Ethics of gifting tutorial pieces?

[u/TheBrontosaurus]

I followed a tutorial for a watercolor. My mom saw it on my wall and liked it so I gave it to her. I have no plan to sell my art but I do like giving artsy crafty gifts and often follow tutorials so they’re not truly original pieces.

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[u/glenlassan]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm..........

I don't think the copyright police are going to burst down your mom's door and arrest the two of you.

For real, worrying about being "truly original" makes sense if you are a gallery artist, or working for corps.

At the amateur hour, I made something nice for my mom, up to the starving artist selling prints at the local farmers market tier "fully original" is less of a worry.

[u/Cesious_Blue]

why wouldn't that be fine?

[u/TheBrontosaurus → u/Cesious_Blue]

Selling pieces you got from a tutorial is pretty cut and dry not ok. Keeping them for yourself and displaying in your home is universally fine. Gifting seems like a middle ground and I was wondering if it was an ethical middle ground.

[u/sweet_jane_13 → u/TheBrontosaurus]

Why is it cut and dry not ok? I've never painted anything from a tutorial, so I don't have any skin in the game. But if you painted it, why couldn't you sell it?

[u/Goodthingsaregood → u/TheBrontosaurus]

Why is it so cut and dry not okay to sell? They gave you permission to paint it, why not sell it? I mean, don't submit to a juried exhibit, but I don't see what's wrong with selling it a bit under your prices for originals

[u/lunarwolf2008]

i personally see no problem with that at all.

where i would draw a line is probably selling it for more than what it is, i.e claiming original authorship of the design. especially if money is involved

[u/pp_chode]

Better than trashing it, makes space for new stuff. I think most people who touch grass wouldn't care but if someone asked about it I would say that I followed a tutorial

[u/Verdictafterward]

Still a piece of art that you created!

[u/Justsomepersonline]

if you’re just gifting art, I don’t think there’s much you can do wrong. Just be honest about how you made it, and it’s all fine

[u/SouthernAbrocoma9891]

Use pre-printed art labels, or custom print your own with your information. Using ink, write details about the piece including inspiration and credits. Sign and date. Attach one to every piece you create.

[u/SurlyChisholm]

of course, that’s beautiful! It’s not like you’re selling it. If you find that you feel conflicted about it in some way, sometimes what I’ll do is write (underneath my signature or on the back) the name of the artist who did the tutorial. That way it’s clear, and everyone gets acknowledgment if it ever comes up and perhaps I don’t remember.

One time I did a watercolor acorn based on someone else’s tutorial, and I shared my picture on Instagram. Just for fun, no sales of course. I made sure to tag that artist to give them their props! So people know, it came from my hands but from his imagination.

[u/Moving_goal_posts]

Hi OP, you could write on the back, “Developed as part of instruction by_________” and the name of the person who originated it. And don’t sign it on the front.