Horror stories, as they are, have monsters and blood and gore, and if it's told right, can be so tramatizing you'll have to sleep with the light on for a week.

But not all horror stories are fit only for Stephen King and R.L. Stein.

Some horror stories have no blood at all.

Not physically anyway.


"Art Rape," leaves no blood, has no weapons, and has no voice. It comes slinking in silent as a faerie would to switch a human child with a glamoured piece of wood.

But Art Rape, is tramatizing.

It leaves you vulnerable and shatters your trust; and nothing hurts an artist more than smearing their work with watermarks.

In the world of technology, no Sig and Date is enough anymore.

Almost a year has gone by since I came into the world of deviantART, and I had naively believed I could be safe.

Or maybe I knew all along that even in a community with people that share the same passion for art, in any form, there would be horror stories.

Monsters.

Art Rape.

Friends, acquaintences, and even total strangers have been victims of this Art Rape, whether having their work lifted and sold elsewhere, posted elsewhere, and even posted right here on deviantART.

Their work stolen in the night, or conned into giving with their generosity, because as long as they're doing Art, everything is alright.


Well, it's not alright. I've had enough of being raped of my Artwork. I've had enough of my friends being raped of their Artwork. Of Strangers.

And I've had enough of this being posted in journals for only a select few to see. It's time to go on lock down against Art Theives. It's time for the myth that Art is some kind of spontanious genesis that, like God, just appeared and made itself.

It's time for the Artist to speak.

And for the rest of the world to listen.



The following has been posted in my Journal on November of 2007 reguarding heists of two of my friends' work that occured within days of eachother.

Art, it is to be said, is a subject that feeds off itself. One art form inspires another art form. And it just keeps growing.


However.


Like it or not. There ARE living breathing bleeding beings out there making that art. And the artist, author, model, musician, or photographer HAS to be respected for what they do. It's their hard work, time, and effort that they put into something they truly love and enjoy to make life a little more beautiful; even tolerable.

And there is NO excuse for someone to just rip someone's work off and present it as their own. That shows no decency or respect to the artist.

Art doesn't just happen.

Someone HAS to create it.


And granted, some think artists' are a little nutty. But to look at the world the way they do; you HAVE to be a little nutty.

But, that doesn't mean we're rabid. We don't bite.


If you love and appreciate and truly respect the artists' work. Tell them that. Ask them if you can use their piece. More often than not, they will let you under the right circumstances.

But don't just take something from their gallery and say it's yours. Even if you can't get a hold of the artist; you KNOW who's name is on it.

Cite the artist's name; even if it's not their real name, but a pen name or a working name. It's the least you can do. Even if it's for your own private personal use; it's good to know WHO exactly did the work.


How can you quote someone and give their name, but not do the same for an artist?


That's their voice.


That's how they speak.



And as an artist, I'm verbalizing what I feel I need to say, to make my voice be heard.


Because apparently, you Art Thieves aren't listening to what my work, and the works of my fellows' have to say.



"This is our life and our love. This is what we do to make the world beautiful. To make it tolerable. To escape.

We respect you in your life and work.

Respect us in ours."


-The Traditionalist

-The Poet

-The Photographer

-The Film-maker

-The Model

-The Musician

-The Author

-The Digital-ist


--The Artist