This past weekend was one of the worst i've ever had sales wise at Anime North. We had a good location and good traffic but, apparently not the right "Product" it seems people are more interested in fan art of Characters they love now, don't get me wrong i'm not attacking the artists behind the fan art they are all talented people and deserving of success...but... when you sell fan art of characters you don't own and nothing original of your own creation I don't want anything to do with you. I'm quite sick and tired of people making money off creations they don't own, doing a commission for an individual is fine but, then selling prints, stickers etc of characters you have no rights to is just incredibly stupid. The day is coming when companies WILL crack down on fan art and conventions that allow it and I don't blame them. As many know I work on licensed titles, I PAY to use those characters and titles. When you do fan art of say, Kill La Kill and sell it as a poster do the creative team get a piece of that? no. they don't. You're taking money out of peoples pockets that should rightly, be going to them. Perhaps one day companies can work out a "fan-art fee" so that for every poster or product the artist sells they get 10 cents, etc but, that won't be anytime soon. the problem is now and it is an epidemic that must be stopped. I implore those that only sell fan art to attempt something new, yes, it may be unsuccessful but, it will be yours and yours alone and you can take pride in that instead of stealing others IP's for your own use and illegal profit. yes, ILLEGAL. Every penny you make from selling fan art is stolen revenue from the creators and yes, some creators and companies are a-okay with fan art being created but, most would rather you buy the official product or have the artists pay a licensing fee. Once again, I do not want to dissuade artists from doing what they love I just want to educate some that may not think they are doing something wrong. I have no problems with Fan art being posted on DA, etc but, once it starts getting sold that's where my problem comes from. Perhaps, if you're selling fan art why not donate some of your sales to a worthy charity like sick kids or the AIDS Society.

there is a fine line between art and theft , and many are skimming that line and making a tidy profit as well. The artists are not the only ones to blame, so are the fans that support the thievery whether it be buying fan art, buttons,posters etc or illegally downloading shows and comics/manga online. it's all part of a bigger problem with many today called entitlement. People think they can do whatever they want and they don't care what happens regardless they don't think of the hows and whys involved with it all they just want it "now"

I may not make a lot doing what I do but i'm so very proud that it is mine and mine alone. It's time to be proud of yourselves fellow artists and do something new instead of sticking it to the "man" and selling fan art of characters you have no rights to.

and yes, feel free to attack me but, make sure your side of the argument is a valid one. "Fuck you, I do what I want" is Not valid.

i'm sorry If this offended any of my friends, fans or loved ones but, I needed to get this off my chest.

Jim/Sarah