MaryAnn asks:
“Do you think it is necessary to (would you recommend) watermark original drawings on websites? I don’t know if anyone will ever even see this website, let alone steal my images!
Is it necessary to watermark/sign drawings on Instagram? Do you think they detract from the drawings? What do you do?”
This can be a super tricky and triggering topic for people. I’m going to share the answer I shared with her, with some added tips and tricks today.
So. First thing is first: if you share your art in the public sphere (online or offline) you should assume someday someone will steal your art.
Stealing could include:
- sharing it without giving you credit, pretending it’s their art and not yours,
- trying to make prints of it for sale,
- or companies even using your design for their branded products.
It’s all happened before. And it will continue to happen. The real question I have for you is: what do you want to do about it?
I believe the fear that people will steal something really holds a lot of artists back from doing the work they feel called to do in this world. It’s important to ask ourselves what we will do when this happens (because it will someday) and have a plan that feels good to us as an individual so we know what we will do the day it comes.
We are so scared about potential bad things happening we don’t spend the time or effort on doing the work that will get us the money or recognition or social change we seek with our art. It becomes an excuse to avoid the art we want to create and are maybe even scared to create.
What about watermarking?
After we own and accept that theft of our art is likely to happen, we can start thinking about the strategy we want to use to help deter theft as well as how we want to respond to it.
A lot of artists talk about watermarking like it will solve everything. But as someone who uses Photoshop a LOT, I can tell you it’s really easy to remove a watermark. I still think it can be a good idea, but it’s not the cure all people describe it to be.
I like to have a watermark of sorts (my branding logo) on my images so if people DO share the art, there is a brand image to look up should someone want to learn more. You could have a brand logo like I do, your website, you name it. I keep it in the corner, which means it’s easy to photoshop out if someone REALLY wants to do something about it, but it does add some work for the potential thief.
Personally, I can tell you when someone covers their whole image with watermarks making it hard to see the work, I don’t spend as much time looking at the image. In fact, I usually scroll on by. It’s distracting and if an artist who likes to serve artists isn’t interested in trying to see the work behind a wall of watermarks, it makes me wonder how much time others will spend looking at the art, too? I don’t have data to back up my next claim, but this very fact makes me think this limits the sales of their art.
A watermark can be one piece of your puzzle to help deter thieves, but also it’s a great way to help you market your art.
What resolution should my images have for online sharing and promotion?
Another way to deter people from taking and using your art is to make sure your resolution for all of your images is 72 dpi. I have an article with step by step instruction on how to change the resolution of your art linked below here.
Do I own the copyright on my art?
One way to protect your art is to file a copyright –> https://www.copyright.gov/registration/ (this it the US copyright link)
While you naturally own rights to the art you create, filing a copyright gives you greater legal precedent to go after someone using your images. But this could and does mean you will have to invest money in a lawyer if you end up going after someone to stop using your work. Usually the first step is sending a cease and desist order then it can escalate from there.
Another way to establish copyright is to post your art on your website or social media with clear dates of when it was published online. You can save this documentation as evidence of ownership of your image should someone take your art at a later date.
I’m not a lawyer and obviously it would be wise to consult with one, but I’m sharing my experience with you today to help you come to your own decisions on what is the best path for you.
Have you heard of uncopyright?
Uncopyright is the idea that some people choose to give free access to the images of their art, writing, you name it. Read Gwenn Seemel’s conversations around uncopyright, which I’ve linked below. I am fascinated and impressed by her decision to let people use her images as they like: http://www.gwennseemel.com/index.php/copyright/
(And she is a full time artist).
I love sharing her strategy because she proves that you can have a professional career even when you openly share your images for people to use as they like. The fear other people are taking something from us and can somehow prevent our own success as an artist stops some people from even starting, but Gwenn shows us that doesn’t have to be true.
Find Your Unique Voice
The biggest deterrent I can think of in preventing someone from stealing your art is to make art that has unique messaging and voice.
Whenever I see a van Gogh, I know it’s his art. Whenever I see work by Gwenn, who I mentioned above, I know it’s her art. When we find that unique voice, it’s harder for people to steal it.
Unfortunately, many artists are so concerned with their art being stolen they don’t take the time to make enough art to find their voice. And the ONLY way I know how to find your style is to make a lot of art.
If finding your voice feels impossible or like a distant dream I created a 5 part series all about how to find your voice. I’ve linked the start of that series below → https://www.artiststrong.com/how-to-find-your-artist-voice/
This post from Artist Strong is brought to you by The Artist Strong Studio, our community of patrons who believe and wish to support this community. You can become part of the Artist Strong Studio for a small monthly commitment as low as 1 dollar a month. To learn more visit https://www.patreon.com/ArtistStrong.
A special thank you to current patrons, I couldn’t do this work without your support.
Big thank you to MaryAnn for sharing her lovely work in the FB group and asking this question. I hope this information gets you thinking about how you want to handle the day someone steals your art and keeps you doing what’s most important: making and sharing your art.
Now, let’s start that conversation: what will be your plan of attack when the day comes that someone steals your art? Comment below and tell me more.
Thanks for watching and I’ll see you next time here on Artist Strong.
*disclosure* I am NOT a lawyer. This is not legal advice (something lawyers told me to say, hehe). This IS my personal experience and understanding of navigating copyright. If you want to learn more, do some of your own homework and even better, hire an IP lawyer for a consult on your work.
<\div>
Somebody took my drawing and my username, put it on another website and is selling it. I don’t know what to do.
I wish there was an easy answer Paco. Ultimately, you have to decide what feels best for you. Options include: notifying the company they are using that they have stolen your designs, or doing something like sending a cease and desist order. I’m not a lawyer, but you could consult with one to see if they have other options for you.
My art keeps being stolen from private ownership.
I don’t understand what is happening.
I’m so sorry to hear this Maria.
A painting of mine was sold by my ex without my permission. He has no details of the cash buyer who paid $600 for a $3,800 large oil painting. I have sold other paintings in the series for $2,500 and $1,800. I’m concerned for those clients and my reputation. Is there anything I can do?
Hi Loretta, I’m not a lawyer and can’t offer any legal advice. I’m sorry this happened to you.
I’m getting harassed on YouTube and a girl stole my art without permission
I’m so sorry to hear that Angel. What’s your plan?
Another way to protect your work as original is to put something into the work that is not seen by the avg person as a personal mark . Like a specific type of image. A bottle , something in a tree or and image and or signature no one would know about but the artist.
That’s proof that it was copied and reprinted without your permission . A personal watermark .
What a great suggestion, thank you so much for sharing Robert.
I am one of those artists who are afraid to show or sell their art. I feel my art is good enough that it would surely be stolen if I put if on the web. I need to make a living. I need to put up a website. My only solution is to make art that I think will sell but that I don’t like so much that I’d feel bad it about if someone steals it.
And now we have AI to consider also.
Yes. I know my fears are keeping me stuck in this problem. I think of all of this daily. I have many new paintings in my mind waiting to be painted. My walls in my house are already full of my paintings and I’ve run out of places to store them.
I am glad I found you online and will be reading more of what you post. Thank you.
Hi Gabby thanks so much for being here! When I operate from a place of fear I like to ask myself: what’s the worst thing that can happen? And then create a plan for it. <3
I had my entire portfolio of graphic design work stolen in 1984. I had the original sketches and markups, so I was able to put it back together. I went to an an interview in NYC in 1987-88 at an advertising agency. They took my portfolio for an hour, but never interviewed me. Also late 1980’s -early 1990’s Kinkos copy shop evolved and I copied my work and put together a binder of my work to show at interviews. I found about 5 pieces 90-100% similar graphic design work in different companies. I contacted each company. Recently 2024-2025, I saw the same exact brochure of a photo and layout I did in the early 1990’s. I joined the Graphic Artist Guild, a well known organization who had an attorney available to members. For a couple of years my address on this account would appear to be NY with this company. It was finally resolved. Now they want members to post their work on the internet. I have not done this for the very reason of the theft of art work. In 2008 or so I submitted a copyright for my entire portfolio. I hope this has helped? In 2022 or so I submitted painting from my two original photographs, from two completely different locations and states. Several months later a 95% duplicate of my painting was found on a business card in the same town where I submitted my painting several months ago. I emailed the artist. He didn’t respond. I called him and he said I did this several years ago, but would not tell me how he came up with the idea or how it originated. His skill was better than mine and apparently sells paintings for a living. I have found every artist has their cap on creativity and when they find something they like they will not hesitate to lift someone else’s idea and make it their own. Art can be passive easy money and really easy, if you steal someone else’s work that is good.
So what does any creator do to keep an individual’s identity and get credit for their work? The best advice I read was make your self known; incorporate a hidden symbol that will identify your work; copyright a portfolio or individual pieces. Add free use and paid use clauses. Copyright and plagiarism laws are pretty clear. But these laws can also be misused to falsely accuse someone in a learning atmosphere. The key is deliberate deception for profit or denounce another with the intent of malice. The most authentic means of showing your talent is do your art in front of people. Lastly start teaching ethics all around!
Anything on the internet is time consuming and can be lifted and copied, it is like chasing your own tale. Know that a “thief is a thief” and there is no evil beneath someone who lies and steals the work or identity of another. As far as I know, you cannot put someone in prison for stealing artwork and can only contact the FBI if the theft is over $100,000 dollars. Although a felony is considered stealing anything over $1000 dollars and that remains on a record for the rest of their life. publishing this info could reduce art theft. Knowing this information, artist’s could collaborate pulling their means together and start prosecuting impersonators and art thieves!
Lastly, I have seen very similar art work from very different artists in a town and I was told that an artist can duplicate art as long as they change 30% of it. That information needs to be changed in-and of itself!
What a story. Thanks for sharing and taking the time to contribute to this conversation.