Most collage artists are well familiar with the Dover Pictorial Archive, a series of clip art books featuring public domain art (usually engravings) produced by Dover Publications. The Dover Pictorial Archive provides a wealth of source material. However, they do place some limits on commercial use.
In the meantime, she encourages artists who are using material from the Dover Pictorial Archive to write to her at rights@doverpublications.com or rlopez@doverpublications.com. Contact her if you think you might need permission, or if your publisher requires documentation. Ms. Lopez asks that you provide your mailing address and/or fax number so that she can send the permissions form right out.
One thing to note: not all books published by Dover are part of the Dover Pictorial Archive series. They also publish a number of books about science, literature, art, history and a variety of subjects, which are under normal copyright. When you buy a Dover book to use as source material, be sure it says Pictorial Archive on the inside front cover. As far as I know, all the clip art books are in the Pictorial Archive.
Dover Publications publishes a wealth of graphic images in the Pictorial Archive Series that can be used by artists. With the purchase of the book, up to ten images can be used in a single piece of work without further permission. These graphics make ideal designs for rubber stamps to be used with polymer clay, or they can be photocopied and transferred to polymer clay! These can then be colored if desired using Sanford Prismacolor pens or pencils, or the baked clay can be carved using the design as a pattern for the positive or negative space. Although many Dover books are available at book stores or art supply stores, the most comprehensive selection is available through Amazon.com or through Dover Publications themselves.
