Should I worry about copyright issues before creating a painting of a celebrity or public figure?

Don’t stop before you start. Make the piece, put it out there, and sell some of it first. Then address issues if they arise. The worst-case scenario—being noticed by a celebrity’s estate or management—is actually a good outcome because it means you’re on their radar. Most of the time, this opens a conversation about licensing rather than a lawsuit. Have a plan (like saving a percentage of sales as a potential royalty payment), but don’t let fear of legal issues prevent you from creating work. Getting noticed is harder than getting permission, so focus on creating and building an audience first.

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Asked by an artist worried about legal issues · Answered by Megh Knappenberger and Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2023-08-10