How to create imagery for an oracle deck

i need some help finding a program to create imagery

I am currently creating a deck of oracle cards and i have the ideas, the meanings etc, but need to be able to create simple imagery like images of a compass, a globe etc etc. I need them to look right and have found pictures on the internet but am sure they are all copy writed, so i have tried photoshop and can't get my head around it, and i am now toying with drawing, but im not sure it would be right, i love the art wok done by people like ciro marchetti and would like to eb able to digially create images like this, any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

Scott

Have you heard of a Creative Commons Attribution License?

You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted work - and derivative works based upon it - but only if they give you credit.

Click to expand...

So as long as you keep track of who created the original picture you used & give them credit, you can use the images.

Here are some links for finding images with an attribution license:
http://creativecommons.org/
http://www.flickr.com/creativecommons/by-2.0/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

I hope this helps.

Edited to add: For photoshop, you may want to search for photoshop tutorials online. I use a free program called G.I.M.P. (graphics & image manipulation program) & there's a lot of tutorials for that online, soI'm sure there's plenty out there for photoship, even video ones.

I'm curious, are you creating this deck for yourself only or is it something you're planning to publish?

I have to add that if you're using other people's artwork, not only should you credit these people but you should NOT sell copies of this deck to others. It should be for your own personal use only.

Unless you've set out to use this as a specific craft learning experience, keep in mind that oracle isn't the same as tarot, oracles can be made of anything. For instance between my buttons and Bodrans, she has put together a really cool button oracle where the images are already present and ready to use. vehicles, tools, games, totems, animals etc.

I've seen some neat ones from small toys too.
Runes and crowstones and canid's glass oracle are all shapes with a flat side on which you draw. You can buy just about any small shape sets at craft stores, both of wood and foam. Decoupage on the image you want clipped from magazines.

Or continue on with paper and ink Just trying to help you think outside the box.
Welcome to AT!

They are more of a symbology deck, not sure what iam going to do with them yet, whether personal use or sell, but i have done about 25 cards but still no officical imagery yet.