Love. Frustration. Back to Love.

This is was what I found on Pinterest yesterday. :( See the source in the top right corner?

Sold in my shop last summer ... here's one similar that sold [I think its twin was part of a give-away].

We all know the internet is big. HUGE. But it must not be that big ... if I've had 2 friends in the last 3 weeks find my artwork on Pinterest. Not just my artwork, but artwork with the wrong credit given. Wrong site link. Or no site link & no credit. The positive spin on that is that I really didn't know how "original" my artwork was, or that I had a "look" until people spotted it & right away said "it's Rachel's".

One of my friends saw 2 pieces of my artwork on Pinterest just 4 days apart. Again, one with no credit & one with wrong credit. She was quick to mention me with a @RachelTwenter in the comment section. Then I clicked on the original pinner & left a comment as seen above.

It is frustrating to say the least. The above screen shot is just 1 example. I commented on 4 yesterday with a subtle request to change the link, if possible.

It's also frustrating to see your stuff with the title, "So easy to do! Cute idea! Have to remember to do this."  I have seen my artwork copied brush stroke for brush stroke. Each & every letter of a quote canvas [& colors were spot on] was recreated by somebody & shown off on their blog. I know it is not just happening to me. Yesterday I saw one of my friend Lindsay's canvases knocked off with the title [something like] "Look what I made after being inspired by Pinterest!" It was not inspired by "Pinterest". It was inspired by a person who made something that was put on "Pinterest".

It's a thin line ... between being inspired. And copying something that somebody made out of their own creative thought & sells. Liking something. But not giving credit. I have never done this to "make a name for myself". It's just fun for me. And after doing this for about 9 years, I have found my niche. I'm not the only one with the niche of painting quotes on canvas. But ... I worked hard to get into my little teeny pin head dot in the art world. I know it's a needle in a haystack. But if it's something I spent time on. I hand painted. I came up with the design. I scoured books & the internet for quotes. I doubled checked who said it in order to give credit. I painted it. I photographed it.

I did it. Not the person whose Tumblr site got 2,283 "likes & reblogs" on one of my quote canvases where zero credit is given.

I did it.

But then I look at what people are pinning & it's not my message. I didn't say it & I know it. In fact, on the minis that are only 4"x4", I still try & make my initials smaller than the name of the person who said it. They said it. I found the words to be inspiring, so I painted it for all to see. I am happy they like it. And I know Mother Teresa [or whoever else I am quoting] wouldn't want my blood to boil with such a sweet message [that is meant to spread LOVE] being spread like wild fire. That's what people are "repinning" anyway. The message. I just gave the message some visual aesthetics.

So then I get over it. And learn from my mistakes. And try & do what I can to keep my niche in the creative world while not bringing a negative tone to my shop with the comments on Pinterest. I tried to be 'helpful' while not sounding greedy or bossy.

I need to learn from the quote that brought me much frustration yesterday ... "do small things with great love." What I'm doing with my paintings is just one small way to spread ... love. And I need to rise above the stuff that is taking away from that.

Or at least get better at trying to rise above it. Work in progress, here. :)