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If you think about it, the people that are insanely popular are the ones that DON'T need to watermark their work, because chances are, anyone trying to masquerade as them will get torn to shreds by the artists fans before much real damage could be done.

It's okay to watermark your art. It's your work, that you own the copyright to. Nothing you do will keep others from referencing it, or copying it if they really feel the drive to, but one thing watermarking WILL work in your advantage toward IS theft of the image itself. There are several way to watermark an image tastefully, and without seeming pretencious. I think just about the only way you can come across as pompous in this case is by plaster bright red, size 40, capitalized do not steal all over your art.

What I do, when Im not too lazy is I take a signature/logo/brand I've created and overlay it lightly over the artwork, in a fairly obvious place. It makes the watermark hard to edit out while not taking away from the art itself so much as to discourage people viewing it.

Another option if you don't have a program you can overlay in is showing your art at a smaller resolution then the original piece. Just large enough to be enjoyed, but small enough that if someone did attempt to claim it as their own, only you would have access to the original file/drawing at the full resolution. If you put a lot of detail you can post additional detail shots of the parts your proudest of. A close up, at the original resolution of a small portion of the image to show the work you put into it in all its glory.

hmm i dont know. ive never watermarked my work, and never considered it. sometimes i dont sign it either because im lazy. haha, i guess it comes from being a noob?

i guess i have a different viewpoint. if someone wants to steal my stuff and do weird things to it, BY ALL MEANS, idc! not that anyone would rofl

i guess i am weird redface

if they claim it as their own, its kinda flattering cause they could have googled any image to the same effect (but they chose yours, hooray).
i dont know about commissions because i dont take those sweatdrop
but i can imagine that it can get frustrating

I honestly go back and forth on the issue. Sometimes I almost wish someone would steal my art, just so I'd have the satisfaction of knowing someone liked it enough towish it were their own, but at the same time I do get very defensive about my work.Some aspects more then other. Actual peices, and commissions I'm not all that protective of, but I would be admittedly annoyed. Original characters, and character design I would be incredibly angry if someone copied, or claimed it to be their own creation. (However I view someone using a character design of mine for an RP that will never be anything more to them then an rp just fine. If they went so far as to start getting art of the character though, and calling it their own I would be angry.

And then there are things like my tattoo designs, and the like. If someone wanted to actually get a tattoo of one of my designs I would be absolutely ecstatic and ask them for a picture of the finished product for my portfolio. I actually wouldn't care all that much if people used them for their own characters, or as a pattern on clothing or in an advertisement. I'd honestly be excited to see it. I don't know why that in particular is just fine to be. I honestly don't.

Exactly. Once, before I got my tattoo and I was really excited about getting it, I tol one of my customers about it. His response was, well I wouldn't if I were you. Not because its perminant or anything, but because you're basically paying to be a walking advertisement, and I would never advertise anyones business for free.

I found I was actually really insulted by his comment, because in my mind if someone dedicated their time, and passion into putting something on to my body perminantly, and did a good enough job that someone chose to ask where I got it or from whom, I would tell them in a heartbeat. Because I am all for lending a hand to an artist who will do a great job, perform their job with integrity, and follow saftey procedures (In the case of tattooing.)

I hold artists on the internet in the same regard. If I recieved art from an artist who displayed exceptional regard for their work I would send anyone who asked directly to them, because passion, and integrity deserve to be rewarded.

I really push the golden rule for this reason. Plus if you make an effort to get along with and understand your peers life is not only easier in general, but others will bemore likely to lend you a hand if you need it.