Sadly, it seems that it's not a question of if your work or images will be stolen, it's a question of when. With technology today it's possible to grab anything you see on your computer screen.  Taking legal action can be time-consuming and expensive, but a few precations can go a long way towards slowing down the thieves:

1. Copyright your work and images, individually or as a group. It's not expensive or difficult. You will need to gather info about each image to document it. If you've got your artist inventory set up and current, it's a piece of cake.
   
   Yes, your copyright exists from the moment the work is created, but "...if you want to sue someone in federal court for copyright infringement, your work must first be registered with the U.S. Copyright Office."  


2. The way you prepare your images can help protect them. Make sure the images you use on your website are the smallest file size possible that still look good. Why? Besides loading more quickly and making for a smoother browsing experience for your visitors, a small file size means that the theives won't be able to use the image for much of anything.  


3. Another way to protect your online and print images is to watermark them with copyright info or a logo, large enough to see and over an area of the image that would pretty much make the image unusable if the copyright info was cropped out.  Slow thieves down down by making it difficult for them to use your images.


4. Use your name (or company name) in the file name, along with the name of the image, like "JohnDoe-Springtime." If someone steals and uses an image on the web, at least the file name will ID you and you can use Google to search for images by putting in your name. That will help you FIND the thieves.


5. If you find an image that is being used without your permission, the first step is to contact the user with a "cease and desist" letter. That usually works. If not, you can pursue other avenues if you want. If you don't, at least the image is identifiable as yours and think of it as free advertising.


6. Use Copyscape or a similar service to search the web for your content.


7. To take legal action, get some advice from a good copyright attorney first. Read this article by attorney Michelle Fabio on Blogging and Intellectual Property Law to learn more.

More resources:

US Library of Congress - United States Copyright office for copyright registration. 
http://www.copyright.gov/  

Stolen Content - Content protection and what to do in case of theft.   http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2006/04/10/what-do-you-do-when-someone-steals-your-content/

Creative Commons - Non-profit organization providing creative licenses for image works. http://creativecommons.org/ 

If you would, please, help us all protect our work by sharing any resources/ideas/comments you have on this topic by leaving a comment on the blog.

All my best to you and yours,

P.S. If you're like me and love to have great resources around, I suggest you get on the email list for Aletta de Wal's new book "My Real Job Is Being An Artist: What You Should Know Before You Quit Your Day Job (Or Get One)."  It'll be published later this year. I've read it, it's fabulous, and will be ordering 10 copies for family and friends. Honest. It's not just one size fits all "how to" or cheerleaderish "self help." It will help you get really clear about where you are and what YOUR most effective next steps are. Email me to get on the notification list, and get special goodies too!     

Want to know exactly how we can help you set up your ongoing learning and get it all done? If you haven't already had one, you can request a free 15-minute conversation here. It's a great start!  

As this year ends and another begins, we want to take a moment to thank YOU, because without you the world would be missing the beauty you contribute to it. Without you, there would be less inspiration, creativity, and joy in the world. Without you we wouldn't be able to do our part in helping support artists in bringing more art to the world.  

Everyone at Artist Career Training sends along their heartfelt wishes for your joy and success in 2012!

Jim and Lynn Powers

The Creative Catalyst was one of the original sources for art instruction videos and DVDs.  They provide lessons in drawing, painting, design and special techniques. Jim Powers and I met many years ago at The Learning & Product Expo Art in Pasadena. Jim and his wife Lynn asked me to contribute guest posts to their Blog. Just follow the links to read my 12-part series, Bust That "Starving Artist" Myth (and Eleven Others)

 
Artist Myth #5: Artists Don't Need to Know About Anything But Their Art

Any artist who wants a successful art business cannot afford to live only in the confines of a studio where making art is the only reality. If you just want to make art, and ignore the business side, then you must have other ways to support yourself. This choice limits you to being a hobbyist or an amateur. There is nothing wrong with that, but you won't be able to make a living making art without a change of heart and mind. 

Artist Myth #6: Your Artwork is So Good, It will Appeal to Everyone 

Some artists think their art appeals to everyone because family and friends are always enthusiastic. This "captive audience" then encourages you to sell your work in galleries. You trust them, so you tend to agree. Who wouldn't? It's a good feeling. You make the leap that these opinions are universal, so you assume your artwork will get a great response from others.  

 

Artist Myth #7: One Big Break Will Make Your Career

There is no such thing as one big break. This doesn't happen in any profession, and art is no exception. All great achievements happen through many small acts, staged consistently over time. Examine carefully the stories of artists who are "suddenly discovered." There are exceptions, but you will usually find that celebrity success is based on years of study and many, many marketing efforts, with a sprinkling of synchronicity.

Many artists would love to have their only job be to create works of art, so that they could be in the studio or outside most of the time. It is the reason we chose this profession. It is what feeds our souls, but it isn't enough to feed our bank balances. The belief that "everything else" will take care of itself is a lovely fantasy.  Like it or not, we are all part of the world that provides us with income.

In case you missed Myths 1 through 4, you can read them here.  

What other myths have you busted? 

In October 2011 I did my annual series of seminars at The Learning & ProductExpo: Art! in Pasadena where I met another group of fabulous artists dedicated to making a better living making art.  

Another highlight of the trip was time to get together with Margaret Danielak and Julie Snyder, one of the artists she represents, at The Women's City Club. With Margaret's permission and Julie's photo skills, I share Margaret's letter to me after our great visit.

Dear Aletta:

Thank you so much for the lovely dinner. It was great to see you!

Am very happy to tell you that I sold another painting yesterday during the installation of the current "Winter's Light" show at the Blinn House - home of The Women's City Club of Pasadena.  A lady came into the club to pay her dues, fell in love with Julie Hill's watercolors and bought one!  That is the 2nd "presale" if you will, from this show.  The first presale I made was to another Club Member who saw a "sneak peek" of a lovely painting by Christina Ramos that I posted the other day on Facebook.

I told you during dinner that I decided to accept photographs this time as well as paintings.  I wasn't sure how they would look in such a traditional venue.  I decided to dedicate an entire area to the work - put them all in one of the large bedrooms upstairs - and I must say, they look fabulous.  I've always wanted to have a theme - or shows within the larger shows - in different areas of the Blinn House and now I do.

My new IPAD 2 has become extremely handy in documenting my life as a curator.  We always talk about new technology and how important it is to stay current?  Well, on the last day of the the last exhibition, "A Touch of Gold" - which you saw when you visited the Club - I used my IPAD to create a film. I now have a 9 minute rough cut of a fully narrated art tour of the Blinn House - a film I'm planning to edit down to five minutes using IMOVIE on the IPAD.  Am planning to create a video for each exhibition in order to share the art with collectors and artists who live outside the area - post it on my website and blog and onto Facebook.

Thank you again for the great dinner.  I look forward to seeing you again soon, and hearing more about your soon-to-be released book!

Warm regards,

Margaret

Artist Representative Margaret Danielak is Curator of Exhibitions at the Women's City Club of Pasadena at the historic Blinn House.  She is the author of  A Gallery without Walls, and specializes in exhibiting art in alternative venues.  
 
I get a lot of questions from artists about how to get an art representative. The short answer is to be noticed because you have a strong body of signature work, have a solid exhibition track record and be professional about every aspect of your art business. For a more detailed explanation, check out:
"Sell My Art! Finding & Keeping Effective Representation"*

Margaret is also available for consultations*

Lynn & Jim Powers

A Quick History on Artist Support
The modern artist still has galleries but the system has changed dramatically yet again and much of the security of yesterday no longer exists for artists today.

Artist Myth #1: You Must Starve To Be An Artist
There is a romantic notion perpetuated by operas like “La Boheme” that artists must be poor. People who believe that the “true” artist is a “starving” artist think that this lifestyle keeps them “in touch” with creativity. They wrongly equate making money with commercialism and “selling out.” Whoever gave you similar advice probably meant to save you from hardship. They probably gathered their reasons for this well-meaning advice from common myths and misconceptions about making a living making art. These myths are so common that they sometimes even creep in the back door of our own thinking.

Artist Myth #2: Society Owes Artists a Living
Some artists feel that their contributions to society and culture merit more financial support. I share their dismay that funding and grants are fewer and harder to get and that the IRS favors collectors over artists. Collectors may take a tax deduction the full price they paid for donations of art. The artist can deduct only the cost of materials.

Artist Myth #3: Artists Are Not Business People, My Dealer Will Handle Everything
I often hear artists say that they are too right-brained to do left-brained business tasks. They imagine that getting a gallery means that they will be able to wash their hands of the filthy business side of art. They assume that the gallery will handle every aspect of marketing and selling their work.

Artist Myth #4: A True Artist Lives Life Free and Without Structure

Some artists mistakenly believe that their chosen vocation entitles them to be “free spirits.” Normal rules and schedules do not apply in their world. They do whatever they want, when they want and how they want. They push the boundaries of outlandishness and rebel against normal business constraints. These artists often feel “misunderstood” and knocked about for their individuality. They believe that others should make allowances for them simply because they are . . . “Artistes”! With respect, no one is that entitled.

P.S. Please link to this article in your Blog and post on social media sites for artists. We appreciate it when you tell your friends about Artist Career Training.  We encourage forwarding this publication in whole.  Copying without acknowledgement of the publisher is against the law (and highly unprofessional!)

P.P.S. If you need an accountability partner for your art business or someone to roll up sleeves to produce art marketing materials or work on your web site, just let us know. We have a whole team to help you. Start with a complimentary 15-minute conversation. Sign up here: http://www.artistcareertraining.com/request-a-conversation

Coming soon to this blog: new updated info and material!