had a question.

I’m a stained glass artist. Actually do it part time as a hobby and rarely sell any work. I’ve done some of my own designs and copies patterns from others; but not for the intent for sale.

The question I have is I’ve been asked to exhibit a few pieces in a public space. I’m interested in doing it to get my work noticed but would like to display some of the pieces from the designs I’ve copied

This might help me make/ sell future pieces, that would be custom designs.

If this some that is an accepted practice? Just curious.

The REASON I read your info is because I am tring to figure out if it’s ok to DONATE mural copies of Dr. Suess, Disney and other famous artist’s characters without actual permission so long as I DO NOT profit from it? These well known characters are often requested in children’s areas.

I should but I don’t make a living with my talent as an artist, I mostly tend to give it away because I love the ministry and I love to paint… so I do. Do I really need to get permission or sign that Walt Disney is the origonal artist when the characters are already sooooo well known?

I learned that Artists learn by copying from some greats and others, and even that sits wrong with me- as most of those people are dead and not able to give permission. Who knew….

I wrote an article on my little blog about it because it got under my skin too…
http://mosaicartbykarenbaker.blogspot.com/ Copyright and who owns the sun anyway…..

I disagreed about your earlier comment saying that it is okay to paint Disney characters in someone else’s home. Disney make their own decals for decoration of children’s walls- they should be the beneficiary of their images. One could claim there is no financial benefit from doing it, and doing it free -for a friend, but there is the visual benefit, and that is what the money is for- to enjoy the association that those lines and bits of colour represent to the viewer. Well known and trademarked images are a no-go-zone.

I recently tried to copy a Lichtenstein work- The Kiss- just for the “lesson value” that I am told artist’s get … It is on my wall- just black and white- didn’t use the colour…. but to me it is his work, and even somehow appropriately or not there was always the contention that Lichtenstein had copied his works from comics anyway. I am not sure that I received any artistic benefit from the copying process- that will benefit me in the future- but I got a great big Kiss painted on a canvas on the wall- and that is the benefit I should pay for….. Will I rip it up, burn it or sell it? None of the above! Maybe I will try and mosaic it and I will understand better the reason why people copy……

Interesting thread I came across Googling other stuff…. Karen

There are many artists doing similar artwork on surfboards – you just don’t know about most of them.

If I were you, I’d let it go and forget about it. There’s nothing legally you can do, and in my opinion, having someone else out in the world doing similar work as you isn’t going to hurt you in any way.

Hopefully, as time goes on, this artist will eventually morph into his own style. That often happens over time.