Pictures for Blogs

When I first started writing hubs I used to use Google to search for images. I used the advanced search for images and then selected "Labeled for commercial reuse. As soon as I did this the choice was very limited but I always managed to find something to fit what I was writing about. Most of the pictures were from Flickr. I joined Flickr and would always send a message to the owner of the picture I used along with the hub url asking if they liked the way I was using their art. I always received a positive response and the artists were very happy to associate their work with my writing as long as I included a link back to where I got the art in the first place.

Below is an example of a picture from Flickr I used with my hub "Cutting the Ties That Bind" to explain a visualization exercise to I use with my clients to cut the ties that bind us to people and things that prevent our emotional and spiritual development.

I then started using images form Microsoft Office . The images are free and there are literally thousands to choose from. Though I found it very convenient using these images I felt something was lacking. As I am quite a visual type of person I found reading hubs with good quality art which matched and enhanced the written word made reading it that bit more enjoyable. I appreciate it when I can see the trouble a hubber goes to choose an image because it really does make a difference.

I decided to ask one of my favourite hubbers tnderhrt23 where she got her beautiful pictures. She shared her source with me deviantart and from that day onwards I never looked back. When I visited the website to check it out I thought I had died and gone to heaven. I spent hours browsing through the most beautiful images which are there in abundance in what seems like an infinite choice.

The first thing I did was become a member and I even submitted some of my own art. I then set about introducing myself to the creators of the art that I was attracted to. I sent each of them them one of my hubs to give them an idea of the kind of thing I tend to write about and asked them if they would be interested in associating their art work with my writing.

Every one of them was so courteous to me and not only did they say how honoured they would be for me to use their art they also gave me some very positive feedback on what I had written. These were people who took pride in their work and appreciated being me making the effort that I did before using their work.

After writing a hub I always still send the hub to the artists whose work I use and ask for their approval. I noticed that when I now check the traffic sources to my hubs the traffic from deviantart is as high as the traffic I get from Quora where I answer questions as an expert in my areas of expertise and leave links back to my HubPages.

I chose five artists in particular to befriend and I gave each of them a 1 month premium membership as a gesture of my appreciation for being given permission to use their amazing work with my writing. This was the equivalent of giving each of them 396 points which gives them benefits only open to premium members. Each cost $4.95. It was not the amount of money but the thought I wished to convey and each artist understood this and sent me a very warm message of appreciation.

You get back what you give out and I have always stuck by my principle to do unto others as you would like them do unto you. I am so thankful to tnderhrt23 not just for directing me to this site but also for her amazing poetry. My favourite at the moment being Shipwrecked. The way she uses her images is an example of the care and thought a writer of her calibre takes to make everything fit perfectly.

Below are pictures from my four favourite artists from deviantart whose work I regularly use.

This picture by AlexGroseth I used in my hub "Hearts and Mind on Fire with Enthusiasm" explaining how to use meditation to regain the power to direct attention deliberately and to use thought to create what you want and not what others want for you.

I used this picture by Ricky4 to explain in my hub "The Artist Within" how we use our thoughts and feelings to create our reality. We are not helpless victims of life but rather the creators of our lives. 

I used this picture by AshenSorrow in my hub "What Does Your Dream Mean?" in which I talk about the very important part our dream world plays in each of our lives.

I used this picture by Parablev also in my hub "What Does Your Dream Mean?" because I felt it brilliantly describes how most of us spend our lives ... trapped in the capsule of our thinking minds rarely leaving our comfort zones. 

I used this picture by KHcode in my hub "All Criticism is Self Criticism" to highlight the power of love to create happiness in our lives.

Ask and you shall receive and there is more than enough of everything for everyone in this world.