Copyrights and laws

All right, this has been in the back of my mind ever since I've started my blog, and even my friends and family have asked me about it, but as far as I know, I've done everything I can to protect my work. But, after reading this post/article from another illustrator/artist, I thought I would post the link so you guys can read it for yourself, as well as the comments. Plus, when I looked at my stats the other day, I saw that someone had visited my website by searching for "steal facebook graffiti". This bothered me and after seeing the post, it bothers me even more as I think about it. I already try to put my name on almost all of my work, yet I know sometimes a piece or two, or three or four, might get past me without my signature. Yet, even signatures can be cropped out or smudged over. But I have all the originals, so I have proof I created my work, whereas anyone who steals it won't. But just in case, please remember that all artwork and writings belong to the maker, and you shouldn't use it without their permission. Other than that, I hope you enjoy my work and I hope it inspires you like other artists' have me. It's one thing to be inspired by someone's work, but it's an entirely different thing to steal it and say it is your own. So be sure that your work is protected!

Just a reminder: All artwork is Copyright Mindy Lou Hagan © 2007 - All Rights Reserved

My Sketch book

I love looking at other peoples' sketch books because they always look as if the ideas just flow from their heads onto the paper. Mine hardly ever looks that good when I do sketches. Normally the rough draft I do becomes the final piece and there really isn't much sketching done in between. However, I got a new sketch book the other day and have been fiddling around on the first page for the past couple of nights, so I thought I would share my own page. I wrote several words on it as I tried out different styles of my handwriting, so don't pay any attention to some of the words. Some are labels and others are just doodles of the words of the songs I was listening to at the time. I really like my pictures on here though. Especially the elf and the crocodile hunter. :) The witch is an early idea for a poem I'm working on. This sketch actually gave me a new idea for the poem, so maybe sketching is more helpful to me than I think it is. :)