Meh, I'm in a bit of a slump where my art list is just sorta piling up and I'm having a hard time drawing.. It'll get done but ugh.. @__@

I feel exactly the same way. Gods, the lists... I've taped all the lists to the wall over my desk and they're staring at me. I'm still plowing through, but I just feel so blaaaaarrrrgh.

Ugh me too. And of course I made it more hard on myself for doing lots of free art.. :c
And my boyfriend is always asking for art.. It's just so much to keep up with.

I think all artists that come up with something original as well as it has appeal to others will go through this. All that you can stick too is the fact that you are making a quality product and KNOW it's quality. Word of mouth from a satisfied customer will sell more than a cheap price! People that knock off often don't have the passion and drive to make something of quality and for 3d projects has durability.

Oh I absolutely think this is something a lot of artists go through; I've seen friends hit the same place (and quietly prayed I didn't wind up there myself even as I tried to give 'em a boost). I think its the fact there really is nothing more we can do is the cause of the frustration: if there was a problem, I could throw myself into fixing it and feel satisfied at having done so. Keepin' on keepin' on is harder.
I always thought that people who lacked confidence in their own work were the ones most likely to be involved in knock-offs. They see someone else having success of some kind with something, and rather than trust that they too can come up with something that's well-done, they pick the easy answer and try and emulate. I just wish people believed it when they're told developing your own individual artistic voice is one of the most satisfying things there is.

I completely agree with your assessment on how one feels when they deal with it as well as motivations to why one would knock off another artist.
I want to add from my experience with people doing this with me, it’s always younger (or I should say immature) people that do this. I think as younger people(I frame that mentally young) they want to belong; they crave attention and don’t really know who they are yet as a person or creator. It’s easier to mimic another or riding on another’s coattails than figure yourself out.
I think this is why they eventually move on and don’t dedicate the time as compared to the original creator does. It’s due to the original creator does what they do because its true art, it’s expressing themselves, as you said finding their own voice! A knock off can’t truly express themselves when they are ripping off another’s expression.

I just wish there was a better way for creators to deal with it. It's invasive and can be quite demotivating. Many will says imitation is flattery but it also can be quite exhausting to ignore. Inspiration and imitation are two VERY different things. :|

The world takes all sorts :( I imagine the whelp contest is causing some of this frustration? Im really sorry to hear youre going through a rough patch :(

Actually no, the contest was really a bit of a pick-me-up. LOTS of people participated (more than we expected) which was really nice.

Oh good! Thats a relief :D Im so excited about that contest myself :)

I know what youre talking about though, people do the same thing to a friend of mine who makes suits, always demanding discounts or to share her mask bases..

Dont worry man. This is a small pond, and minnows like to puff themselves up when they think none of the tuna are watching. Or something like that. Just focus on your craft, sell outside the fandom, leave them eating your dust.

I think that happens to everyone with eyeballs and two neurons to rub together to generate a significant thought (a rare thing indeed sometimes...). When I get fed up, I mean REALLY REALLY fed up, I turn off the computer and take a break for a few days to a week. I won't get online at all. I play some video games, go on walks or biking with the dog, play with my reptiles, ect and just generally not think of the crap that has annoyed me to death. Of course the BS is still there when I get back online, but I feel more able to deal with it when I've recharged, so to speak.

I know I'm late coming in here, but I had to voice my opinion on the matter;
This is an experience that happens to ALL far too frequently in the artistic community. It happens for the same reason as it does in the industry; people assume art is an easy, childish pastime that demands no effort. From this they grow a sense of outrage when it's not easily affordable or attainable. The concept of "quality" never comes into question, because they don't view it as "quality" they view it as "output". "Output" isn't about getting the job done right, it's about getting the job done.

Countless times I had been ENFURIATED to realize that folks who would commission me for a NWP tattoo, would later go and revise it to fit their needs- specifically when I told them their request wasn't doable. It was cultural infringing. It was offensive. Well, low and behold these low-quality-of-persons didn't care- they just wanted their thing done the way they wanted with the air of entitlement. Now, if someone can disgrace and offend and ENTIRE CULTURE, why would they care to belittle the artist doing it?

Quality is what drew ME to you guys. Only real artisans value the term "quality". They have a sense of where the talent, labor, and skill is coming from. To simply pump out another image reminiscent of the artistic "elite" is like someone coming into an art gallery and showing off they have a printer copy of a Van Gogh , when the original is hanging right there. It's a simpleton that is deserving of a mocking and humiliation at how very little they understand, and how little culture they have.
Those folks are "consumers" not "Artists".

Trust me when I say, your business is not only worth every penny, but clearly revered, supported and perpetuated within the real artistic industry. I've been promoting your work to other industry colleagues, and many are saving monies to contact you into making figured of their characters [so long as I get mine done first, that s]. ;)

On a last note; the artistic "chameleoning" that goes about in Furry [and even on DA] by no means actually reflects the larger, broader industry. Most of these folks won't even break into the industry due to their low-brow and unimaginative contents and styles. At most, they make a few hundred of their sad attempts, and then the demand of time and real world obligations makes them quite. You can't pay a mortgage and feed yourself with a $50 doll-job, when the materials, effort, and time are worth the VERY REASONABLE fees you guys charge.
Also, these folks popularity dwindles quickly, as the quality cannot match up- after all, who's going to attract more attention or notice? The person walking around with a doll that is glue-gun rabbit-fur, or the one with the seamless, articulated I-can-pose-all doll that is a work of art?

Bravo, and well said. I *like* you.

You guys are pulling 18 hour days right now? Ow. *Ow*. Roommate R noticed I had a knot in my shoulder blade tonight- she's guessing it's the Expo painting, and she's probably right. Hang in there worms/bones.

As to imitators- it's going to happen, and it sucks, but you already knew that. I think the commentors ahead of me, especially Gishkishenh and styx had some pretty good ideas and thoughts on the issues of frustration, copycatting, and ingrates already.

Even if this journal may be old, I thoroughly stand by the saying 'you get what you pay for.' that goes both ways. You may charge a wee bit for a sculpture, but that sculpture you dedicate true effort and time into it, making it be as special as every other sculpture out there. It is well worth the price, and time it takes to be created.

Let those people gripe and complain, they need to understand your work takes a lot of creativity and patience to complete and with that time taken and the skill levels you posses you give the people who commission you a grand deal with the prices you offer.