Posted by Eric Abraham on June 20, 2006 at 14:31:30 from 63.245.133.253 user EricAbraham.
In Reply to: Re: SA series and copyright posted by Jock on June 19, 2006 at 22:20:30:
For me, the illustrations are basically traditional. Like the illustrations in "Alice in Wonderland" or "Dr. Doolittle" and others. It becomes what we are used to. I have seen Alice with other illustrations (usually abridged for little kids) that make me cringe - they are good illustrations, but NOT for Alice (or whomever). I have been asked to do Wizard of Oz and Disney characters in my work, I won't do it as (1) they are copyrighted and strongly defended (2) I feel the original illustrations are more than adequate and fit the story much better and (3) the original illustrations are not my work - I would be attempting to copy (or plagiarize) the work (the client typically wants the original style which reenforces the importance of the original).
Now, if the book comes out in another language, and those folks have never seen the original, then I would presume, those different illustrations would then be their "tradition".
I would think that for my story, I would want my illustrations used, as that would, in my estimation, be the way I wanted my story remembered. (I have written a story and illustrated it, not published - yet.)
Mr. Ransome's illustrations are what I originally saw and that is what has become traditional, at least for me. They "fit" the story and reflect upon it - they make it "comfortable". If I saw a book with one of the other illustrators, I probably would not buy the book.
Eric Abraham - Lucas, Kansas -- Grassroots Art Capitol of Kansas