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Unfortunately there are fraudsters in this world, be it in art, or any other product or item you set out to buy.
I've sold art on eBay for some 8 years, and head up a group of over 6,200 artists in the eBay community (as of March 2009), and get so disappointed at seeing sales of art that I believe to be less than 'as described'. Fortunately these are a minority, but even one dollar spent on something that is not what it says it is, to me, is fraud and stealing - no matter how much the buyer may like the image.
Unfortunately computer programs are getting smarter and easier to manipulate images with just one push - then add water, paint, pencil, pastel, or even as sealer to a print on authentic papers and even canvas in such a way that an artwork looks original - unless you look under intense magnification. There are some good reviews written showing how to look for the difference between original art and print manipulation.
I have NO argument with those that do digital art or 'altered' art, as long as it is labeled such, not marked as original. So you might like to look up these guides/reviews.
Some tips I have found to be helpful.
Read ALL of the description VERY carefully (I've been guilty of not doing this, so it's easy to do). If something seems a little 'off', question it.
See if the artist has an 'about me' page, or even look at 'my world' - if they include interests or passion in art, then that is a good sign. Some even include photos of them working on a work in process. Although all this can be faked, it usually is less likely for fraudsters to follow through with this amount of detail.
Be sure to read feedback - some people don't like to leave negatives. Really read it! If the links to the 'old' art is clickable, go look! If all feedback is good, don't stop your investigation. Not all art buyers are 'experts'.
If someone has been selling other products and 'suddenly' switch to professional looking art, perhaps question this. Why haven't they always sold art if their work is so great?
Look what else they have for sale. Any other artwork? If so, compare it, one to another. Often when I suspect manipulated prints I look at the other work. While some can really fool, others don't, they are more crudely done. Sometimes I think it's because they get greedy, thinking they have found a way to print money. So if there is a vast difference in quality. If there is pencil over the top of a 'painting' check and see how professionally the pencil work is - if it seems crude, it's possible that the underlying image is a manipulated photo/print.
It could also be possible to google the artist, if you have the name. Many artists make sure their name is known (some don't because of privacy concerns, so don't discount these). By using quote marks in your search "Jane Doe" artist (quote on the name) will bring up ONLY Jane Does, not just Janes, and/or Does. A great many artists have their own websites.
Another indication of POSSIBLE fraud is the price. If a work looks like it took hours to do (many/most originals do!), and it's priced at a VERY low price, or starts off at a low prices (sometimes these have been bid higher, so always look at the start price). I'm not sure why it is that these people do this (starting at low prices), maybe it's so they feel that they are not stealing, but only charging you for printing and paper, and so justify it that way - and if it goes up in price I think the sellers rejoice and decide that if you can't tell it's a fake, then you deserve it. Pure speculation on my behalf there. But it does seem fairly consistent that these types of works do start out at low prices to get noticed.
Many of the artists on eBay are parts of groups and know one another, and it has been that way for years, and many of us are very approachable. If in doubt of something, ask! We want you to love art as much as we do!
I always provide a COA (certificate of authenticity), but that does not mean that fraudsters don't do the same. And many artists choose not to provide one, and that is perfectly acceptable. As this practice is not known by every artist or embraced by all.
You also can search closed listings on eBay using some key words, to see if an image might belong to another artist, under 'advanced search', though it only searches recent closed listings. Or else search google images to see if the image might be there, using keywords and the use of quotation marks. I found one recently by searching under "mermaid rocks". As all works are copyright by the creator, whether it says so or not, using another artist's image is not permissable, and in most cases, using another's photo is not allowed - unless permission has been obtained.
There ARE exceptions to this. There are some open image libraries for artists, and it CAN be possible for one photo to be turned into a painting by more than one artist.
In writing this guide, I am hoping that it helps you become a little more aware of what you are buying. But please don't let it turn you off buying art. We are artists who love having our art in the possession of those who can appreciate what we are all about. Many of us rely on it for our living. It is not necessarily 'just a hobby', it can be something that is our entire being. We are mostly very sincere, caring people, as shown in trying to make sure that you don't fall into the hands of fakers.
Check out other guides/reviews for more tips by other reviewers - the above are just a few of the more obvious, and employing these tips and investing it a BIG magnifier should pretty much quickly solidify your opinion as to whether your potential art purchase is 'as described'.
Some other related reviews and guides (there are more, but these all have visual examples):
How to spot Fake Watercolors on eBay. Avoid Art Fraud:
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Spot-Fake-Watercolors-on-eBay-Avoid-Art-Fraud_W0QQugidZ10000000002116980
Original art print or photoshopped fraud:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Original-Art-Print-or-Photoshopped-Fraud_W0QQugidZ10000000006515108
Protect yourself from fake art:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Protect-yourself-from-fake-art_W0QQugidZ10000000007645350
How to spot a fake oil painting:
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Spot-a-Fake-Oil-Painting_W0QQugidZ10000000008734681
Pencil piracy:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Pencil-Piracy_W0QQugidZ10000000001667957
More visual examples - from an eBay artist's 'about me' page:
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=bantan
All the best.
~Jillian
I've sold art on eBay for some 8 years, and head up a group of over 6,200 artists in the eBay community (as of March 2009), and get so disappointed at seeing sales of art that I believe to be less than 'as described'. Fortunately these are a minority, but even one dollar spent on something that is not what it says it is, to me, is fraud and stealing - no matter how much the buyer may like the image.
Unfortunately computer programs are getting smarter and easier to manipulate images with just one push - then add water, paint, pencil, pastel, or even as sealer to a print on authentic papers and even canvas in such a way that an artwork looks original - unless you look under intense magnification. There are some good reviews written showing how to look for the difference between original art and print manipulation.
I have NO argument with those that do digital art or 'altered' art, as long as it is labeled such, not marked as original. So you might like to look up these guides/reviews.
Some tips I have found to be helpful.
Read ALL of the description VERY carefully (I've been guilty of not doing this, so it's easy to do). If something seems a little 'off', question it.
See if the artist has an 'about me' page, or even look at 'my world' - if they include interests or passion in art, then that is a good sign. Some even include photos of them working on a work in process. Although all this can be faked, it usually is less likely for fraudsters to follow through with this amount of detail.
Be sure to read feedback - some people don't like to leave negatives. Really read it! If the links to the 'old' art is clickable, go look! If all feedback is good, don't stop your investigation. Not all art buyers are 'experts'.
If someone has been selling other products and 'suddenly' switch to professional looking art, perhaps question this. Why haven't they always sold art if their work is so great?
Look what else they have for sale. Any other artwork? If so, compare it, one to another. Often when I suspect manipulated prints I look at the other work. While some can really fool, others don't, they are more crudely done. Sometimes I think it's because they get greedy, thinking they have found a way to print money. So if there is a vast difference in quality. If there is pencil over the top of a 'painting' check and see how professionally the pencil work is - if it seems crude, it's possible that the underlying image is a manipulated photo/print.
It could also be possible to google the artist, if you have the name. Many artists make sure their name is known (some don't because of privacy concerns, so don't discount these). By using quote marks in your search "Jane Doe" artist (quote on the name) will bring up ONLY Jane Does, not just Janes, and/or Does. A great many artists have their own websites.
Another indication of POSSIBLE fraud is the price. If a work looks like it took hours to do (many/most originals do!), and it's priced at a VERY low price, or starts off at a low prices (sometimes these have been bid higher, so always look at the start price). I'm not sure why it is that these people do this (starting at low prices), maybe it's so they feel that they are not stealing, but only charging you for printing and paper, and so justify it that way - and if it goes up in price I think the sellers rejoice and decide that if you can't tell it's a fake, then you deserve it. Pure speculation on my behalf there. But it does seem fairly consistent that these types of works do start out at low prices to get noticed.
Many of the artists on eBay are parts of groups and know one another, and it has been that way for years, and many of us are very approachable. If in doubt of something, ask! We want you to love art as much as we do!
I always provide a COA (certificate of authenticity), but that does not mean that fraudsters don't do the same. And many artists choose not to provide one, and that is perfectly acceptable. As this practice is not known by every artist or embraced by all.
You also can search closed listings on eBay using some key words, to see if an image might belong to another artist, under 'advanced search', though it only searches recent closed listings. Or else search google images to see if the image might be there, using keywords and the use of quotation marks. I found one recently by searching under "mermaid rocks". As all works are copyright by the creator, whether it says so or not, using another artist's image is not permissable, and in most cases, using another's photo is not allowed - unless permission has been obtained.
There ARE exceptions to this. There are some open image libraries for artists, and it CAN be possible for one photo to be turned into a painting by more than one artist.
In writing this guide, I am hoping that it helps you become a little more aware of what you are buying. But please don't let it turn you off buying art. We are artists who love having our art in the possession of those who can appreciate what we are all about. Many of us rely on it for our living. It is not necessarily 'just a hobby', it can be something that is our entire being. We are mostly very sincere, caring people, as shown in trying to make sure that you don't fall into the hands of fakers.
Check out other guides/reviews for more tips by other reviewers - the above are just a few of the more obvious, and employing these tips and investing it a BIG magnifier should pretty much quickly solidify your opinion as to whether your potential art purchase is 'as described'.
Some other related reviews and guides (there are more, but these all have visual examples):
How to spot Fake Watercolors on eBay. Avoid Art Fraud:
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-To-Spot-Fake-Watercolors-on-eBay-Avoid-Art-Fraud_W0QQugidZ10000000002116980
Original art print or photoshopped fraud:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Original-Art-Print-or-Photoshopped-Fraud_W0QQugidZ10000000006515108
Protect yourself from fake art:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Protect-yourself-from-fake-art_W0QQugidZ10000000007645350
How to spot a fake oil painting:
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Spot-a-Fake-Oil-Painting_W0QQugidZ10000000008734681
Pencil piracy:
http://reviews.ebay.com/Pencil-Piracy_W0QQugidZ10000000001667957
More visual examples - from an eBay artist's 'about me' page:
http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=bantan
All the best.
~Jillian
Guide created: 03/11/09 (updated 07/10/11)
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