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Sandra Ann Miller's avatar

It's a copyright issue, no? Did they have your permission to use your art? If not, then they can't use it. If so, that's when you'd negotiate the fee. I see on reality TV all the time the blurring of copyrighted images to the point of the absurd (Andy Cohen's Grateful Dead logo tee, for example...don't judge that I know that). I've seen other art (on walls) blurred as well. It would be interesting to see what a copyright lawyer would say (have you checked in with California Lawyers for the Arts?). And I recall being SOOOOO excited when my first book was quoted in "Cosmopolitan". That was going to change my life, right?! LOL. Even after the third time I/the book was quoted, maybe 3 or 4 book sales? I think only InStyle magazine actually broke brands (and then broke them; they couldn't keep up with/ramp up for the onslaught of sales...Oprah had the same effect...the glory days before social media). So sorry for this frustration, Sarah. It's a beautiful painting. You do amazing work. xo

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Rachel T's avatar

The daffodil painting is lovely. It would have been cool to have it in AD. The photos from the shoot are very nice. I’ve been looking at that magazine for years and my former employer advertises in it. But it is frustrating that artists and musicians have been “used” for years without proper compensation.

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Holly Coley's avatar

Thanks for bringing this to peoples attention. Conde Nast is not a super awesome company for sure. I signed up to be "featured" in their World of Interiors spread but withdrew my offer when I realized it was just terrible advertising. They are still trying to charge me for something I never gave my permission for.

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My Social EQ's avatar

That is such a horrible format of advertising. I've definitely seen it in past iterations of my career, primarily when I was working in makeup full time. It reminds me of how "models" used to pay to be "published" in hometown sections of men's magazines in 2004.

Now 20 years later, in writing and visual creation, design and consulting...with AI, I've read through enough sales pages to understand that writers are paying to be read. And visual artists are basically stalked by promotional pages that aren't promoting at all. And it's kind of heartbreaking, when you learn that nobody in your inbox actually wants to connect.

I took grad courses in marketing, but this is not that anymore... It's rough and we need find innovative ways to make the system work for us... Not so simple.

Question for you, though. How have you leveraged what they did publish? Because I would have gone ham on that and put a version of it everywhere possible. I can easily tell you how I would market a paintings, if you would give me permission to mockup a couple of marketing pieces for you.

This is about connection. I'm actually interested to see how more artists respond and grow when they see their work repurposed FOR THEM, as opposed to simply remixed and stolen... I do a ton of design with AI, but I am a believer in custom everything and do my best to ensure that I am not stepping on the hopes and dreams of other creatives. 💜

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Thibault's avatar

Oh interesting. Was that with Architectural Digest?

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My Social EQ's avatar

That offer was originally meant for you. I attached it to my reply to Holly. 💗

Happy to help anyone design and brainstorm.

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Lois Keller's avatar

Ultimately pay no pay seems better than pay to play the art world and especially Instagram is. I love that daffodil painting!!

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Thibault's avatar

Interesting! What I meant by play-no-pay is that you have to do work with but a mere promise of getting paid. The free work inevitably costs both time and resources. There is also the training and other things that go into that free creative output that cost real dollars. What does a pay-to-play art world look like to you?

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Thibault's avatar

Also thank you :)

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Lois Keller's avatar

For real, that painting is gorgeous and fresh.

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Lois Keller's avatar

Oh I get it, usually people straight out ask us to do stuff for free with “exposure “ as compensation. This seems like bigger stakes with the condo mast group and an actual real opportunity. So disheartening to see it turn out as per usual art game. I was referring to the entry fees to be judged that seems rampant as I ease my way back out of the studio and trying to show my work.

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Thibault's avatar

Oh yeah that's definitely gross. I get why people charge entry fees but there are scams out there that try to get artists to pay for a show, plus take a fee from their sales. Not cool. I hope you have luck outside of that world and find a good gallery to work with.

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