Where Do You Find Artwork For Carving Leather?

[billymac814]

Hello everyone, I was wondering where those of you who can't draw find artwork to carve into leather? I've pretty much accepted the fact I can't draw to good which leaves me to depend on others to do it for me. I would mainly want artwork that would be appropriate for chopper seats. My seats will also end up for sale so I don't want to just find a picture on the Internet and use it without permission or payment. I've considered talking to some local tattoo artists and seeing if I could build a working relationship with someone. What is a resononable price to pay for a picture? I don't want to keep doing the same one over and over so Id only be using it once which really limits how much I could spend on it. I'm sure the price would vary depending on a lot of factors. Is there a better way I haven't thought of? I also thought about one of those tattoo sites where you pay to purchase it but I don't know if that is ok even if I pay for it since it won't end up a tattoo. I've seen on another seatmakers website that she charges extra if she provides the artwork, that would cover getting someone to do it. Also what if a customer sends the artwork over and I have no idea if they drew it or just got it from google or whatever. Is the resposibility mine then to make sure it's not copyrighted somewhere? It seems impossible to find out unless it's a popular piece. Also Ive seen a lot of people doing old tattoo flash like saylor Jerry stuff. Is that ok? I know he hasn't been dead long enough.

I'll gladly take any and all suggestions.

Thanks

Billy McCabe.

[rickeyfro]

Hello everyone, I was wondering where those of you who can't draw find artwork to carve into leather? I've pretty much accepted the fact I can't draw to good which leaves me to depend on others to do it for me. I would mainly want artwork that would be appropriate for chopper seats. My seats will also end up for sale so I don't want to just find a picture on the Internet and use it without permission or payment. I've considered talking to some local tattoo artists and seeing if I could build a working relationship with someone. What is a resononable price to pay for a picture? I don't want to keep doing the same one over and over so Id only be using it once which really limits how much I could spend on it. I'm sure the price would vary depending on a lot of factors. Is there a better way I haven't thought of? I also thought about one of those tattoo sites where you pay to purchase it but I don't know if that is ok even if I pay for it since it won't end up a tattoo. I've seen on another seatmakers website that she charges extra if she provides the artwork, that would cover getting someone to do it. Also what if a customer sends the artwork over and I have no idea if they drew it or just got it from google or whatever. Is the resposibility mine then to make sure it's not copyrighted somewhere? It seems impossible to find out unless it's a popular piece. Also Ive seen a lot of people doing old tattoo flash like saylor Jerry stuff. Is that ok? I know he hasn't been dead long enough.

I'll gladly take any and all suggestions.

Thanks

Billy McCabe.

Billy try this www.deviantart.com. Rick

[particle]

Also what if a customer sends the artwork over and I have no idea if they drew it or just got it from google or whatever. Is the resposibility mine then to make sure it's not copyrighted somewhere? It seems impossible to find out unless it's a popular piece.

I wouldn't have a problem using artwork someone supplies me so long as the customer is willing to sign a release stating that they are either the original artist, or have permission to use the artwork - or something to that affect. I would think that you'll usually be modifying, tweaking, adjusting, stretching, elongating, filling in, etc. to make a particular piece of artwork fit what you're actually trying to tool, and the final piece as a whole will bear little resemblance to any original artwork you might find and/or receive.

If all else fails, check out www.istockphoto.com or one of the other big stock photography sites. You can often times find great imagery or artwork out there on the stock photography sites, and use them as a basis for your new designs. Download a "comp" to mock-up your design to present to the customer, and when they approve, purchase the royalty free artwork (to produce the final design) and save it to your personal database of stock artwork, to be used over and over again for no additional fee.

For example, here is a few images I found on iStockPhoto when I searched for "tatoo"...

[billymac814]

I have checked out deviantart.com I like that site because you can usually contact the artist which makes it easier to get permission. I've done a whole lot of google searching and it's tough to really figure out where the art came from. In fact the picture I used on my first seat I found on google but later seen it on deviant and it had a note from the artist saying it was not ok to use, at this point the seat was done and gone so nothing I can do about it except be more careful next time. I read somewhere that a 3d copy isn't the same anyway so wouldn't be an infraction but I don't want to rely on that method. I guess if I use multiple pieces and combine them then it's not as bad. I guess Id just feel better doing it on the up and up.

I'll check out the I stock photo too.

Thanks everyone.

[AndyL1]

I second the mention for istockphoto.com. Nice files for downloading at a good price.

-Andy

[billymac814]

Thanks guys, istockphoto was exactly what I was looking for.

[Somawas]

Also there is doverbooks. Lots of collections of clip art in book and CD form. Royalty free.

[billymac814]

Also there is doverbooks. Lots of collections of clip art in book and CD form. Royalty free.

thanks I'll check that out too! Hopefully with all of these sites it will take me less time to come up with a design.

[Kimmee]

Thank you! I found the sites listed above very helpful!!

~ Kim