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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

WIBU to print an artist's work at home?

296 replies

zatarontoast · 02/10/2020 11:49

Asking as I really don't know if this is appropriate or not. I follow an artist on Instagram who does oil paintings and I really wanted one so enquired about the price. At £500 for a small size it is way beyond my budget or what I could justify in spending. But... I still want one. She doesn't do prints, so I was thinking I could print one off at home for my own use. I don't know much about these things so don't know if this is considering stealing or is just a no-no in general? My rationale is that she isn't losing by me doing this as I wasn't going to buy it anyway.

OP posts:
DinosaurOfFire · 02/10/2020 11:51

YABU. She has made those pictures, and ownd the copyright- it would be stealing her intellectual property and incredibly disrespectful to her. Imagine someone did that instead of paying you for the time you spent on a work project- despite it taking many many hours. Oil painting in particular is expensive and incredibly time consuming.

Oldenoughtobedead · 02/10/2020 11:56

It’s a terrible idea. Not only would you be stealing her copyright but it would look poor quality. When artists produce prints they spend a lot of time thinking about what paper to use and what printing method. The materials used are much higher quality than you’d get at home. It wouldn’t have the affect of owning the original art.

WhatHaveIFound · 02/10/2020 11:57

YABU Massive breach of copyright and whilst she probably won't find out you are still breaking the law. I work in a creative industry and it's amazing just how many people thing this is somehow acceptable.

Have you tried asking if she'd do you a one off print?

SurferRona · 02/10/2020 11:57

Agree with PP above. The effort, prep, development pieces, all of which go towards a final piece in addition to the materials and time, are what makes original art higher cost. £500 is really reasonable. And it’s the artists choice to not do prints, so it is unreasonable to do as you suggest. You’d massively lose resolution doing what you suggest so the final product would look rubbish. Suggest you either look for a similar artist who does prints or save/see if the artist or agent do Own Art Scheme- a lot do.

WhatHaveIFound · 02/10/2020 11:58

Think not thing!

romeolovedjulliet · 02/10/2020 11:58

morally it's wrong, but in all honestly who would know ? it's up to you at the end of the day.

romeolovedjulliet · 02/10/2020 12:02

i'm going to get my arse kicked aren't i ? but i bet this happens more than people will admit to, down loading photos, professional photographic prints et al and claiming as their own work.
resolution won't be that good though so not really worth it.

SantaClaritaDiet · 02/10/2020 12:02

Of course it's stealing

but realistically, that is what many people do and one of the huge downside of internet. At least when you were framing a print published in a magazine or paper, the artist did get some income from the original publication.

It's obvious the quality of a home print won't be anywhere near the real thing, but when people can't afford anything better, they are well aware they are getting a poorer version.

WorraLiberty · 02/10/2020 12:04

If you've enquired about the price, you can go back and enquire about printing.

ArtyG · 02/10/2020 12:05

As an artist, I'd be annoyed if I knew that someone had done it to me. If you want a painting that badly, save up for it. It is a breach of her copyright and also a pretty mean-spirited thing to do.

Magicbabywaves · 02/10/2020 12:05

I think ask her about a print.

Lantern156 · 02/10/2020 12:07

I’m sympathetic because I think you’re coming from a place of appreciation, but I do think this is morally pretty dubious. I also just don’t think it would look good unless you have a very high res photo and an amazing printer.

I would keep looking for an artist you do like who does prints and go for that instead.

LadyLoungeALot · 02/10/2020 12:08

I think morally, it's wrong.
However, it's obviously up to you and your conscience.
Does she watermark her work on instagram though? The quality wouldn't be great either way.

Mybobowler · 02/10/2020 12:10

I agree with PPs. No one can stop you, but it's not great. Why don't you send her a message and explain how much you love her work, that you can't afford to buy an original and would she be prepared either to produce a print for you or give you permission to create on yourself? She may sell you a high-res image (I follow a few artists who do this for people who want their work as tattoos). Alternatively, I think you can pay for sone art in installments - think it's called Affordable Art?

Womencanlift · 02/10/2020 12:10

As someone who has a family member who sells prints via Instagram I think you are completely unreasonable.

This is someone’s livelihood you are talking about. Although if the artist hasn’t put a watermark over their Instagram images then they are opening themselves up to CF like the OP

SantaClaritaDiet · 02/10/2020 12:10

As an artist, I'd be annoyed if I knew that someone had done it to me.

As an artist, surely you are aware that it IS happening to you?

There's a reason why artists put watermarks on all their online publication, there are ways around them but it stops a lot of illegal use.

SoupDragon · 02/10/2020 12:12

Why don't you ask her? "Hi, I love your work but don't want to pay what it is worth so can I just print an image off and frame it free of charge?"

Pelleas · 02/10/2020 12:14

She's missing a trick by not offering prints.

Crankley · 02/10/2020 12:16

Of course YABU, it would be theft. Shocked you need to ask.

SantaClaritaDiet · 02/10/2020 12:16

@Pelleas

She's missing a trick by not offering prints.
Absolutely!

The sad thing, there's probably someone else selling them under their own name on Etsy or Ebay or Fiver...

Womencanlift · 02/10/2020 12:18

@SoupDragon

Why don't you ask her? "Hi, I love your work but don't want to pay what it is worth so can I just print an image off and frame it free of charge?"
Do you honestly believe they will say yeah go ahead? You have basically said I don’t think it’s worth anything and I want a freebie never mind the hours of labour and cost of materials that’s went into.

Guessing you wouldn’t be happy with someone saying oh I like what you have done at work today but I don’t think you should be paid for it

ArtyG · 02/10/2020 12:18

@SantaClaritaDiet

As an artist, I'd be annoyed if I knew that someone had done it to me.

As an artist, surely you are aware that it IS happening to you?

There's a reason why artists put watermarks on all their online publication, there are ways around them but it stops a lot of illegal use.

Yes I know it happens all the time, I was trying to be polite! People download, print, share, copy and claim as their own - there's plenty of software available to remove watermarks if you are that determined to do so.
Cocomarine · 02/10/2020 12:20

Morals aside, is it not just going to look shit?

chillimartini · 02/10/2020 12:24

Wow!!! So much venom! OP is clearly not suggesting it's the right thing to do!! Neither is she saying she doesn't want to pay for it or it's not worth £500

GertiMJN · 02/10/2020 12:29

Womencanlift SoupDragon was being sarcastic.