Visual Arts Copyright and Digital Documentation

Overview

This guide explores copyright law and digital documentation practices for visual artists. Whether you're a painter, photographer, digital creator, or multimedia artist, understanding how to protect your work in today's digital landscape is essential to your creative practice and professional success.

Why was this guide made?

A partnership between the University of Oregon Libraries and the Maude Kerns Art Center during the Winter of 2025 lead to the creation of this guide. Along with this resource, 2 workshops were offered to the broader Eugene/Springfield visual arts community and UO community members. 

Instructor: Kate Thornhill

Tuesday, March 18th
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Online

Are you curious about protecting your artwork but feel overwhelmed by legal terminology jargon? Join us for this relaxed, artist-focused workshop that breaks down copyright basics into clear, practical guidance you can actually use and relates to the art you make. No legal background needed – we'll translate complex concepts into simple, actionable steps that make sense for your creative practice.

In this friendly, interactive session, we'll explore:

• What exactly copyright means for you as an artist (it's simpler than you might think!)

• Identifying clear ways to share your work while keeping your rights protected

• Straightforward steps to safeguard protect your art in the digital world

This workshop is designed specifically for artists by artists, focusing on what you really need to know without getting lost in complicated legal terms. Whether you're sharing your art on social media, selling prints, or just starting to think about protecting your work, you'll walk away with practical knowledge you can start using right away to protect and share your creative work with peace of mind. Come with your questions! We'll work through them together in plain, everyday language.

Instructor: Kate Thornhill

Thursday, March 20
6:00pm - 8:00pm | Online

Before you can sell your art online, you need a solid system for documenting and organizing your work. This practical workshop focuses on creating professional documentation of your artwork that will streamline your future online sales process.

You'll learn:

• How to create detailed, consistent artwork records
• Managing image sizes for different online platforms (web, social media, print)
• Essential information to include in artwork descriptions
• Simple systems for tracking editions, sizes, and series
• Organizing your digital files for easy access

Leave this workshop with a clear documentation process that will make publishing your work online significantly easier.