Ethical Question on Beads

I've been reading this group for a few years. I don't post often but have
learned some of the names and about some of the people. I really do respect
everyone here. I've made some beaded jewelry but now my fancy has turned to
lampworking.

With my current finances it will probably take me until the end of the year
to acquire enough equipment to start. I've been reading and trying to learn
what to do to start this process and am starting to feel more comfortable.
I'm going to take a one day glass beadmaking class in the next month or so
to try it out.

My dilemma is that there are a couple of artists that I am truly drawn to
their work. I was going to try to emulate them while learning this skill,
but I'm having qualms as to the ethics of this. So before I go and do a big
"NO NO", I thought I'd ask here.

What should I do? I have no fantasies that I will be able to come anywhere
near what these people can do, but their stuff truly speaks to me. Is it
wrong to want to do something like them?

Thanks everyone,
Wendy

Everyone seems to have a different opinion about this, but I'll give you my
take on it.

I feel that we all learn through copying/emulation. At some point, a learner
will either drop the art/craft and move on to something else, or they will
reach a point where they "find their own voice". By that, I mean that
through their work on the torch, they will make their own discoveries and
find a style that is truly their own.

I don't think it's ok for someone to set out to copy another's work with the
intention of selling it and passing it off either the work of the
originating artist. And I do think that if you produce beads for sale that
are undeniably in the trademark style of another artist, that it's only
right to credit that artist as the inspiration for your derivative work.

--

Tink

www.blackswampglassworks.com
Sign Up Now For Fall Workshops!
Hollows, Vessels & Florals...

"Maeven" wrote in message
...
I've been reading this group for a few years. I don't post often but have
learned some of the names and about some of the people. I really do
respect
everyone here. I've made some beaded jewelry but now my fancy has turned
to
lampworking.

With my current finances it will probably take me until the end of the
year
to acquire enough equipment to start. I've been reading and trying to
learn
what to do to start this process and am starting to feel more comfortable.
I'm going to take a one day glass beadmaking class in the next month or so
to try it out.

My dilemma is that there are a couple of artists that I am truly drawn to
their work. I was going to try to emulate them while learning this skill,
but I'm having qualms as to the ethics of this. So before I go and do a
big
"NO NO", I thought I'd ask here.

What should I do? I have no fantasies that I will be able to come
anywhere
near what these people can do, but their stuff truly speaks to me. Is it
wrong to want to do something like them?

Thanks everyone,
Wendy

There has been recent discussion about a set that Corina did that was
'copied' by someone. I was pretty busy all week, so I didn't really keep up
with the discussion. Anyway, I made and sold a set that looked like that
last year. Way before all this hoopla. And in retrospect, I thought they
looked a lot like Heather Trimlett's work.

--

Tink

www.blackswampglassworks.com
Sign Up Now For Fall Workshops!
Hollows, Vessels & Florals...

I can't speak for the lampworkers, but my own gut feeling is that, in
a time when direct apprenticeship in the arts is rare, imitation is
the sincerest form of self-education.

It is getting -stuck- in an imitative mode that is destructive to both
the newbie and the established artist.

Work done consciously "in the style of" an established artist as an
homage ... is rather different from a knock-off which is designed to
capitalize on someone else's innovative work, or recognizeable
personal style.

Deirdre

On Thu, 18 Sep 2003 22:04:53 -0400, "Maeven"
wrote:

I've been reading this group for a few years. I don't post often but have
learned some of the names and about some of the people. I really do respect
everyone here. I've made some beaded jewelry but now my fancy has turned to
lampworking.

With my current finances it will probably take me until the end of the year
to acquire enough equipment to start. I've been reading and trying to learn
what to do to start this process and am starting to feel more comfortable.
I'm going to take a one day glass beadmaking class in the next month or so
to try it out.

My dilemma is that there are a couple of artists that I am truly drawn to
their work. I was going to try to emulate them while learning this skill,
but I'm having qualms as to the ethics of this. So before I go and do a big
"NO NO", I thought I'd ask here.

What should I do? I have no fantasies that I will be able to come anywhere
near what these people can do, but their stuff truly speaks to me. Is it
wrong to want to do something like them?

Thanks everyone,
Wendy

My personal opinion is that it's wrong to make an exact copy of someone else's
work and call it your own. I equate that with fake designer handbags.
I do think it's fine to emulate another artist especially when you are
learning how to do something or because you truly love their work and you find
it inspriational.
If you wish to sell a piece that you feel was directly inspired by another
artist, it would be nice to make that public knowledge... perhaps on your tag
it could say "inspired by" but you don't have to do that. The entire fashion
industry is based upon
"copy catting." That's why there's more than one company that makes designer
jeans. ;o)

Caren

I'm going to spout off before I read what anyone else says. G

I take the "classical art" view on this. Everyone learns through copying,
when you're starting out. I think it's easier to grasp a technique when you
have a model in front of you. You can worry about the creative aspect later,
AFTER you understand basic techniques. Teach your hands what to do, your
brain will catch up. G

So, copy, FOR YOURSELF. That's where I believe the line gets crossed, when
people copy and try to sell it as their original work.

One sort of exception, at least in beadmaking. There's precious little
that's truly original. Dots are dots, lines are lines, teal and purple are
teal and purple. But there ARE ways of putting those dots and lines and
colors together that can make it uniquely your work, at least right at the
moment.

Have fun learning!

--
KarenK
Desert Dreamer Designs
http://members.cox.net/desertdreameraz/
Ebay Sto http://www.stores.ebay.com/desertdreamerdesigns
JustBeads: http://www.justbeads.com/search/ql.cfm?s=DesertDreamer

picasso said, 'good artists borrow, great artists steal."

i also dont know the protocol, but i think if you copy anything at all
in art, it will always come out with your flavor in it....

and good for you for learning to lampwork! someday i hope to do the
same

alia
www.auntbeep.com

In article ,
"Maeven" wrote:

I've been reading this group for a few years. I don't post often but have
learned some of the names and about some of the people. I really do respect
everyone here. I've made some beaded jewelry but now my fancy has turned to
lampworking.

With my current finances it will probably take me until the end of the year
to acquire enough equipment to start. I've been reading and trying to learn
what to do to start this process and am starting to feel more comfortable.
I'm going to take a one day glass beadmaking class in the next month or so
to try it out.

My dilemma is that there are a couple of artists that I am truly drawn to
their work. I was going to try to emulate them while learning this skill,
but I'm having qualms as to the ethics of this. So before I go and do a big
"NO NO", I thought I'd ask here.

What should I do? I have no fantasies that I will be able to come anywhere
near what these people can do, but their stuff truly speaks to me. Is it
wrong to want to do something like them?

Thanks everyone,
Wendy



My opinion is that the best way to learn techniques is to copy styles
you like until you settle into one of your own. Go for it! When you're
established and selling your own work, you won't be copying others, but
during your learning phase, or when making beads for yourself and as
gifs, it's A-OK.

IMHO.

--
-Kalera

---------

http://www.beadwife.com
auctions at http://www.snurl.com/1sfe

Just another thing to think about - some of the glass artists have classes
and books out with their techniques - which I believe give you explicit
permission to use those techniques to create beads similar to their styles.
I think the difference is, as long as you are using those techniques, it's
craft. Once you go beyond copying and using their work as guides, when you
let the glass and your soul take over, then it becomes art.

Pam

I think I like this way of looking at the distinction. And I think
everyone has to learn 'craft' before they become capable of 'art'.
(But I also think there is no winning an argument about which is
which... or where the border between the two is located...)

Deirdre

On Fri, 19 Sep 2003 17:11:53 GMT, "Pam" wrote:

Once you go beyond copying and using their work as guides, when you
let the glass and your soul take over, then it becomes art.