Where may I find free images online for use in photoshop?

Is Using Artistic Effects in Photoshop On Reference Images For Painting Detrimental?

• I am trying to get my paint on and I have found it a bit difficult to look at images and find all the color spaces and where to blur the details and what not, so I decided to try something out: using an image editor program like Photoshop (Paint.net), I apply an artistic effect to the image I want to use as my reference and then use that as opposed to the untouched image. Surprisingly, my finished products are remarkably better than they were before, and process of painting is not nearly as frustrating. So my question is this: is this going to negatively effect my technical development? Should I care?

• Answer:

  Artists use all sorts of tricks and effects both technical and practical from way back when to gain an effect or help them understand colour or artistic techniques. You are learning to use resources so if it does the trick why worry?