I got a tricky situation so I would like your opinion. My customer asked me to make a portrait of her uncle's dog with wings added. I agreed and she paid. She sent me the dog's profile photo and other Etsy portrait artist's painting photo which is straight on and smiling with wings on and she said she wants it just like that. First of all I respect the other portrait artist's style that I would prefer not to copy. Second of all I don't know how to paint the dog's other half of face when all I have is one profile photo. She does not have any other photo. The other artist's portrait she wants is $5 cheaper than what she paid me and she did not tell me exactly what she wanted before she paid. What do you think I should do in this case?
That would be a big NO for me. I don't copy other peoples' work, I create original work. Imagine being the original artist.... My advice would be: don't do it, stay true to your own self. If she wants a portret like that, she should contact the original artist.
Re: What should I do when customer ask me to copy other item?
byFormer_Member
Not applicable
04-04-201502:30 PM
I would also refuse - it seems like a tricky customer. First she doesn't disclose all the info before you say YES and then she doesn't give you enough resources to work with. Smells like trouble from the start...
Maybe, you could say that you will need more images to be able to paint the portrait and can refund hr if she doesn't have any. Still you can offer her to contact the other Etsy seller with the original painting :)
I would gently tell her that you don't and can't copy another artists work, cause you know, copyright and stuff. And you also need a full on picture of the dog so you can make an accurate picture of the dog.
Than maybe you can make an original photo of the dog in wings that is different from the one she had sent you. If she is dead set on the one that she sent you, I would just refund her the money and have her buy from the artist that she sent you.
I receive requests like that sometimes, some one wants to match a portrait the received years ago, no access to the original artist. I just explain every artisrt is different every style is different and it would be like trying to write in someone else's handwriting. They always understand it will have to be my own creation
There is no copyright issue here since you can't copyright a style. And I don't think the customer is "tricky" - they just want a picture of a dog in a certain style. You can simply explain that this is not the style you paint and if thats what they want you'll be glad to refund so they can purchase from the other shop.
Re: What should I do when customer ask me to copy other item?
byFormer_Member
Not applicable
04-04-201507:08 PM
Whether it violates copyright or not, it doesn't feel ethical to me. I respect other artists and their processes too much to copy their work for profit. I don't understand why she doesn't buy it from the original artist?
Re: What should I do when customer ask me to copy other item?
byFormer_Member
Not applicable
04-05-201512:58 AM
"Hello (customer name), Thank you for your interest. All of the pet portraits I paint are in the same style as the examples listed in my shop. The portraits are made using your photo as reference, since the photo you provided is a profile - the painting will also be a profile - from the side. I'm happy to add the angel wings as you've requested. If what I've described is not quite what you're looking for, please let me know and I will refund your purchase. Thank you"
Thank you guys so much! I wasn't sure if I should be more agreeable. But I do want to stick with my own thing, which is painting the photo as I receive it. This buyer didn't have any other photos of her uncle's doggie, so it was hard. But, I wrote her and said I'd like to use the original photo she sent me but just turn the dog's head as the only change to the dog's position I could make. Then I said I would add wings And I'll do that in my own style. She agreed! Thanks again!!!
