Sta.sh
Theme
Total prizes reach 1000 
!!!! 
But of course there are always the rules......
Please please please fave the journal!
Make another journal about this giveaway and provide a link of that journal in the comments (this will help spread the word about this giveaway)
this journal 
Rules
Should be about School Times!
oints:
, comment and watch!
Hmmm how to explain this. Lets say you have a like for a mainstream character, you have your own art style, your own OC, your own way of coloring and a fair amount of people know you on dA. your art is consistent in themes and you have established your style rather well to the point that your art is recognizable without even seeing the signature. You like to do trades with people from time to time and it usually goes quite well until one day, someone comes along and asks you for a trade. Trade goes well, both put a watch on each other, become friends yadda yadda. Then very shortly after, your new "friends" art starts making a very dramatic and obvious "shift". It starts looking like YOUR art. Same colors, same style, their OC now looks nearly identical to yours (same clothing, details, jewelry, colors), same settings & themes, same interest in the same certain character, and even a fanclub for their oh so orignial couple (also a copy). The second you do ANYTHING at all, it is almost certain that your copy with have something coming down the pipe that is an blatant rip off of what you did, all the while denying it. This goes on to the point that people are starting to assume that your copycats account is actually a SIDE account of yours and that you are posting art in TWO places. Talking to the person in question is impossible because they cannot see things rationally and refuse to consider that they are doing anything wrong at all.
They can't really be reported to admin? It's not...quite that extreme even though it's hella creepy. What do you do?
This isn't about me, I've just been a bystander for a while now, keeping almost quiet about it. If it were about me I would just start a flame war and it would rain fire and lava until 2012 came early or I got banned. But, in an attempt to be slightly more diplomatic....I'm asking for reasonable suggestions in dealing with the problem. Cause I can't figure out how to resolve it.
Irritated 
If it were me, I'd ask if it were just a coinsidence or not. But only if their primary original character were mirroring my own in more than 50% of its design. While it true there are "gloryhounds" out there who intentionally mirror a certain drawing style in order to get popular with minimal effort, there are also people out there who honestly mimic other peoples' drawing style in order to get better at drawing overall, rather than use that as their own drawing style period.
I guess it all just depends on how paranoid this person is and what's going on with the original characters. Like I said, if my drawing style was mimicked, I'd be concerned, but if my "Joseph Fox" were mirrored in a number of ways, I'd probably speak up.
Skip the first part if you already have and the person is just being an idiot about it. If they were a real friend, they'd respect the wishes of said artist and work to be their own individual. Especially if they were thinking of art as a career in the future. If said copycat is refusing to work their own style and become their own individual than I suggest posting a journal about it with the dates included. Since the admins can't really do anything about it, let the mass take care of it. Either they will finally get it through their thick numbskull that their work isn't being appreciated or everyone will hate them and refuse to watch them because of said instance.
The posting it public wouldn't be ideal, but if this person has already been confronted (ie, remember, no bullshit, straight up. STOP COPYING ME.)....then so be it.
That would be my opinion.
I think I'm gonna say something like "Last warning, then I let everyone know and have their way with you."
People are freaks, they do really stupid things, sometimes unknowingly (even when it's super obvious to everyone else) I guess you could either grin and bear it, or try to politely and civily (on the interwebz? GASP) talk to them via note about your feelings... that may get you nowhere but at least you tried and the seeds are then planted, they may start to think about it after that.
then you should just raise awareness, give proof that your the true artist. try not to say anything terribly insulting about the person. The worse you are to them, the more likely it is that they will keep doing this. you could even try to support them in their own art style and show them how good they can be using their own imagination. they're obviously not very confident themselves and they may just need some support with what they're doing. you may even want to ask them if they could make a reference to you in their comments when ever they submit something in your style saying that this is based on your artwork. whatever you do, ganging up and making life on deviantart hard for this person should be a last resort.
Second, I applaud your attempt at diplomacy and asking for advice. If it were me (and unless hell froze over, I don't think it ever would be me) being copied, I'd more or less stick with what your original thought.
FLAME WAR.
However,