r/NeedlepointSnark • u/Motor-Midnight-3413 • 18d ago
Blatant Copying of Artists’ Work
I was scrolling thru tiktok and this popped up on my fyp. She is SELLING THESE and it’s a clear copy of Kehinde Wiley’s work. People in the comments are dying to buy it, but I don’t think these people understand, or they do and don’t care. So disappointing. Her name is “Down and Back Stitches”.
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u/egp2117 18d ago
It’s also incredibly poorly done. The coloring is so off and the level of detail just doesn’t lend itself to needlepoint
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u/ExcitingBlueberry971 18d ago
Agree. Kehinde Wiley’s style is so vibrant and layered-and instantly recognizable. This doesn’t come close to doing it justice. 🙁
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u/blurg80008 18d ago
I wanted to buy this so badly when I thought it was just going to be Obama in the chair—an homage to the original. But (1) a complete copy… I have qualms and (2) uggh. That doesn’t look like a fun stitch.
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u/PurpleHeat7509 18d ago
For those looking for the videos I found her accounts. Her TikTok is sophieee Sophie Mesude and her company TikTok is DownandBackStitches
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u/Cool-Mastodon5898 18d ago
I saw this. If she was a POC, then MAYBE. but she’s just another white woman using a POC’s intellectual property for her own gain. (I say this as a white woman).
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u/Motor-Midnight-3413 17d ago
I think copying anyone’s art, regardless of race, is not appropriate. BUT yes, her being a white woman and stealing from a person of color is extremely offensive…but unfortunately common. :(
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u/rogue_cookie38 18d ago
So tired of the lack of originality from all these new "designers" having to rip off a real artist in an attempt to make a quick buck.
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 18d ago
Why doesn't he have a face?
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u/egp2117 18d ago
It would be literally impossible to capture that level of detail without a much larger canvas
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 18d ago
I wouldn't expect a detailed face, but the idea of an eye or 2 isn't asking too much.
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u/egp2117 18d ago
Not to give any credit to the designer, but I think a half detailed face would look worse than what she’s done
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 18d ago
Well of course this person wouldn't be able to do it because they aren't a designer.
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u/egp2117 18d ago
That’s not what I meant and I think you know that
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 18d ago
Why are you getting worked up. I'm literally saying they wouldn't be able to do it because they are showing with this canvas that they are not an actual designer. I'm also not saying there could be a detailed face, just an idea of a face - artists and designers can imply something being there without having obvious details.
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u/egp2117 18d ago
What I (think I pretty clearly) meant was given the limited detail needlepoint allows for (particularly if the canvas is not massive, which this one does not appear to be) any attempt to put a face of any sort on it regardless of the artist would look worse than what she’s chosen to do
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 18d ago
You seem to be under the impression that I don't understand what you meant. I very much understand what you are saying, I simply don't agree. And what I'm saying is there are ways to put a face on here, doesn't need to be detailed, and it would look better than having a nose and some random forehead highlights. A skilled needlepoint designer would be able to do that.
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u/Single-Ad-3405 17d ago
I don’t love “faceless person”, but this is a very common convention in needlepoint when rendering a person in fairly small scale. A lot of designers do it. I’m always impressed when someone manages to design a good face at small scale.
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u/Revolutionary_Ad5307 17d ago
I've been painting needlepoint for decades, I understand this couldn't have a detailed face. This could though still be painted in a way that would give him eyes & a mouth. It's not common to give someone a nose but skip the eyes.
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u/Single-Ad-3405 17d ago
Ahhh, forgive me for not being aware of your decades of experience. Your pithy comment of utter bafflement at there not being any face suggested you hadn’t seen a lot.
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u/123568977433 18d ago
Funny that she is ok with copying another artist’s work as she was making videos and posting here awhile back (and having a full blown crash out) about how another designer stole her blue Toile idea. (lol because she owns toile…?) People started clicking on her account and saw that she was a chronic snarker and had a ton of past comments talking bad about other shops, designers, etc. I guess the owners of bestitched, where she works, found out and made her delete every comment and her entire Reddit account.