how do you copywrite art work?

Answer 1

Go here and you'll find everything you need to know:

http://www.copyright.gov/

Answer 2

Any original art work should be marked by the creator with a circled c, name and date. This mark is on the art work before it is released for public viewing and indicates you intent to register this at your Earliest convenience
After work has been released for public viewing you cannot go back later and mark it..
Your earliest convenience has never been defined. It could be this year or 10 years from now. But you intend to do it.

It is a good idea to mail yourself a copy of art work, or ideas in an envelop so it can be postmarked. DO NOT OPEN IT WHEN IT COMES. Label the outside so you know what it is and now you have proof of when you gave birth to it with a good government date.

Answer 3

Haha, you can pay a lot of money to get it actually copyrighted. But a teacher of mine (art teacher mind you) told me that anywhere you put artwork it's automatically copyrighted to you. The actual copyright documentation is just some fancy, expensive way of doing it. For instance, the minute you put a piece of art on a website, your own or MySpace, that website doesn't have any rights over it unless you tell them they do.

Answer 4

By creating it. It is that simple.

One can obtain additional protections by registering it with the US government copyright office.

copyright.gov

The "mailing it to yourself" method offers no real protection, since it only proves when you mailed it, not that you created it.

Answer 5

You visit: http://www.copyright.gov/register/visual.html
(Exact link) Good luck!