Should you always credit the artist?

I will credit if I feel it would add value to my doll. If I paid for a service, it is mine and it was my choice to select the customizer and have a unique doll. I dont feel obliged to credit anyone really.

 

Yes, a simple task, but you don't owe to the artist. You owe it to them to pay them, not to credit them. Like I said before, it's business. And the reason a face-up artist listens to your demands and 'carefully ship the head back to you' is simply because otherwise they'll get angry customers. Can't keep a business running when your customers have ran away.

 

It's also very simple for someone to ask if they're curious. I want people to see my dolls as themselves, not as a bunch of names. I'd certainly credit if it was the first time displaying the face-up or whatever, but every time after that, I'd just leave it out unless someone were to ask.

I just feel it's unnecessary information to put in every single gallery post.

Yes, but you don't always have to give credit with every post. Generally, I find that giving information to people who ask is credit enough. ("I love that face-up, who did it?" "Oh, it was done by ____! They did a fantastic job, didn't they?" seems like more than enough credit for the artist. =) ) If people want to know these things, they should just ask. I appreciate what artists do, and agree they do deserve credit, but at the same time, there's no need to overdo it.

 

I do as long as I know who it is. I mostly get blank faces and ask my talented Friend Arrowchild to do my face ups. If I buy a doll with a face up and they don't tell me I don't know.

 

As an artist myself, I can say that I do not find it necessary to credit the artist all the time. It's YOUR doll, you shouldn't have to have a billboard to take him around with you. You PAID for the work done. They know this. You don't credit where you got your doll right? So why the artist?

Granted, if someone asks in the forum, or in PM it is good to say who actually did it. It's not like it's a secret.

I did my girlfriend's doll for her, I wouldn't expect her to note me every time she posts something of him. <<; That's expecting a lot really. Now, if she was saying she did it and not giving credit, that would bug me a bit, but that isn't the case.

If it does still bug you, why not post in your profile bit about them with who did their faces or bodies? That way if someone is curious they will look there. Simple right? ^____^

 

Actually pretty much everyone does, by simply listing the mold and maker of the doll. 'Credit' in a way...

I personally wish everyone would. I've seen some dolls with amazing faceups and I'd love to commission the artist, except the original poster doesn't list the artist, doesn't respond to pms, or comments left on the topic. That's just personal preference though.

 

To avoid any misunderstandings, I'm prefacing this post: I don't actually have a doll yet. We now return you to your regularly scheduled opinion.

Maybe it's because I'm so used to the pixel art "dolling" community, but i always credit anything that isn't mine in a piece of art. I'd never not credit the artist who made the base I'm using, so somewhere I think you should credit all the work done on your doll.

I think, at the very least, I would make faceup/blushing/mod information available in my profile. As for clothing and props, telling people when they ask is plenty. I know it sounds like a double standard, but I think people are more likely to ask about a gorgeous dress or scale piece of furniture than those perfect lips they see in the gallery. Heaven knows I've been mistaken before, of course.

Obviously, if the point of the photo shoot is to show off your doll's new faceup, clothing, or kitchen sink, credit should be given for that item in the gallery post. That part just wouldn't make any sense otherwise.. "Oh, look at this perfect kitchen sink I got for ___! It even has running water, but I'm not saying who sold it to me!"*

Granted, I'm OCD, but I think it would be a good idea to have a page somewhere - whether on your website, LJ, or just a word file you can reference - that lists where you bought everything for you dolls. Not only so you can remember if someone asks, but in case there's ever some problem with any of it, or you really want another faceup by the same artist but who was it, etc

*This isn't meant to offend anyone, just to exaggerate how strange I think the idea would be..

 

I think it's nice to give credit, but not really necessary.
If the artist was very kind, did a great job, especially with custom jobs, and the outcome was what you wanted, I think they should be credited. Factory outfits that are mass-produced, not so much.

 

Crediting the artist is your way of showing appreciation of an artist's work. It also helps the artist gain recognition and a wider appreciation. I would like to see doll owners credit face-up artists, modders, seamstresses and so on. It would be nice to know who is doing what in the BJD world.

Please don't close the door on the artist - doing so is effectively saying I love your work, but you don't need the recognition for doing it.

 

I don't assume it's their own work unless it's written in the thread or if I know the person well enough to be sure he/she is capable of making that face-up/mod/etc.

 

As an artist myself, I would feel so loved if someone were to credit my work. That said, if I were ever to have a face-up or clothing made by another member, I would surely credit them!

Granted, I don't have my doll yet (still waiting!) but when I do, I would credit everything wherever I post pictures. I frequently find myself wondering where certain dolls/wigs/eyes/etc come from, so crediting an artist also helps with the aspect of letting users find information more easily.

 

I don't necessarily think that you should credit the artist when you post pictures of your dolls. Yes, they did work on your doll, but in most cases, it was paid for with money so I don't view it as further payment or credit for the services.

Also, with my first boy, even though the person who did his face did a beautiful job, communication was horrible and it took around 4 months for him to be done, with endless excuses and he wasn't even shipped back via the method I paid for. So, the face is gorgeous, but the experience, especially considering it was the first time sending a doll away for work like that, was horrible. If someone asked who did his faceup, I would gladly tell them, but I don't feel any obligation or desire to advertise it in my posts.

Alternately, though I still don't think I would mention it in every post simply because I feel that gallery posts are about the dolls and the images, not about who did the face or what company's clothes he/she is wearing, the person who did Rikkit's (LadySaiyuki Ted) face provided a WONDERFUL experience. She was friendly and quick and the transaction was pleasant. When I posted pictures of him upon his return, I made sure to mention who had done the work. ^^

To be perfectly honest, sometimes when I see a gallery thread that's titled "whatever title (with such and such artist faceup)" I think it's being named that way because it will get more hits or comments. Maybe that's just me though. To me, that seems like elitism. It's like trying to get attention based on who worked on a doll rather than the sculpt or the photos or whatever it is that makes that doll beautiful or interesting outside of the popular artist who did the work.

 

I usualy credit BIG things (like face-up's) with a special photoshoot when they return from the artist, and then of course in database threads. I also credit speical oufits and jewlery sometimes, to support the artist who made whatever peice is in question.

I dont do it every time and am happy to gush about my dolls face-up if asked tho.

 

I think if I was posting pics of just one doll, I would probably credit for faceups that are non-company or that I didn't do myself. If there are photos of a group of dolls, I probably wouldn't credit but would definitely reply if someone asked. I would also credit in the first post of that doll with that faceup, and of course entries in database threads.

I personally think that your "public profile" is the place for that info. If someone doesn't post what their doll's mold or maker is, or who the faceup artist is, it's super-easy to click on their profile and look - the info is usually there!

 

People really think this about artists? I find that a hurtfull remark, to be honest.
How do you think face-up artists got into this "bussiness" in the first place? For loving dolls and loving to paint them, not to make a quick buck.
I personally love and care for all the dollheads I paint and ship, and I don't rest assured until a package is safely returned to the owner because it would break my heart if someones precious darling got lost.
And not because I only fear for the financial issues, but because I know how distressing it feels to lose a doll whom you love very much.

Artists are not money-grubbers, and I think it's not necessary to credit the in EVERY darn photoshoot you post, but once in a while it's nice to see your name mentioned.

 

I definitely think the people responsible for the doll's look should be given credit. Sure, they get paid, but I'll bet none of them are buying Jaguars with what they make! They deserve the recognition. And, if I ever do a Gallery post showing off the outfits I've made for my little lady, I will also include the names of the people who designed the patterns I've used.

 

I credit most of the time. I forget it from time to time, but when people ask me if I did the faceups, I wont lie and tell them I did it. Then of course I do credit the artist that did them.
I think it's a great thing if an artist gets creditted, but i dont find it nescesarry (which I spelled wrong). But I think if an owner is really happy and excited about the faceup that was done theyll be happy to give credit.

 

I didn't say artists were money-grubbers, or didn't care about the work they do. Hey, I'm an artist too, don't want to insult myself (or others).
Artists lóve the work they do, that's why most of them chose this job... if their main priority was to earn a lot of money they would probably have chosen a different profession.
My reply was a bit harsh perhaps because of some of the replies in this thread sounded like you're committing a crime when you're nót crediting all the time.

There's a tendency to almost worship the artist. Act like they are some sort of god, because they 'create'. As a writer I've encountered this as well (don't say writing isn't art, 'cause then Í'm insulted ;p) and it is something I'm very uneasy about. Because it simply is my job. Because it is not something spectacular. Because I don't save lives, I only write stories.

What I wanted to say with my previous comment was that: Yes, artists give up time for us, they make beautiful things and they love what they do. But in the end we have to keep in mind that even though they love their job, their service to customers is also because artist want to keep their business. Even artists need money for food.

So yes, I do think it's nice to credit them once in a while, but you shouldn't feel obligated to do so. I don't always credit the person who made my chair, but it doesn't mean I appreciate his work any less.