see Google Advanced Search
"Usage Rights"
and select one of...
Return results that are:
free to use or share
free to use or share, even commercially
free to use share or modify
free to use, share or modify, even commercially

you can even construct an image search link something like this:
Google search of free-for-even-commercial-use images
(but maybe better-encoded!)
which you can suggest your clients use to select their own desired images... as though it's particular search was a picture book you had in your office _:)

best regards,

BenB

Right here on the ArtMetal site, just pull down the "community' menu and find the listing of "favorite books". There are MANY there and all good books.
I have many of these, but there are WAY more that I don't have and would like to.

Rick Crawford at Smoky Forge

Of course there are. list your directives on Amazon or Google.com
But this is a pretty funny letter. Even if you knew what you wanted to mimick or make, how would you suddenly know the craft and skills to make it? I should think you might concentrate first on the craft of running a new tool and pushing it to some limits. Then let whatever you have worked out technically be a guide to what you can possible pull off next. Say for welding, first learn how to run a neat bead on the metal, learn how to keep it strong when ground down or cleaned up, learn how to not have problems with others getting hurt as it falls over or drops a spike or whatever. You may be getting a cart but don't plan the trip before you find a horse to pull it. Next learn how to say Getty up and whoa... or something. Good luck though.
This can be fun to watch from the stands so keep us informed and asking questions are always good, even if the answers seem to take a turn or two. bpfink

Are you looking for books for design ideas, or how to books on processes and techniques?

Jake

There aren't any books and magazines that don't have design ideas in them for art metals. Get some metal and start. Brad

Dover publishing has a bunch of Clip Art books that are all permission free designs. Better yet some of them come with the clip art on CD-roms which makes it easy to create larger patterns. You can find these books in the art section of any large book seller. Secondly, if you have Photoshop you can use some of the filter tools to create a stencil "clip art like image" from any picture. You have to play with it a little to find the best settings and need to make sure your picture doesn't have a ton of elements in it. If it does you may need to "cut out" the individual elements and apply the filter to each one separately. You don't need the latest version of Photoshop either, so if you don't have it and can find a copy that's a few versions old for cheap grab it. Corel might work to, but I don't know for sure. This way you can use any image, photo, or even a scanned drawing to make templates. If you can create an image out of solid shapes with just two or three colors and no intricate shading, then you'll have a good starting point. Each color becomes a layer of either solid or neg space in your cut steel.

If you want to sell your work, research your town and surrounding areas for trends. Last year around here it was steel stake garden labels, ie. a pea pod stencil cut out with the word peas below it to stake into the ground and mark where your peas are in your garden etc. My grandmother lives in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and anything with a coyote howling to the sky sold like hotcakes to the tourists. Both were very simple, but you can easily make cool intricate artwork just by layering different shapes, real or abstract.

While you're checking out the Clip Art books, look into books about ArtDeco and ArtNouveau. Both styles often have examples that are fairly flat in profile. I feel like this post was a little all over the place, I hope it helps. Post some picts of your work when you get a chance.

Jake

Metal Momma,
I to am new to playing with metal. I am fairly artistic but not very creative. I have always been a good copier. However this time I just let the passion of metal take me on a journey. I would see things of other artists and then I would dream of how I could make that my own. I can't stand in the barn and stare at the welder and wait for ideas to come. I mostly dream of stuff, and then the more I think about it they change and morph into something else. What surprised me is that I just went out into the barn and made something (it was crap) but then it gave me an idea to try something else and something else and now I can't keep up with the ideas. I think if you spend to much time looking for ideas that have already happened it actually stifles your creative self. It holds you to much to what you've seen and doesn't let your mind wonder. The other thing I did was just make stuff and give it to people. You get a really good idea of what people like and sometimes they give you ideas. Word of mouth is how I have sold all my stuff so far. I haven't had the nerve to approach any businesses yet, I have my eye on a few. One of the biggest helps has been my wonderful husband. He gushes over what I make and sometimes says what if you made "this" or I bet you could make one of these. The more you learn how to do the more ideas will come to you. Then there is this site, it is filled with the most amazing artists. Their ideas seem endless and it is very inspiring!
So have fun and just let it come.....it will!!!!!!!!
Mele