Hi everybody!

My website is up and running and finally looking just right!!

Come and take a look

Dave

Hi Dave they are fantasic, there are a few which stand out for me, like the boy and the dog looking over his shoulder and Marylyn looking pensive, really are all very good, I hope you do well

Hi Dave - fabulous work - you've some stunning portraits there that really work well with your pencil and ink format. i esp like the Marylin montage one - to use people important to her in the construction of her portrait adds a 3rd dimension to it and makes it not just another Marilyn pic.

What do you use for source material? i see you have a foundation degree in art - whats their official line on constructing a portrait from multi images in the public domain. its something that can be a problem - id like to do some work like this - I've done a couple as gifts for friends but though i understand each photo has its own copyright ( and agree with this - its what we as artists want for our works too) I'm unsure about legalities surrounding using bits of a photo - say the eyes - on a Beckham pic for example. His image is so well known that most people could have a stab at painting him from memory bt would need to look at photos to check small details.

A gallery i used to belong to ( online) won't accept these type of portraits unless you can prove you have permission or you have copyright to source material but a "real world" gallery owner I exhibit in says he leaves this to the artists to decide. I just wondered if you have any clearer info - seems to be a bit of grey area at the moment.

Hi Dave

Really good portraits. I enjoyed looking at your website. I agree with Jeannie about the copyright, you have to be careful if you haven't permission. I was going to do some myself to sell until my husband who (has had some training for his job on copyright) pointed out the issues. There were so many that I decided not to bother. If you do have permission then brill and good luck to you.

All the best.

Linda

http://www.artbylindahopkins.co.uk

You cant copy an image in whole or in part if you dont have written permission.

No harm is using stuff as reference just not a straight copy of the original image pose, shading, colours ect. Regardless of which bit it is.

As far as famous peeps go though even using their face without permission is dodgy even if you made sketches from the flims. Its a money grabbing thing.

Great technical skill you have there of course.