How to Find Real Artists Online and Avoid Being Scammed

You’re looking for some custom art – the perfect gift for your loved one. So, you hop online to find a custom artist – checking out Etsy, maybe a couple of individual artist websites – and find a plethora of scams. And then, you find a plethora of maybe-scams. You’re not sure which artist is real, and which is fake, which artist paints, and which uses AI. So, how do you know when an Etsy artist, or any online artist, is actually legit? 

That’s what I'm here to share with you today. In my industry, custom watercolor portraits are extremely popular (hand painted portraits for higher-end gifts, and digital “watercolor”  portraits for the budget-conscious). And AI scams are extremely popular as well. AI watercolor art is probably, aside from custom cartoon/anime styles, the most saturated AI art scam out there. So, here are 4 things to check before deciding to purchase from an online artist. 

1. Look for Process Videos

This is probably the most important tip on this list. It’s helpful because if there’s no real artist behind the work, then there can’t be a video of them! Luckily, AI videos are typically quite a bit easier to spot than AI image content, and they’re not used nearly as often.

So, when looking for process videos (typically on the homepage of the website, or with the product photos), just make sure it shows the artist actually painting a piece (or drawing digitally). It can’t just be a video going through finished pieces, or even process photos – it’s best if the artist is seen actually doing the work. 

2. Look for Other Sources of Verification

A second verification source (other than the artist’s website, or a platform like Etsy) is always a good sign that the online artist is legit. But what is a verification source? Basically, it’s a source about the artist that comes from other people or other places – think reviews, a social media presence or social media promotion by others, or even a brick-and-mortar studio location. 

Written reviews are obviously the easiest and best way to see not only if the artist is legit, but if they’re the right artist for you to work with for a custom commission. You get to see what other people think of the process, the style, and whether they were actually happy with the artist and the end result. 

It is important to note, however, that while reviews are easy to find and can be a great verification of an artist’s authenticity, reviews can also be AI generated, just like the artwork, OR, the customers who wrote the reviews may have been scammed themselves and really believed the art was handmade, when in fact it was AI generated. 

Googling for a social media account or a brick-and-mortar store are also great options for a second verification. The artist’s social media posts, or the artist being featured in someone else’s social media posts, is a great way to learn more about the artist and gauge their authenticity. And, of course, if there’s a brick-and-mortar studio, the artist probably isn’t trying to scam people with AI art. 

 

3. Make Sure Site Content isn’t AI-Generated

This tip is very similar to #1. When you’re on the website, pay very close attention to product photos and website photos – if there’s any AI-generated content there, then it’s probably best to move on and find a different artist. 

Etsy is especially prone to this trap, and it’s an easy trap to fall into. Many Etsy artists use product mockups for their listing photos, because it saves time, money, and resources. These mockups are extremely high-quality photos, and can be confused with AI images. This means that people might be distrustful of a store with real, hand made products that use mockups, and accidentally buy from a store with fake, AI products that use AI-generated photos. 

4. Look to See if there is a Face and/or Location for the Business

Finally, try to find a face and/or location for the online artist. Even if the artist works solely online, they’ll often share their general location to add an element of trust and authenticity. It encourages customers that they’re a real person, and make real art. This is a good piece of information to find when trying to determine whether an online artist is legit or not. 

Also, try to see if the face of the artist is on the website. This doesn’t mean their literal face, necessarily (some artists, like me, prefer to stay a little more private on the Internet), just consistent images of them. Check the About page of the website, in particular. 

A note on Etsy: Etsy does not work like a personal website for artists, which means artists have little customization options for their shop. Often, there’ll be a profile image for the artist/shop, but that’s it. So, if you can’t find an image of the Etsy artist, know that that’s not unusual, and not necessarily a cause for suspicion. 

To Recap:

• Always try to find process videos of the artist creating the artwork 
• Try to find a second verification source of the artist’s authenticity through things like reviews, social media, or even a brick-and-mortar location
• Make sure website content (specifically images) is not AI-generated
• Try to find a face and/or general location of the artist on their website

When looking for a custom piece of art, do your research on the artist. There are lots of scammers out there, especially on platforms like Etsy, and lots of genuine artists and small business owners trying to beat the flood of AI art. I hope this was a helpful post for you, and helps you find the right artist to suit your needs.

Until next time, 

Lydia Lake