Paint someone famous?

Question: Paint someone famous!?

I was just wondering if I paint somone famous, alive or dead!. Would i need to get their permission or something along those lines if I wanted to sell it!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

If I understand your question correctly you are asking if you can do a portrait from a photo of a famous person and sell it!. My answer is only if you took the photo yourself!. If you do a portrait of say, Madonna, and sell it, the photographer who took the photo you used to do your painting could sue you for copyright infringement!. Madonna herself could sue for use of her image!.

Andy Warhol was one of the rare artists almost universally granted the ability to use images in his pop art that otherwise would have been off limits!. But as an artist I would contact that famous person and ask if there are any photos that could be used in doing a portrait study of that person!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You would, presumably, be using someone else's photo to do so and the definitive answer is, probably!. There is a LOT of law regarding copyrights and this is an exceptional article on the business of copying someone else's work!. I make it a practice to ALWAYS either seek out completely copyright-free pictures, take my own, or seek specific permission from the photographer to paint the subject!. Get it in writing, especially if you intend to sell your work!.
http://www!.asopa!.com/publications/2000wi!.!.!. indicates (with some case study backups) that you are treading on thin ice by copying someone else's image!. Best to not go there!Www@QuestionHome@Com

not if you painted it from a cartoon or a photo or a video!.!.!.i presume u wouldnt use the famous person and physically paint them whilst sitting infront of you!.!.!.so ofcourse you can!.!.!.!.Im sure you can sell it!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

No!. Never!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

noWww@QuestionHome@Com