Still: DeviantART has a strict policy against tracing and copying without crediting the original atrist. And the art contained in the army books are still copyright of Games Workshop Ltd.
Either way, the entry has been edited to suit this new information./EDIT
Okay, I'm for once mad. I mean it! I'm angry.
See, about a year ago, I called out a possible tracer on dA as well as reported the devs in question. Nothing has happen (wow, big surprise!), but the asshole of a copier/tracer still hasn't credited the original artists of his traced work. That's the least the mofo could do!
The artist that has traced is a guy calling himself Aj2207.
And the guys he's been tracing?
Des Hanley! Des motherfucking Hanley and Wayne England (couldn't find an official website...)!
For those not in the know, Des Hanley worked on Games Workshop's design team during 1995 to 1999 and is responsible for the look the elven armies got at the time, the Wood Elves in particular. He's also responsible for the Bretonnian army's realism, and as far as GW artists go, he's one that prefers realism (or stylised realism) over the more stylish fantastical art. Example of the latter is Adrian Smith.
Wayne England I'm not as sure about, but I think he was a freelancer who has worked on an off with GW since the mid-90s. He has also produced a range of cards for Magic the Gathering amongst other fantasy franchises. His style is pretty recognisible (which is why it galls me that I didn't immediately recognise Teclis as his).
You can tell where this is going, right?
What this Aj2207 has done, is trace and/or copy art of Des Hanley and Wayne England. More specifically, three High Elf special characters from the 5th edition Warhammer Fantasy High Elf army supplement.
The problem involved, for me, is:
All art within the Games Workshop publications are copyright to them, and fanart or not, not crediting the original is bad form and against DeviantART's policy. DevART FAQ on tracing and copying art.
But I can post links to the pictures which are clear traces and name the characters traced:
Alarielle, Everqueen
(Scan of Des Hanley's artwork in the High Elves army book)
Belannaer, High Elf Loremaster
(Scan of Des Hanley's artwork in the High Elves army book.)
This isn't Hanley's art but nevertheless:
Teclis, High Elf Mage
(Scan of Wayne England's artwork)
As I said, the damn tit of a TARTlet could at least credit Hanley and England for the originals which he's copied, but NO! I think credit is where credit's due.
Secondly: Games Workshop owns the copyright to the art. There's no mentioning, at all, of Games Workshop Ltd. in Aj2207's Artist's Comemnts.
It's been almost a year since I demanded he'd explain himself, and sorry, but
thnx 4 lookin, but no trace just pratice
doesn't cut it.
Justice shall be served >:)
Actually the Teclis piece is a Wayne England piece.
SvaraRaderaI don't mind fan art as long as they credit the original artist.
-Des Hanley
Ah, I'll edit that then. Thanks for the head up.
SvaraRaderaThat's the problem, he doesn't credit.
Not as bad as the one who traced the Aenarion vs. N'Kari picture and sold it as a print on DevART. That is copyright violation if anything...
I agree you should always give credit to your source but looking closely at your examples, it seems like he's done his own interpretation and not a direct trace over. There seems to be alot of different lines and shapes to the originals,its a close copy but definately not traced- otherwise his tracing seems pretty poor for an exact transfer.
SvaraRadera"It seems like he's done his own interpretation and not a direct trace over. There seems to be alot of different lines and shapes to the originals,its a close copy but definately not traced- otherwise his tracing seems pretty poor for an exact transfer."
SvaraRaderaI can agree on that. It's more copies than anything else. And that is still a problem. He doesn't credit the Games Workshop originals. As I said in the blog: It is good form to say which picture you have used as reference if it is a copy. I told him to state his reference more than a year ago. Nothing has happened on that front.
Also, dunno if Games Workshop's stance is entirely clear on this:
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=&categoryId=§ion=&pIndex=3&aId=3900002&start=4