1. What is art licensing? If you’re commissioning artwork for commercial use, art licensing is how the artwork is used legally beyond its original purpose.
2. Why does licensing matter? When you commission a piece of artwork, the project is typically created for a specific, agreed-upon use. For example, a logo, an illustration for your website, or a one-time marketing asset. If you later decide you’d like to use that same artwork in additional ways – like on products, packaging, or merchandise – that falls outside the original scope of the commission, and that’s where licensing comes in.
3. Who owns the licensed artwork? Licensing grants permission to use the artwork in new or expanded ways, but the artist retains the ownership of the work, unless otherwise agreed upon in writing. When you license my art, you’re not buying the artwork itself – you’re buying the right to use it in a certain way. I keep the copyright, and you get the right to use it in a specific way based on the agreement.
4. If I commission a piece, do I not own the artwork? Not necessarily. Commissioning artwork means you are paying for the creation of a custom piece and the right to use it as agreed, but ownership of the artwork is not automatically transferred. By default, I retain the copyright and full ownership of the artwork. This allows me to reuse, display, or license the work unless otherwise specified. Your commission includes a license for specific usage, which will be clearly outlined in our agreement. If you would like full ownership of the artwork – including the rights to reproduce, modify, or use it without limitation – that can be arranged through a full buyout at an adjusted rate.
5. What are the license options and which license do I need? Yes, there are several different license types and your license type depends on your usage needs, such as whether or not you want exclusive or non-exclusive usage on the artwork, how long you intend to use the artwork, where it will appear and how it will be used, and so on. Here are few common license types I work with and key differences between each.
6. What happens if I want to use the artwork in a new way later? No problem. Just reach out! We can update your license to include additional uses.
7. I’m interested in licensing your artwork…what is the typical fee? License fees are based on two key factors, the license type (which defines the artwork usage, noted earlier) and the compensation structure (how the license is paid for, defined below). Here are a few common payment methods: