How to: find copyright-free images to use in your reprinted art

Let's say you are a collage artist.  And one day, you decide, "What the heck!  I'm going to get my original pieces reprinted.  And become a marketing 'ho.  And try to sell them TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!"

One of the first things (of many) you need to think about are copyright issues.  Like, where am I going to get images that I have the right to reprint and use in these products I'm intending to sell?  (TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!)

Here are some suggestions for you.

1.  Use your very own images.

Yep, that's me and my mom.  Reprinted from one of my very own family photos.  In fact, you will see LOTS of images of smaller me on Bean Up The Nose Art products -- because when I began this marketing journey, I was not sure what else I was going to be able to use, copyright-wise.  (I am, after all, a lawyer in my day job.  So I fret about those kinds of things.)  

2.  Find publications of copyright free images.

See the bunnies in this card?  (Fresh for the spring!  To sell TO THE WHOLE WORLD!!!!)

They come from this book.

Dover Publications has scores of books filled with nothing but copyright free images.  By category.  Endless categories.  SO FUN!!!!  Click right on over to their website and see what copyright-free image books they have that might be fun for you to play with.   Buy them!!! They're very reasonably-priced, and they are tons of fun to thumb through.  You will be filled with endless inspiration.  (Not all of their publications are books of copyright-free images.  Check out what it says in the description.)  

3.   Check out The Graphics Fairy.

Holy cow, the woman who runs this site is AMAZING.  She is a gift to artists everywhere.  She finds copyright-free images AND POSTS THEM ON HER SITE.  You can DOWNLOAD THEM.  FOR FREE.  

That's not all.  See this almanac page?

It is the result of a "search Thursday" that she runs on her blog.  (Yes.  GO THERE RIGHT NOW.)  You send her a request of what you'd like to have an image of -- and she posts it on her blog!!!

I think you should also go on over to The Graphics Fairy page on Facebook and post a big old "like" and "THANK YOU!!!" comment.  Because, seriously -- all of this for free?  Wow.  

4.  Consult with on-line vendors about their reprinting policies.

Check out the hats on these sea creatures.

They came from "collage sheets" produced by the fabulous, amazing, wondrous folks at ArtChix Studios.  Bean Up The Nose Art is indebted to Art Chix Studios . . . wrote to them, asking whether it was okay to use their fabulous art images on reprinted cards, and they said yes.  Voila.  Their images appear on tons and tons of Bean Up The Nose Art products.  (And they run terrific art swaps and contests, are great at order fulfillment, have wonderful prices, and are just some of the darned nicest people around.)  So . . . if you find a supplier you love, why don't you ask them if you can use their stuff in your business?  Can't hurt to ask.  And maybe they'll say yes.  Or work out some sort of deal.  And you'll get to know each other.  YAY!!

5.  Ask your fellow artists if you can use their wares.

See these dogs?

They come from a hand-crafted stamp by Bean Up The Nose Art's favorite stamp artist, Sugarskull7.  (About whom we've gushed before.  And who sends happy pins and other gifties with your orders.  She's terrific!!!!)  

The point here being -- ask!  Some artists love it when you use their images to create another project that you're going to sell.  Some don't.  You can see their point, either way.  Honor them by either using, or not, what they are offering to the world.  

Hoping you'll go out and make something today!  And sell it to THE WHOLE WORLD!!!