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How to respect copyright while learning to paint


Have you ever wanted to paint a picture you found on the Internet? Do you know whether it’s legal to take inspiration from it or reproduce it exactly as it is? I’ll explain the basics of copyright law as it applies to amateur painting—without complicated jargon.

🎨 Whether you’re a beginner or a passionate art lover, it’s essential to know your rights… and your limits. You’ll discover:

  • What copyright really is

  • Whether you can paint from a photo found on Google

  • How to avoid legal problems

  • Simple, legal alternatives for painting with total freedom


🎨 What You Need to Know About Copyright

Many amateur painters start by copying existing works — it’s an excellent way to learn!


But be careful: not everything you find on the Internet or in books is free to use.

In this article, I’ll explain what you are — and aren’t — allowed to do when reproducing a work… even for purely educational purposes, according to my understanding of copyright law.


Est-ce- que je peux peindre une photo trouvée sur l'internet?
Cliquez sur l'image pour voir la vidéo

🔍 What Is Copyright?

Copyright protects original works from the moment they are created, whether they are literary, musical, or visual (such as a painting or a photograph).


To make this text simpler, I’ve replaced the word “author” with “artist.”


An artist has two main rights:

Moral rights: the right to be recognized as the creator of the work, and to refuse any modification that would harm its integrity.

In France, moral rights are perpetual.

In Canada, moral rights expire 70 years after the artist’s death.

Economic rights: these give the artist (or their heirs) the right to authorize or refuse the reproduction, distribution, or sale of the work.

In general, these rights last for 70 years after the artist’s death (both in France and Canada).


🎓 Can you copy a work to learn how to paint?

Yes! You can absolutely copy a famous or contemporary work for practice, as long as it remains within a private and personal setting (at home, in a studio, in a class).


Example: copying a Monet painting for your living room to study light and color = ✔️ perfectly legal.


📱 Can you post a copy on the Internet (Facebook, Instagram, etc.)?

Here’s where it gets tricky. Posting a copy — even if made by hand — is reproducing a protected work, which can be a problem if:

  • The work is not yet in the public domain

  • You do not credit the original artist

  • You give the impression that it’s your original creation

Example: you copy a painting you saw on Pinterest and post it without saying it’s a copy → this can be considered a copyright infringement. The same applies if you post a work inspired by a living artist without mentioning their name.

🧑‍🏫 What About Painting Tutorials? Is the Work “Mine” if I Painted It?

When you follow a step-by-step tutorial (e.g., on YouTube or in a workshop), you’re learning a technique. But the final image you reproduce often belongs, in copyright terms, to the creator of the tutorial — not to you.

You are indeed the physical creator of your canvas (you painted it), but the idea, composition, and colors — all of that comes from someone else.

So: ✔️ You can say “I painted this piece by following a tutorial by [insert artist’s name].”

❌ But you shouldn’t say “This is my original creation” or sign it without mention.

This applies to both free and paid tutorials.


💰 Can You Sell a Copy of an Existing Painting?

Generally, no — unless:

  • The work is in the public domain (e.g., Rembrandt, Van Gogh, etc.)

  • You do not claim it’s an original creation

  • You do not use a misleading signature


Example: selling an accurate copy of a Monet painting is allowed if you clearly state that it’s a reproduction of a work by Monet. Selling a copy of a living artist’s work without permission = ❌ prohibited.


📜 How do you know if a work is in the public domain?

Generally, a work enters the public domain 70 years after the artist's death. Therefore, Picasso's works (who died in 1973) will be copyright-free starting in 2044.


You can consult:

In France: Gallica, the digital BNF

In Canada: Digital Collections

Museum websites such as the Metropolitan Museum, which offer free-to-use images


🧩 If I take elements from several sources... is it an original work?

This is a very common case: an amateur paints a picture inspired by several different works, or several images found on the internet.


➡️ Good news: if you combine elements in a personal way (e.g., you take the sky from a photo, a character from another painting, an invented background, etc.), your creation can be considered original, especially if the result doesn't closely resemble a specific, identifiable work.


⚠️ But be careful: If a protected element is recognizable (e.g., a famous person, a setting, or a composition by a living artist), you could still be infringing its rights.


Originality does not mean “never before seen,” but implies that you have made personal choices, and that the whole is significantly transformed.


🖌️ Are painting techniques protected by copyright?

No. Copyright does not protect ideas, techniques, methods, or styles.


➡️ You can absolutely:

Use a technique taught in a book or tutorial

Reproduce a painting style (glazing, impasto, wet-on-wet, textures, etc.)

Take inspiration from impressionist, abstract, or realist styles.

✅ What is protected is the final work, not the technique used to create it.

Example: You can learn to paint like Bob Ross, but you can't sell an exact copy of one of his paintings.


⚠️ But be careful: if you use the unique style of a living artist (e.g., the style of Basquiat or Yayoi Kusama) too closely, you could be accused of artistic plagiarism, even if it's not copyright in the strict sense.


🐘 What if I want to paint an elephant inspired by images found on the internet?


If you're looking for reference images (photos of elephants, landscapes, animals, etc.), you have every right to use them for learning or creating, as long as you:


Do not copy a photographer's photo exactly.


You must sufficiently transform the image (change the pose, color, style, composition, etc.).


Do not use a commercially protected image (e.g., a stock image with strict copyright restrictions).


➡️ If you paint in your own style, changing the mood, composition, or technique, your work is considered original.


🖼️ Can I use photos that aren't mine in a collage or mixed-media work?


If you include a copyrighted image (for example, a photo cut out of a magazine, a reproduction of a modern work, or an image found on the internet), you must obtain written permission, even if it's in a personal work.


➡️ If the image is heavily altered or unrecognizable, the risks are lower, but be careful if you're exhibiting or selling it: you must be able to prove that you have the right to use each image.



🧾 Can I paint a portrait from a photo I found online?


Two things to consider here:

The photographer's copyright

The person's image rights


Even if you paint, if the photo comes from a website or social media, and the person is recognizable, you must have permission to use it, especially if you publish or exhibit the work.


📚 Do painting books or manuals contain copyrighted works?


Yes, generally. Even if the book is sold for educational purposes, the reproduced works remain protected. You can use them as models for learning, but you cannot publish or sell a copy without permission.


👩‍🎨 Can you be inspired by the style of a famous artist?


Yes, style is not protected by copyright. You can paint "in the Impressionist style," "inspired by Klimt," etc.


⚠️ But if you closely imitate the unique style of a living artist (to the point that you're mistaken for them), this can be problematic, especially if you sell your work. You could then be accused of plagiarism or unfair competition.


🧑‍🎓 Do the works created during a painting class belong to the teacher?


No. The person painting is always the author of the work. Even if you are taking a class or following a demonstration, the work belongs to you, provided you do not claim it as entirely original if it is very close to what you copied.


👉 Out of respect, it is recommended to indicate: created during a workshop with [teacher's name], especially if you publish the result on social media.

🧠 Tip: Mix sources and add your own interpretation—it's the best protection against problems and the best path to your personal style.


✅ Good habits for painting enthusiasts

Here are some simple tips for respecting copyright while learning:


Always cite your sources when publishing a copy (include the name of the artist, the tutorial, the museum, etc.).


Do not sign a copy as if it were an original work.

Always ask permission if you copy a work or photo by a living artist.

Be inspired, but do not copy exactly if you plan to exhibit or sell.

Indicate "inspired by..." when you use the composition or colors of an existing painting.


🎯 Conclusion

Copying, being inspired, combining... these are all part of learning to be an artist. The most important thing is to respect the works of others while daring to develop your own voice. Art is not a photocopy: it is a dialogue between what we see, what we learn, and what we become.



Ressources:


France



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You can use these link depending on your location:



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