So here’s where I’m at with it — if I ever do a commission and it turns out amazing, yeah I might have that temptation to show it off. Like that little ego spark that’s like damn I snapped, the world needs to see this. And honestly, I get why artists post their commission work. It’s their art, it’s their skill, and there’s pride in that.
But at the same time… someone paid for that. Like actually paid real money for their OC, their character, their concept. Half the time, the subject of the commission isn’t even something the artist owns — it belongs to the person who requested it. So posting it feels a little off to me, like sharing something that was meant to be personal. It’s technically yours because you created it, but also they invested in it. There’s a weird dual ownership that I don’t think people talk about enough.
And then there’s the internet — the messy part. People steal everything. You can watermark, you can say “don’t repost,” you can scream it in all caps, and still someone will crop it, recolor it, AI-trace it, slap it on Pinterest, or make it their profile picture like they birthed the character themselves. It happens all the time. And imagine being the person who paid $50, $70, $100+ for a fully colored, full-body piece of your OC, only to see it floating around as some random person’s icon. That would make my skin crawl.
Yeah, artists deal with art theft even on non-commission pieces — that’s nothing new. But it hits different when money, trust, and someone’s personal creation is involved. It’s not just art anymore, it’s sentimental + financial value tied together.
I’m not bashing anyone who posts their commissions. Post your work, build your portfolio, get your exposure — you’re allowed. It’s your craft and your right. But my personal stance is just that some commissions feel like they should stay private, kept between the artist and the commissioner like a little sealed envelope. Sometimes art is special because not everyone sees it.
And that’s okay.
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