In creating mixed media art, I often use images and photos to help make my story stronger. Images can help clarify my message, drive home a point, and bring interest, color and texture. They can enhance my piece or even become a focal point. Finding images to use is fairly easy- you can use your own photos or art you’ve created or you can use copyright free pictures.
If you choose to use images that aren’t your own, make sure the images are okay to use, i.e. licensed for commercial use, in the public domain or copyright free. Some people believe that if they can find it on the Internet, it’s okay to use. Not true. There can be legal implications if you don’t have the proper rights.
The good news is, you have plenty of options without doing anything illegal. There are plenty of websites that offer copyright free images:
*www.Pixabay.com
*www.gratisography.com
*http://digitalmedia.fws.gov/
*http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/index.html
*http://yeahstockphotos.com/free-stock-photos/
*http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/
And many more!
Note: Before downloading and using any free images from a website, make sure to check their terms of use. If the images are in the public domain, you’ll be able to use them without any restrictions, but different website have different terms of use. For example some websites offer free copyrighted images but they want a line of credit.
Other websites don’t allow you to use their images in their original state. This means you’ll need to change it in some way and create a derivative work. You basically create something new with the original image. For the mixed media artist that may mean only using a part of the image or coloring it or embellishing it with glitter, brads etc. Sounds like fun, right?
For extra protection, when using copyright free images that are still recognizable in my art, I like to put an unobtrusive line of credit right on the image. That way, I can’t be accused of claiming ownership. Here’s an example from the photo in this post:
Doreen Erhardt, in the article, Credit Where Credit is Due, states that if you didn’t create it, then give credit regardless of whether it came from the Public Domain or from another free site. In her words, “… copyrights still apply, even in Public Domain in the sense that you can not claim it as your own; and when that artist, illustrator, photographer dies their rights transfer to their family some 70-years or so (depending on what & where). Let’s face it; we all know how family can suddenly become greedy…”
The bottom line is, using free images will open a lot of new, exciting possibilities. Just make sure you do your homework and read the terms of use before downloading and using the images. Have fun!