Art Theft is Wrong

[Update: This... this got on the main page? Really? Huh... I think it has more views, comments, faves, etc. than my entire gallery now. Whoo.]

Art Theft is wrong, so draw different.

If you thought this piece was actually about stealing art, you were hooked in just like I wanted. No, it's about a lack of distinction and creativity.

I hate unoriginality. You can have all sorts of artists, but so many of them draw exactly the same. I know there's styles of art, like Cubism and Surrealism and what have you, but each artists takes that over all way and applies it differently. A Picasso looks distinct from a de la Fresnaye painting.

I don't care how much you call "anime" a style, 99% looks like it was drawn by the same person. Yeah, that's right. As you could probably tell from the horridly drawn bath-robe samurai, I'm raging against fake anime artists for the most part, just like I did with Cookie Cutter Art and a dump of previous rants. Don't take specific offense. This also scorns against all those losers who draw perfect copies of Disney art style or other identical, not nearly identical but full blown, replications of other art.

Art is an expression of one's self, but so many people (need an example? Click "Browse" and see at least 10 examples. I guarantee there'll be at least that much) draw too similarly to some universal style. Go to any real artist and note there distinctive flairs. They have subtleties to their work that pile up and make it stand out wholly from other like artists. Real artists do that. Hell, real Japanese artists stand out from other real Japanese artists, even if they all do the "anime" style. For some reason, this concept is lost on most Americans.

I'm not saying they are bad at art. They are very talented, and the works can be phenomenal. But, if it's no different than five thousand other artists, then who cares? Style is the voice, the distinction of the artist. Let's say an artist is like a song writer. You can sing your own songs or someone else's, but every time it will be sung in your voice. Normally. A stylistic parasite is like lip syncing. It's really not your voice. You're borrowing it from someone else. This global whore is just shilling out for all these wanna-be musicians. Half the songs on the market are all being sung by the same person. As much as that disgusts me, the thing that gets me more is that no one seems to notice.

Art is suppose to be about standing out and originality, but everyone still seems to be ripping off everyone else. Do the world a favor. Switch it up. Add some flair. Throw out the anime stencils and draw someone with a big nose, wide chin, a gut, or eyes that are closer to appropriate.

For further ranting, see Cookie Cutter Art.