By Gayle Faucette Wisbon on 7/31/2010 10:22:39 AM
©1997 Gayle Faucette Wisbon
A few months ago, I discovered my painting, "Desert Jewel" on another art site called "5uart" under the name Home Arts Network. I will not post a link here because I am not going to help give them more exposure. This is a company in China that takes images of art from the internet, paints copies of the images and sells them as "hand-painted originals" in various sizes.
They are doing this to thousands of artists. Many of the images I recognize from art.com, which is a very well-known online print and poster site. I have even seen at least one image that still had the art.com watermark on it. It appears that most of the images have the watermark removed and replaced with their own. They even use the original artist's name and offer the paintings signed by the artist. They also have the nerve to post a copyright notice on their site with no regard for the copyrights of the original artist. This is not an art.com affiliate site. I can recognize an affiliate and this site is not selling prints, they are selling oil paintings.
I have written to them three times - twice to the CEO, once to customer service and attempted to speak to someone via the online chat. They have ignored me every time. I'm sure there are lots of these companies who make and sell copycat art and there is probably not much that can be done.
So, I just want other artists and buyers to be aware of this. This company is using my image, copying and selling my art without my permission.
By Gayle Faucette Wisbon on 7/27/2010 3:20:58 PM
In addition to being a mom and a painter, I have also spent the past 21 years as a UPS employee. UPS has been a great company to work for. Working part-time has enabled me to be there for my children as they grew up. Now that they are grown, I spend that extra time working on my art.
Recently, UPS began a series called "Behind the Brown", in which they showcase employees who pursue other interests outside the company. I was recently interviewed and today my interview was posted on the employee website. Since it is an employee only website, I can not share a link here. Basically, it was very similar to the information I have in my bio, along with a few pictures, which are posted here.
I just want to say "thank you" to a great company and also, to all my wonderful co-workers who have become like family.
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By Gayle Faucette Wisbon on 7/6/2010 3:31:28 PM
Desert Beauty
Each month, Canvoo and Fine Art Studio Online have a painting competition called the BoldBrush Painting Contest. If you are a FASO Gold Member, you can enter one painting each month for free. Additional entries cost $14 each and it's the same for non-members. The award packages are awesome!
1st Place - $2500 Award Package
2nd Place - $1180 Award Package
3rd Place - $600 Award Package
7 Finalists - $350 Award Package
Additional Award Finalists - $100 Award Package
In addition, just for fun, there is a Facebook "like" ranking that is going on. Rankings are refreshed every fifteen minutes, based on the number of Facebook "likes". The one with the most likes is featured on the contest home page, but it's constantly changing.
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