Is it ok to copy a paint theme? really like this shoebox.

I didn't read all the replies. I once painted a racer for a guy. He wanted a flamed drag car and I was willing to do it. He comes in with this picture of a truck that was flamed, and frankly not very well. "I want my flames EXACTLY like this! EXACTLY!" "Fine. Find out who did em and have him do it." I knew who did em but wasn't going to say. "No, YOU have to give me exactly what I want!" Yes, he was loud about it, and just your average mouth breather type. "If you want flames I'll flame your car. Tell me how much you want to cover and I'll handle it." "No, I want this exact flame job. I'm the customer here. You do what I SAY!" "And I say, go fuck yourself. Get out of my shop."

It's bad enough when someone doesn't understand the inner mind that conceives this shit. It's even worse when they don't know that even in free form art there's still a "right" and "wrong". Inspiration comes in many forms. I do Packard treatments on hot rods, emulate the way they did things. Their engineering is inspiring and fitting for a certain level of build. Even giving some quarter for not being able to see the differences from one artist to another, I still would not directly copy someone's work. The classic "crab claw" flames have been around a long time. In a perfect word no 2 look exactly the same. It's better to be inspired rather than copied.

 

I would say do whatever makes you happy. It's our money and your time. Why not get exactly what you want?
I, like many, would love to own the original California Kid but that will never happen. So, I did the next best thing and created what is as close to being an identical copy as I or Jerry Slover has every seen. It was only with Jerry and Jason's help "and encourangment" that I was able to rebuild my coupe to it current look.

Now, with that being said, when an artist copies a masterpiece they always add some small detail that "they" can pick out that is different on the original.
Other than the obvious traits of mine being a '33, rather than a 34, can you spot the added feature?

Cheers!
Mickm

 

Well I have to say sometimes its just a matter of something being done before. Take music for example. We could spend hours on that.

I planned on a Gold Channeld 32 Roadster, Chrome OEM Style wheels, Y block. Hard to believe its been done before.

I think if you are trying to build an exact duplicate to someone car, then you really have to execute it 100%. Otherwise go for it. Just dont say you came up with the idea first

 

Does it come down to building the car your self ?unless its a tribute car you don't see many guys copying putting in the effort time to build a repclia of some joe blows car.

Not sure the car in Japan needs a tribute.

Building a custom car is an expression of your self not some one else am I rite or wrong.

It's like saying I have no identy so I will take his.

You want flames on your car great,you want a shoe box,great,you like those colors great,but at least mix it up a bit.

Jake