Recently I was asked to exchange links with another artist, which I am usually happy to do. However, there was one line on the artist's website that I found disturbing: "I am available for commissions of landscapes, still lifes and copies of someone else’s fabulous painting."
It is one thing to copy the style of another artist, but to copy a particular painting and sell it is against international copyright law. Once the copyright has expired on a work of art, it may then be copied and sold, as long as you don't represent it as the original (art forgery).
With images appearing to be "free" on the internet, I think many people are forgetting this law. The fact that factories in China may be reproducing copyrighted art of all kinds doesn't help either.
But I was still shocked when this Western contemporary artist responded to my admonition with disdain, saying that her "intent" was "aboveboard." I have no idea what that means.
Students often copy another artist's work as an exercise to teach them about various art styles and methods. You'll often see art students at museums with their sketch pads working diligently. But this kind of copying is for learning purposes only.
It is sad that artists, who as a group are often struggling to make a living, are subject to the theft of their work. I just can't understand how another artist can do it to others.
