View Single Post
Old 01-03-2003, 12:38 AM   #6
Michael Georges Michael Georges is offline
PAINTING PORTRAITS
FROM LIFE MODERATOR

FT Professional
 
Michael Georges's Avatar
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Location: Loveland, CO
Posts: 846
You can indeed sell a copy of a master work. Generally the rule of thumb is any artist that is still alive or lived within the last 75 years is out of bounds. The seventy five years is to easily clear general U.S. copyright restrictions, and copying the work of a living artist and selling it is....well, tacky.

It is good to size your copy at least 5% off the size of the master work. I never sign the other artist's name but sign my own name instead and put "After" and then the original artist's name in regular script (not trying to duplicate their signature). It is also a very good idea to give credit for the copy on the back of the work and anywhere you use it for print or advertising, etc.

Competitions for master copies are probably pretty non-existent since they are derivative works and are most often done by students as part of the learning process - hence, not much interest and probably a slight disdain for such things in the art community as they are not original works and thereby are not a true testament to the artist's actual proficiency.

But you can sell them, so take some comfort there.
__________________
Michael Georges
www.fineportraitsinoil.com
Michael's Life Drawing & Painting Blog

Regular and consistent work from life will improve your portraits.
Drawing skills are the foundation of all an artist does.
  Reply With Quote