Copyright Rules to Follow


Knowing when to credit a reference source can be confusing.

Watch this video to learn what you can and cannot do with the art you make, what’s considered original artwork, and best practices to follow for crediting any reference source:

Copyright Rules

Guidelines to Follow:


Artwork made from the courses and tutorials in the Academy are made from my designs, drawing, and painting strategies. They are for educational purposes only, and the following is NOT permissible:

  • Selling
  • Reproducing (This includes cards, calendars, and print on demand websites)
  • Marketing (This includes NO giveaways with the art you create from my courses. Giveaways is a form of marketing for your business.)

You must credit the source when sharing artwork made from a course or tutorial in the Academy both in person and online. 

Here are two examples demonstrating how to credit the Academy:

  • This painting was made from Tracy Lizotte Studios online video tutorial.
  • Here’s my progress of a painting I’m making in my watercolor course from Tracy Lizotte Online Art Academy.


It’s also good practice to credit other instructor’s courses when sharing artwork you make with their designs, and instructions. Anytime you create art from another person’s art/photography you must have their consent to use their art/photography as a source of reference.

If you don’t want to be liable to credit a reference source you can:

  1. Use references from royalty free sites such as:

2. Create art that’s 30% different or more from your reference source(s)

I recommend combining multiple reference sources (photos, real life, your imagination) to create original artwork that cannot be traced back to any one reference.