Is redrawn art using base art by someone else is considered art theft?

[choilyriel]

So there's this drama going on in my group chat. You have this one person who uses official genshin chibi art as base and redrawn it, and sell it under commission.

She just changed the hair part and clothes part and draw her own hair and clothes, and selling it. Does this considered as art theft?

[IndigoShirtProd]

Using official art that they don't own as a base then passing it off to sell as a commission doesn't sound right to me. I mean, the artist was commissioned based on the merit of their own work, right? So why are they using art that isn't theirs for a paid commission? I would classify that as art theft or plagiarism, but that's my personal opinion.

[choilyriel]

Yeahh, i kinda think it's wrong as well. But this person said she have a condition called Dyscalculia, which hinder her ability to draw well.

She said she using this method to get better, but it kinda feels wrong when she said it's for practice and yet sold it to people. But then again, the ppl commissioned her knows how she's doing the art, so

[Kelheor]

Dyscalculia quite literally means they are bad at math

[IndigoShirtProd]

I could sympathize with them have a chronic condition, if it was face blindness or a joint issue, but she since she's just not good with numbers, she still shouldn't be using official art. Free to use bases or even having a friend/mutual draw a base for her would both be better options. And double check with her what her condition is, because being bad at math is not a valid excuse to plagiarize.

[choilyriel]

Idk much but she said it disturb her motor skills or something

[Kelheor]

Mmmmhm.
If it disturbs you and people in the chat, it's ok to not keep this person there. Not like you can do much about what they do, but you can save yourself a few nerve cells.

[darthmongoose]

That's called Dyspraxia. I feel like somebody who actually had dyspraxia and was diagnosed would know that. There are other ways to make art if the person has struggles with that (like using vectors, for instance, or bases that are free to use).

[NickRowler]

It does depend on who created the base. If the base is an original piece and the creator set a free to use rule on it, then it is OK. Especially if you asked permission or your art is more using the base as a reference, not tracing it.

If someone is selling art or commissions, then they shouldn’t be using traced bases of other people’s work. They could get into legal trouble with the original owner of the art.

I do also feel like people on the internet try to play vigilantes and end up harassing or dog piling the artist. I think just reporting them is more effective then becoming sort of obsessed with hating on them. My guess is they are probably some small artist who most people never heard of and it’s sort of not worth getting too angry at them.

[IndigoShirtProd]

I second that.

@choilyriel Consider quietly kicking after calmly talking about the issue with them, but only if they refuse to change their practices. It's not worth the drama.

[choilyriel]

Yeahh, I've already get out from the group. I just wanted to make some artist friends in more public genshin group but damn, so much drama.

Im just gonna stick to my twitter moots

[thepenmonster]

It is plagiarism, yes.

[NickRowler]

That's called Dyspraxia. I feel like somebody who actually had dyspraxia and was diagnosed would know that.

I have mild dyspraxia. It effects fine motor skills and can make doing tasks that require precise movements difficult.

Stuff like putting small Legos together or threading a needle is very difficult. But it can also effect more complex tasks like learning to knit or riding a bike.

There is a way to work around, like having a sketchier style. I take advantage of the zoom function and usually rescaling art will hide a lot of the wobbly lines.

[GodbreakerComic]

Selling it? That's theft and, tbh, her excuse is really lame.

She said she's using it as a way to get better? Ok thats fine... then don't sell it.

[abigaillmartin]

As a person with dsycalculia I can confirm that is what it’s called.

And no not being good at math does not affect my ability to draw. Numbers are not my language but pictures are.

[abigaillmartin]

I didn’t know that was a thing. I think I might have that because precise things are difficult to execute for me. I did have three eye surgeries.

[NickRowler]

It has nothing to do with your eyes. It feels more like your limbs don’t work. I have always been very clumsy and it’s difficult to multitask movements, like with swimming.

[Mallory]

Disability is not an excuse for plagiarism. I’m disabled. Drawing is super painful and sometimes when I have a flare-up, my hands shake. It sucks, I get it, but parasitizing other people’s hard work for your own gain is never acceptable. You just learn to work in a way that works for you.

I know someone who had to create a custom, lying down drawing set-up because they have really bad nerve pain and are also partially-blind. There’s software that let you draw using vector tools or convert your work to vectors to help with line shake. Or, like @NickRowler said, you adapt your style to what comes more naturally. I had to greatly thicken my lines and stop doing clean lineart because I could no longer do it.

[ThunderChicken]

I have a condition called “old and fat”. Because of this condition I cannot be a supermodel. I would not download pictures of supermodels, change them a little bit, and then sell them as being me just because I cannot be a supermodel.

If you can’t draw you can’t draw. Not everybody can. Not everybody can build houses. Or fix cars. Or fly airplanes. Or drive tractor trailers. That is just how life works.

[ButterflyEmpress]

100% in that context! I'd be pissed if I paid someone to draw for me and it was traced from another artist's work. Free to Use 3D models exist, she can use those