I Was Flabbergasted

You just very politely say something like "Actually, that's a painting done with watercolor and acrylic. Thanks for your comment!"

Then chalk it up to the simple fact that most of the time, people don't know what they're talking about.



I've had people say "I could do that in Photoshop" (I don't use photoshop very much at all on my images, just for level adjustment and adding my signature usually) and I just say. "Great, you should do that then." And I smile.

This is what I said:

Jani Freimann Fine Art
Juan Carlos - Not! I hope you are kidding. I am a traditional artist. It was all done with paint on a canvas. I never use special effects in my creation of original artwork.

That was nice compared to what I felt like saying; which was something along the feel of " You're a moron".

What you said is so much more diplomatically dismissive. I wish I could think that way in the moment.

Many people call my photos paintings. It amuses me.

Hmmm...you made me think of something. Perhaps he was giving me a compliment. Sometimes, while painting I think of all the cool textures that photographers can now use which inspires me and has effected how I use texture.

Well, I'm a smartass. It kind of comes naturally to me. :)

Haha...love it...except when it's directed at me. :-) Then I feel like an idiot; which would be much deserved.

During my very first demo, I had a character approach me as to why I was using a photo reference, "Can you paint without a picture?" His expression was ornery and his words were purposeful in trying to stump me.

My knee jerk reaction, " Ya, but why should I. Can You?" Then I realized that I was doing a demo and other people were watching. So, I proceeded to explain why I was using a reference photo. Lots of distractions and it's my first time doing a demo.

My husband told me a much better response. He's very diplomatic in how he speaks. Makes us the perfect couple, lol. I should have brought my husband.

I think sometimes people just don't know what they are looking at especially when it comes to paintings. Now there are so many ways to create work in photoshop that look like paintings. As a traditional artist I find the comment rude or perhaps ignorant to what it takes to create an original work. I also use photoshop but they are represented as digital artwork.

I agree with Kerri some people are just ignorant and will say whatever comes to the top of their head. But I can honestly say that your paintings, Celestial Stallion and Wild Horse of the Skies are very unique and beautiful.

Thank you, Jean. Even if you didn't like them, I promise I don't normally go all redhead on people. :-)

I actually like it when people tell me what they don't like about something I've created. Constructive criticism is very helpful and welcome, but I don't handle rudeness very well.

My digital paintings get mistaken for traditional paintings all the time. Doesn't bother me. ;)

But seriously, I don't think it's an offensive or rude thing to say. It can be hard these days to distinguish what is and is not Photoshopped. You could just politely say that no graphics editing software (i.e. Photoshop) was used in the creation of the piece and leave it at that. Nothing to get bent out of shape over.

April, when people make that statement on Facebook. It is usually meant as a dig to the artist. I've read many a post that has had compliment after compliment about how great something was created and then someone comes along to burst people's bubble with that very statement and very much intends it to be derogatory.

Whether he meant it that way or not isn't clear, but I'm over it now anyway.

you don't need to respond. just move on. we don't have to respond to everything and, "until you open your mouth, you're in full control" (i love that saying.) people say stuff. let it roll off your back. if he was trying to be ridiculous, he's not going to succeed if you don't answer. if he knows no better, why are you going to try and enlighten him?

I don't know, his choice of phrasing was kind of inherently snarky and challenging. He could have said "is that a Photoshop effect?" and it would have had a very different connotation.

On a side note: I just "liked" your page ;)

As for the remark, you answered well and made him look like a tool. Good job! LOL There are folks out there who are completely clueless and when they seem something extraordinary they remark "Photoshop" because they lack the knowledge of how anything extraordinary could have been done without using a computer.

A quick look at his FB page shows me he studied graphic design, and his art page on FB shows me he is quite fond of Photoshop. As the old saying goes, to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Or maybe, to a man with Photoshop, everything looks like an effect. Lol!

ETA: It doesn't appear that English is his first language. Perhaps he didn't intend to come across as snarky or sarcastic?

Since you had explained how you created the image I can't imagine that this person was confused about weather it was photoshopped or not my guess is he was fishing for a response, I would have ignored it, after bitching to myself for a wile of course...that's what I do...bitch to myself...a lot!
Terry
tlmair.com

Terry and Carolyn, I would have if it wasn't so public. My ad has reached over 7000 people, been shared 35 times, liked over 300 times, and 30 people have liked my page due to the ad and it has 4 more days still. That is a lot of people that could be influenced by incorrect information. It needed to be addressed. I could hide his comment, but I've decided that it was a good opportunity to express just how it was made. Turn it for good, so to speak.

April, it's entirely possible that it was an innocent mistake. I guess that's why I should er on the side of grace and not call him a moron in public.

Thank you, Louise, and thank you for the compliment. I don't know that it is extraordinary, but I get what you're saying.

Btw, Carolyn, I do like that saying too. Some people call that passive aggressive. One thing you could never accuse me of being, lol.
I don't believe that response gives you more control only a false sense of control and the ability to get away with stuff for a very long time.

Elenor Roosevelt once said something that has been interpreted as something like "Nobody can offend you unless you give them the power to offend you." or as Taylor Swift says..."Shake, Shake, Shake it off!" LOL

Bill Tomsa

billtomsa.blogspot.com/

I love that song, Bill. :-)

I have chosen to shake it off. How could you not when you hear that song, lol.

Jani, I have had a few of my paintings referred to as photos. I just corrected them nicely and took it as an ultimate compliment. Heck, if we can paint that well that it fools someone, smile, really big! I love your work always and it is tops!

Some people are ignorant and rude online. BUT he may have been being totally complimentary, not knowing your painting was not a Photoshop piece. You can either correct him or just ignore the comment because there's no telling if he was being complimentary or not.

Phyllis, thank you, I love your work too.

Usually, my photography gets mistaken for paintings. Especially the abstract ones. I do see that as a compliment. Never offended.

Now I try to photograph in a way that it looks like a painting. The painting being confused with being Photoshopped is a bit different. The implication that it couldn't be done without a computer's help should be offensive to graphic artists too, imo. None of it is easy and all of it takes talent.

My being offended; which I'm not anymore, was the derogatory tone it came with. Like I said, people don't say that phrase when they mean to compliment someone. Not usually. That is why graphic designer's have a right to be offended about such a statement too.

Joy, if I had a do over. I would choose to let it go. Hide his comment and move on.

It's true, I could have taken it wrong.

Either correct him politely or hide his comment. Those are my choices. I couldn't just leave it. It was false information.

I would not say a thing but would delete the comment.

I would delete the comment, and not respond. People who make implied or actual negative comments should not show up in your comments, since they are a sales tool. I also routinely delete transparent efforts at "comment swapping" or spam. For example. "Great cardinal shot. Visit my bird gallery to see similar images." Or the oh-so-insipid "f/v" all by itself.

Or the oh-so-insipid "f/v" all by itself.

Greg - please excuse my ignorance, but what is "f/v" ?

Bill Tomsa

billtomsa.blogspot.com/

Fave/vote

I'm seriously considering the delete option, Gregory and JC. I've cooled down since.

Hey someone commented on one of the share of the link to Celestial Stallion:

Looks like me after six months into my first marriage.

Haha...awesome! Never would have suspected one of my horse paintings would be likened to a disheveled human portrait.

Okay, comment is deleted.

Ahh...That was surprisingly cleansing.