what do I do?
long story, but me and my friend LOVE to draw, a lot, so we have these drawing days where we both draw, and we did that same thing today, except, something was off, my friend would constantly look at my drawing, and for those I the art community, I was drawing a redesign of my new character, and my friend, draw the exact same guide lines or shapes that I did, and then after we were done, she literally drew the exact same thing that I drew, but I didn't say anything, and now I am thinking about saying something, but what should I say??
Comments
Hi @R3D
Thanks for reaching out and sharing this with the community. I'm sure this must be a confusing situation for you!
I second what @SteadySteps has said; your friend may just be inspired by your work. It may just be a one-off event and not happen again, however, I do think it may be worth mentioning to your friend, especially because it seems to be weighing on your mind. You could possibly frame it in a way that asks your friend what their inspiration was and could even point out the similarities between your work.
It's great to have people you can connect with and have shared interests, but it is also healthy to have clear communication and boundaries in relationships, which in turn make them grow stronger.
I hope it all goes well!
Hey @R3D,
That sounds like a tricky situation, especially since drawing together is something you both enjoy. If it’s been on your mind, bringing it up in a casual way could help clear the air.
You could mention that you noticed the similarities and were curious about it. Your friend might not have realised how closely they were following your work, or they could have been inspired without thinking about how it would come across.
If it keeps happening and starts to bother you, it’s okay to set some boundaries and let them know that your designs feel personal to you. That way, you can both continue to enjoy drawing together while keeping your creative work unique.
I hope this was helpful! Wishing you all the best. 😊
Hey @R3D,
It's great that you found something to bond with your friend over and have those days where you can share in this practice you love together. As a fellow art person, I do see your frustration and concern but it is nothing you can't address with your friend. I think it is best to also give your friend some grace as they may be artistically lost and are looking to you for inspiration, or even looking at your work in admiration. With that being said, if it is making you uncomfortable and of concern, the best thing to do is to let your friend know how it makes you feel. Let them know you are not comfortable in them following what you are drawing a little too closely that is come across as possibly copying to you and you would appreciate a boundary being drawn where you create your own pieces but still in each others company.
Communication is key in any relationship and all the best in your artistic ventures 💖
Hi @R3D
As a fellow member of the art community I feel your frustrations. It would be especially frustrating that your friend has copied your work.
It might be an idea to discuss this boundary with your friend. Maybe state you noticed their design of the character was similar to yours and your feelings surrounding that. And if your happy to and they would also like it offer them assistance in learning? Maybe they’re trying out a new art style? Either way, discussing your feelings on the matter with your friend might be a great way to both set a boundary and deepen your friendship!
I hope this helps 🫶
Thank you all so much, you're advice helped me alot, but the thing is, i had asked her if she was copying my art, but she lied straight to my face, and she is not looking for inspo as she already likes her styles, my friend is the type of friend who has no personal opinion, and she has copied other people in my friend group.
Like one time she traced my friends art work, LINE FOR LINE. But i am her main target, for some reason. I don't like lying, but i am aslo scared of it, i've been trying to reach to her but she won't listen, and she's not admiting it. I'm scared that she might copy me again, and i don't want to change the look of my character because i spent too much time on it. So thank you for the advise, but i'm still stuck. 😔
Hi @R3D,
That sounds like a very frustrating situation. Maybe it would be best if you hide your drawings from her for now? If she asks why you don't feel comfortable showing your art, you can state that you see the similarities and how you find it a bit too similar for comfort. Or if you find that saying that would lead to confrontation you're not ready for, you can say you're not comfortable with showing your characters until they're complete.
I'm not sure if this applies to your situation but people can sometimes think something is their own original idea even though in truth they saw it somewhere else. Maybe your friend doesn't realize the similarities? Perhaps it would help if an "unbiased" outsider pointed out those similarities to her too. Say a teacher or an acquaintance.
I wish you the best of luck in resolving this 🍀
