Someone STEALING my ART!! on Etsy

Artists be aware! The listing below was brought to my attention today, someone on etsy created a listing with MY painting above, asking another artist to COPY!! MY painting but for less money! Can you believe the audacity??! This is beyond copyright infringement and just plain sickening if you ask me! I have contacted etsy & will be checking to make sure this item is removed by this evening at the latest! And how sweet of them to have the deadline on my birthday!
Oil Panting of Westie Atop Vintage Suitcase posted 6/13/2010 , expires 7/4/2010 I'm looking to buy an oil painting on stretched canvas that is identical (or at least very similar) to this one: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzz9yA9_c0CEE51jdVnU1iS5d8ezijgU2UwAY9eiy4Oxzol_LkOpeLqFAYosSITZTChTkNVZBl47t8JjE1F7fOxDFca_J7nN3pXbLn3WEE0R0Uj7WjlSFtTak21Mfv24KpjDBe4NV4cLl_/s400/WestieAtopVintageCaseBLOG.jpg Please let me know in your bid what you would charge for such a piece (the price I have in this listing is just a placeholder since I know everyone's bids will vary greatly) and also what size you are bidding. I am open to any size between 11x14" and 18x24". The deadline date I listed above is the date by which I would like to have the piece in my hands. I realize this may be a stretch so if it is not possible to finish it by that date I can probably be a little flexible. In your bid, please include the price to ship the piece to Virginia. Thanks and I look forward to reviewing your bids! Materials: oil paint, stretched canvas Tags: westie, dog, oil painting, canvas Ideal price: $1.00 Deadline: Jul 19, 2010 Quantity: 1 Ship To: Fairfax, VA 22033 United States Images: (click to enlarge)

ART FRAUD on ebay & even Michaels!!

 

 

PLEASE do REAL, hardworking artists a favor and be aware of the rampant ART FRAUD on ebay & now even at Michaels!! 

Check out this new blog sent to me by a fellow artist:

http://ebayfraudbusters.blogspot.com/
I also wrote a GUIDE on ebay last year on How To Spot a FAKE Oil Painting. Click here. It seems that the problem is only getting worse as computer programs such as Photoshop make it VERY easy for anyone to take a photo, alter it, and make it look like not only an oil painting, but a watercolor, drawing, charcoal, you name it! If something looks 'a little too good to be true', chances are it is a FAKE!
**And the latest dog rescued from being chained!!! from Coalition to Unchain Dogs :) enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjzOMq38wy4