fine Art graduate of Falmouth University and to see follow what a graduate from my Design School is doing is pretty lovely. she has recently opened her online shop, Ruby Rae Love selling her handmade jewellery and is an illustrator. Someone has completely stolen one of her illustrations instead of paying £20 for Ella to design her a header. Pathetic? I think so!! Not to mention the foul language and abusive tone in messages.
She also works for Paperchase who ironically have been involved in a copyright issue from artist Hidden Eloise, and have finally admitted to the design being copied.
This happens worldwide, whether you are a student, small company or designer/maker etc... It's hard to just listen to the saying 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' when it's something so personal as your career , ideas and design developments. It's not like someone's buying the same pencil case as you at school or getting the same hair cut!
So for the record Inspiration is to have ideas sparked by an element of design, trend, or even a leaf on a walk through the park! This is perfectly acceptable and necessary in order to create new fresh ideas. This is very different to saying you were inspired by so and so and their concept being evident. Basically when you can't admit to your inspiration you know you have copied!
(see here for lots of examples!)
I feel for you Ella, keep your chin up you're awesome!
Love emme lou x
4 comments:
Grat post, she is awesome :)
izzy <3 xx
have just read this and i think you are spot on. xxx
Hey sweet thanks for writing this, just for the record i no longer work for paperchase, so its al good thanks for bringing this up :) xxxxx
Hi Ella, no worries, Congrats with your new job! Teaching will be awesome. My friend is doing her SKIT course after being a teaching assistant and loves it! wish i lived a bit closer...could really do with a drawing class from you! take care lovely xxx
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