Photos4artists

Free reference photos for artists to paint or draw

Do you paint from reference photos?

If not, is it because you don't feel that true artists use photos or is it because you can't find suitable photos to use? Browsing through our free galleries will solve the lack of photos for you.

Jack Vettriano paints from photos

Initially he kept this a secret because 'certain people in the art world frown on the use of photos'.

Now though, he doesn't care who knows. Why should he? And why should anyone else?

Have you spent fruitless hours searching for a suitable reference photo to paint? Do you find it frustrating to waste time looking rather painting?

Would galleries of photos published specifically for artists whet your appetite? If the answer is yes, then head straight for our free galleries.

Photos4artists offers a wide variety of high quality, mega pixel and copyright free photos for artists of all abilities to use as reference for their art.

Whether you are world renowned or just beginning, a quick search of our free galleries will uncover dynamic photos that can be painted with little or no adjustment to the composition. You will also find plenty of subject photos to add interest or life to existing backgrounds.

Mega pixel isn't just a throw away phrase. Mega pixel means high resolution and we believe high resolution is useful as it gives you the ability to zoom in for detail that many other photos on the Internet just do not provide.

Our photos are all taken in-house to ensure that all conform to the same philosophy. If you don't already know not every quaint or pictorial photo makes good reference material. In addition, good sized thumbnails allows you to quickly and clearly see whether or not the image is one you wish to enlarge.

Feel free to contact us with suggestions for future subjects; we even welcome criticisms should you feel the need.

What is Photos4artists all about?

Simple. To provide royalty free, stock photos for artists to use as reference for their paintings or drawings.

Why is photos4artists different from many other resources on the Internet? Again the answer is simple. Not only are the photos on this site completely free, they are also aimed solely at artists; to be used by artists as reference for their paintings. Being pleasing on the eye is a bonus, not a raison d'etre.

Take a look inside the free galleries and you will find photos of landscapes, seascapes, boats, tractors, bridges, canals and all manner of similar subjects, taken from a variety of angles, all of which will enhance the design of your picture.

Street scenes follow the classic design and single buildings are mostly shot from a dynamic angle; though this depends on the intended use. Some buildings make an attractive painting when viewed head on, though this very much depends on the individual appeal of the building. Click on Noyers House Front 1 above for an example.

Where a photo is intended to be used as a picture in its own right a winding river or a road will usually lead the eye to the centre of interest. Alternative lead ins such as country lanes with tyre or wheel tracks are also utilized where possible. Where this cannot be achieved the design needs to realize the same effect. This is where the classic Z design can play a part. Good examples of this are shown in Two Bridges Dartmoor 1 left and River Teign in Teign Valley 3 below.

Of course, not every painting follows this ideal. Many artists paint trees and woodland in a loose style. Again we have photos to help, though still with a good eye on design. We can't paint for you and you wouldn't want us to, but we can provide the photo template.

While most of the photos on this site are intended to be used as reference photos for an entire picture, we also have many which are published for the purpose of adding additional interest to another picture. Examples might be telephone boxes or gates, brick walls or even figures.

Boats are an age old favorite and of these we have plenty. From a selection of narrow boats moored on a slow flowing canal to sea going trawlers and much more in between. We can't show you every photo here, but click on the links to the galleries and you can view every photo at your leisure. There is no catch, no membership, no need to register. Every photo is free to view or download.

The issue of copyright seems to concern many people. Our photos are royalty free to the extent that you may use our photos as reference for original artwork. In this respect there are no copyright restrictions. In fact, the site is intended for exactly that purpose.

Please read our Terms and Conditions for full details and the restrictions that apply to the use of the digital image.

Please also read details of our privacy policy.