Using The Artwork
Why I do what I do...(Sharing art)
Why do I share my art?
This is a good question. It deserves a good answer.
I share my art because so many other people have shared with
me. People are sharing with you right now, and you may not even
know it.
Is your ISP using Linux,
the free version of Unix? Hundreds of brilliant programmers
have shared their time (and believe you me, programmers are
paid a LOT more than artists in this world) and given everyone
this incredible 'net FOR FREE!
Is your website run on an Apache
server? This is another free program used throughout the web
to allow people to share their thoughts and views.
Do you play MUDs, MUSHes, MOOs
or other online games? Again, these are free programs painstakingly
written and debugged by programmers who could be making a LOT
of money for their time.
There are other free programs out there...too many to mention.
But the people who made these programs are why I share my art.
If they can share so freely, so can I.
I can't program well (yet.!). I can't give anyone tools like
these, but I can share my art. I only hope that some of these
programmers and developers can use my art and enjoy it as much
as the programs they've given me and the rest of the world.
Why I don't Share my Bandwidth: Aka:
How to use the art without bankrupting Dee Dreslough.
Some folks, usually unknowingly, have been linking *directly*
to my pictures here on Dreslough.com. Much as I love to say
the phrase 'It's Okay!', in this case, it's really, really,
really not okay.
I've instituted Mod_Rewrite on my webserver so no one can accidentally directly link to me now...so no worries. If you have no idea what that means, check this out! BigNoseBird's Tutorial on Using Mod_Rewrite to protect your bandwidth!
It's fine and great to have links to http://www.dreslough.com/main/something.HTML <- HTML pages. I welcome and encourage anyone who wants to
link to my site and it's HTML pages...but linking directly to
the artwork doesn't really help me at all because it doesn't
actually send people to my page, or let them know that the art
they're enjoying is mine.
I am no longer taking them right now. *lesigh* But, you can go in there and see what my rules are when I do take htem. 50% of all proceeds go to the charity of our choosing. I give you a list of my fav. charities, and you select the one where you'd like the money to go. I've been flaking badly on commissions, though, so I've stopped taking them.
Use the Art!
If you like the art, feel free to
use it. I know my digital
works are never going to make me any money, and I love to see
people using and appreciating them, so please do! I make
a living selling the hard copies (prints or originals on paper)
as well as working as a computer artist for a
small company owned by my husband and others . Please
buy my originals and prints to help me keep
this site alive! They will be worth quite a bit someday.
:)
I will occaisionally crawl out of my little web-nest and take
a look to see who's using my stuff, and be assured, I get a
wonderful warm feeling every time I see one of my pieces in
use on someone else's page. You don't need to let me know you're
using the art. This page is the official permission - feel free
to copy it or download this page to your hard drive if you worry
about anyone hassling you about using my art.
Dee Dreslough Hereby and Forthwith
permits YOU: (Your name here) to use my art on your web pages
(both for and non-profit) and to create derivative products
from this art (needlework, stamps, stationery, other digital
art pieces, etc.) The only restrictions on the use of this artwork
is that you do not trademark or otherwise restrict other people
from using it, or claim that you drew it. I retain ownership/copyright
of my work (but not derivatives) and ask that no one try to
lay claim of ownership through copyright or trademark to MY
pieces. They are for everyone.
Specific restrictions on certain art pieces may apply
- check each web page where they appear.
A Note to Other Artists
Do feel free to imitate and learn
from my pieces! You don't need to mention me - your
work is yours. If you study my pieces, as I have studied the
works of other great artists to develop my style, and then create
your own work from your studies, they are yours. If you want
to mention me as an influence, go right ahead. I'd be flattered.
(As a general rule, I don't mention my influences publicly although
any fantasy/SF fan can spot who I like. :-) I don't cite
my influences either, because I've learned from experience that if they aren't
dead, like DaVinci or Michelangelo, they WILL eventually sue
me.)
Copying: I do encourage verbatim copying
of my work - HOWEVER - please do not say 'I made this up all
by myself' or anything like that. Just say, 'this is inspired
by Dee Dreslough's work, and this kind of use is allowed by
her'. A few people are copying my work (either from digital
to another medium, or just copying the files themselves and
not drawing anything) and then passing the work off as something
they came up with all on their own. I will never sue anyone
for doing this kind of thing, and I don't *require* credit,
but this practice is causing these artists, and myself, a lot
of headaches.
It does make people who know my work,
and see this deception, very angry. They then mail me about
it, or email the person doing it, and it never ends particularly
well. Plus, it's totally not fun for me to deal with this kind
of thing. I don't like it when people do this copying/lying
thing. I don't *require* credit, but if you're copying something
of mine exactly, or so nearly that people know it's inspired
by my work -- just mention it. Then people don't have to get
mad, and no one's reputation is hurt.
If anyone hassles you for using a part or all of one of my
pieces in yours, you send 'em to this page. I will never sue
anyone unless they demand that I stop drawing. (Basically, I'll
sue to defend my creative freedom, but never to limit anyone
else's.)
I'll never sue anyone for drawing pictures, copying my work,
or anything like that. To me, imitation is the sincerest form
of flattery. I just need to be free to express myself, and I
respect that need in other artists. Anyone who tries to take
this right from me or anyone else is itching for a lawsuit,
and I will happily oblige them.
Be Warned: Other artists
may sue you for appropriating parts of their work for use in
your creations - INCLUDING TEXT! If you're inspired by a book,
you ARE asking for trouble if you mention the author in relation
to your work without getting their permission in writing first.
I'll also try to put up as many art lesson pages (dragon physiology,
shading techniques, etc) as I can manage, but I can't make any
promises.
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