It is important to understand that content uploaded to Wikipedia is freely available for anyone to copy, edit, and use. For this reason, copyrighted material is not allowed to be uploaded to Commons.
Typically, older artworks are considered to be in the public domain, while new artworks are not.
Basic rule of thumb:
Before 1923 = Upload to Commons
After 1923 = Upload to Wikipedia
If it was published before 1923 in the US, it is out of copyright (published means presented to the public and a distinct concept from creation).
If it was published before 1989 in the US and no copyright notice was added, then it is likely in the public domain (artists who failed to give notice could have later rectified the problem through several formal steps).
Articles should have at least one image that is located in the Infobox.
Only upload an image AFTER your article is live. Non-free images cannot be used in drafts. Also, images considered orphans (not in live articles) are often deleted.
Upload your personal photo to Flickr first. This provides photographic documentation which will be included in the Non-Free use Rationale.
Always advocate that the image is educational and also can be used for critical commentary in your articles.
Be as specific in your information as you can.
Always include the Non-free use rationale and Non-free 3D art templates.
When you upload a photo, the image file will have its own Wikipedia page and edit screen. To edit information regarding the photo, you will be editing the image file page, NOT your main article.
Select a low resolution image to upload from your computer, making sure it is the same one uploaded to Flickr.
Fill out the Summary section with the Template:Non-free use rationale & {{Non-free 3D art}} Template. Simply copy and paste:
{{Non-free use rationale
| Description = <List title of work, artist, date, date of photo & side of the work the
image is showing.>
| Source = <Direct link to the same image on Flickr.>
| Article = <The exact title of your article that the image will be in.>
| Portion = The image shows one side of the copyrighted work of art.
| Low resolution = Yes
| Purpose = The image serves as the primary means of visual identification of the
artwork.
| Replaceability = There is no free equivalent of this artwork's image,
so it cannot be replaced by a free image.
| Other information = The use of the image will not affect the value of the original work in
a negative way or limit the copyright holder's rights or ability to distribute the original.
}}
===Licensing===
{{Non-free 3D art}}'''
5. Leave the Licensing drop down tab alone. (You already included Licensing information in the Summary).
6. Choose the Upload button.
7. If you need to update anything in your Summary section, click the Edit button to update the template.
8. Navigate to your main article; Click to Edit the page.
9. In Edit: in the Infobox, type the EXACT NAME (like Exact_Name.JPG) of the photo you uploaded into the "image_file" slot.
10. Create an image size for the "image_size" slot. Try 200px or 320px. Keeping it smaller is more appropriate for non-free images.
11. Preview and/or Save your work!
Find images in Flickr that have Creative Commons licensing.
If your artwork was made before 1923, it is possible that you can upload an image of it to The Commons. Follow the instructions at Commons:Upload
For photographs of 2-D paintings or similar 2-D artwork, please use the Commons template Painting and follow the guidance at Commons:Template:Painting/doc.
