I've been watching this couple at Changi Village Flea Market selling hand painted shoes for some time. People have also alerted me that my designs were being copied and sold by them.
This is my design for 'Mars Balls':
Last Saturday evening, after I had calmed myself down by praying in tongues to control my anger, I introduced myself as being from Cartoon Lagoon to the female. Evidently, she recognised the name instantly. I didn't have to say anything else. The guilt was written all over her face. She knew that she had been found out. She had the cheek to express her immense admiration for my artwork and stated emphatically that she is a regular visitor to my website (*roll eyes*). Oh wait, let's see, I post all my artwork pics online, now why wouldn't she be a regular visitor? Is it to admire or to download? Is it to purchase or to copy and sell it off as hers? As the fake artist was jabbering non-stop about her excitement at finally meeting me, I was only half-interested in what the moron had to say. My eyes were on a pair that had been slightly altered from the above 'Mars Balls'.
Suffice to say, I showed a pic of the above shoes and told her she should know very well why I was there (at her stall). This dimwit could only keep saying, 'OK, I know'. 'OK, I know'. No sorry, nothing, nada.
Oh yes, one more thing. She said she really couldn't help copying my designs because they really insprired her. Gimme a break. You know what? I was so patient asking her to stop copying my designs. I praise God for not letting me lose my cool.
Here's a letter to you, Ms. Fake Artist/ Copycat:
Dear Ms. Ida or Aida or more aptly, NADA (as in NIL, ZILCH, KOSONG),
You know what kills me? I spend hours designing and deciding the best positioning of my designs on the shoes and here you come, just happily downloading and copying my designs, then selling them for a fraction of my price so that you look really good in terms of pricing. Hey, I don't really care much about how much you wish to price your shoes. Why don't you go lower? But when you start following my style and conveniently modifying a tiny stroke here and another stroke there so that you think it's NOW YOUR DESIGNS, I think it's time to remind you that OUR DESIGNS ARE COPYRIGHTED. If you persist in copying Cartoon Lagoon's designs, we, as a registered business, will sue the crap out of you and your very last baju. In addition, you had better remove all designs 'inspired' by Cartoon Lagoon's designs.
Integrity. None of it, that is, can be found in you or her partner. I've watched so many other hand painted shoe artists and many of them are students doing this on a part-time basis and THEY HAVE THE INTEGRITY to come up with their own style and designs! Very malu for you!
You are also copying from other artists (I've been in this business long enough to know). Look, you want to know the truth? You really do a poor imitation of my designs (but I can still recognise my own style, no?) and your hands aren't steady when you paint (see, I notice such things). You largely use BLACK or limit yourself to two colours. Your designs are also drawn BIG across the shoes. Why? It's mathematics. Due to your low selling price, you cannot invest in the expensive art resources required to broaden your scope of painting. Large designs make for simpler painting on your part.
I know, I know, your customers do not care crap about integrity. They care about the bottom line. But you know what, I treasure my customers who have taken the time to tell me that they really appreciate MY ORIGINAL DESIGNS. That they love my designs. It is ART and it's a labour of love for us but I can't say the same for you. You are a fake wanting to make a quick buck. All the best to you, just do it without taking 'inspiration' from my designs, thank you.
No comments:
Post a Comment