Comments on: Using other artists’ images on your blog

By: Research and copyright « Soryahh’s Blog

Research and copyright « Soryahh’s Blog — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:09:54 +0000

[...] http://www.artbizblog.com/2009/07/otherimage.html [...]

By: Greatest Hits (Posts) of 2009 — Art Biz Blog

Greatest Hits (Posts) of 2009 — Art Biz Blog — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:08:56 +0000

[...] Using Other Artists’ Images on Your Blog How to use others’ images the right way and gain friends at the same time. [...]

By: Mark Bell

Mark Bell — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:53:42 +0000

Sure – and being one myself, I can totally understand photographers not wanting their images spread around the net without credit – I wonder if there’s a good way to stop that happening?

By: Alyson Stanfield

Alyson Stanfield — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:44:39 +0000

Mark: Thanks for your insight. I agree! I just wish all artists would understand the benefit of a feature–given proper credit, of course. I think photographers have the most at stake and are more guarded than most.

By: Mark Bell

Mark Bell — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:38:19 +0000

Good post, and good debate – it’s something I think about a lot. My blog is basically a showcase of artists and designers work that inspires me; however, I generally don’t ask permission to use an image or two along with a post.

The reason for this is that in the increasingly fast moving world of design blogs, if I contact the person first to get permission they will either never answer because they are completely buried under email, or by the time they do respond the work will have already been featured on twenty or thirty other blogs, therefore there isn’t really any point in me posting it again.

I realise that this doesn’t make it ‘right’ in a technical sense, but as I am also actively promoting the artist, attributing the work to them and also linking to their web site, I don’t feel it’s unreasonable to include an image of their work alongside my post.

Having said that, I would always quickly remove the image (and post) if requested to do so, but this has never happened yet; in fact, several of the artists I’ve featured have actually contacted me to say thanks, which is nice!

By: rebecca

rebecca — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:59:26 +0000

Alyson-
Yes as you are searching art images over at Flickr, above the image there is often a link that says “blog this” if they have set their preferences up that way. I will stick with Flickr and Etsy from now on when searching for artists to promote. Nothing feels more hollow than trying to support someone and ending up feeling like you may have offended them instead:(
Live and Learn I guess.

By: Alyson Stanfield

Alyson Stanfield — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:38:12 +0000

Rebecca: Interesting to know about Flickr–that you can set preferences to allow blogging. I didn’t know that. I really wish artists wouldn’t be so short-sighted. Wonder if it’s the non-bloggers. I do agree that asking first is always best (just in case), but being too focused on rules is losing sight of long-term benefits. You’re right to focus on your goals and how you can best accomplish those.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:26:03 +0000

This is a post I have been wanting info on for some time. Every Monday I post on mosaic dog art and I usually always write to the artist after the fact letting them know I am promoting them with abundant back-links however if they prefer not to be included I will happily remove the post. Recently an artist wrote saying that it was ok however I should have asked “first”. The reason I typically do not ask first is the very nature of e-mail and blogging. I have found that many people do not check their e-mail every day and that my e-mails can sometimes hide in people’s junk folders. Like Kirsty, frequent bloggers usually feel an urgency in their posting, and do not want to wait around for permissions. After reading the mixed comments here I think my best approach will be to stick with Flickr artists that have their preferences set to allow blogging. Better safe than sorry.

By: Amanda G

Amanda G — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:47:43 +0000

Flattered? Pleased? Only too thrilled because you’re being nice about it? I’m never pleased to have my copyrighted material posted elsewhere without asking permission. If someone likes something so much, then direct your readers to my site, don’t decorate your blog with my hard work. It’s a violation of basic copyright to use images without permission and flattery doesn’t come into it. It also takes away hits from my site and revenue opportunities. Not everyone’s blog is a hobby, many are part of someone’s career building and marketing strategy. Why do bloggers feel compelled to put things on their blog when they could point their readers to the original?

By: Michael Singman-Aste

Michael Singman-Aste — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:37:13 +0000

I’m with Walter who wrote, “You’re correct that a work may be used without permission when the use is of a critical or educational nature.” I frequently write brief reviews of other artists’ work in my newsletters and blog. I only do this in my newsletters if I have something nice to say. In my blog I write more about issues in art, such as privacy, “pornography,” etc., and I have written reviews of artists that are not flattering, and included samples of their work for support.