Well the first one turned out pretty cool! Let's try the second one shall we?

Ever have someone tell you you're copying them based on you following their critique and the critiques of others?

This might be a smaller audience as I believe (hopefully) it's more of a situation that's rare to occur.

In short, yes i have. I had someone tell me i tried to replicate their work when they 'red lined' over mine to show their critiques better. It's a funny scenario because someone writes you a nice critique you try to take it apart, analyze it and fix the piece based on the critique right? That person is using 'your work' as a guideline to fix it in the first place. I always figured you'd try your best to hit critiques as long as they aren't too crazy or off base.

I get a lot of critiques on my work both on and off DA and when i like a piece a lot I try to fix/tweak it based on those critiques. I would hardly think that's copying anyone, because you are just reading what people are instructing you to fix.

And don't get my started on the 'copying my style' comments: if you're using someone else's work to critique it, you are already 'using that person's style/image' there is no 'you' in there, besides maybe helping with anatomy errors here and there you are 'using' their work thus the claim is ridiculous but some people honestly think if they critique your work and you try to follow it it's 'their style, their work'.

This situation has happened to me twice now

Has it ever happened too you?