Clip art used to be clipped from one medium and stuck to another as part of layout design. This clipart caught on quick and spread faster than a Greek army inside the walls of Troy. Free clipart became the new epidemic, infecting designers high and low with its accessibility, utility, and quirkiness.

Just like how the Greeks and Trojans fought back and forth before any decisive victories were won, clip art has passed between no-cost and paid services in an attempt to maximize the quality and availability of both royalty-protected and free graphics. The battlefield is strewn with small, unknown clip art distributors and large image conglomerates alike; some died, some were bought, some faded away, but others found their niche and made it work. Free clipart libraries began to find their home and expand across the internet. Like a wave of armored chariots, the new medium pounded down against the old technology—

And the blind poet patted himself on the back as he watched it all go by. What started three or four thousand years ago with sweeping epics has now spread to three or four thousand websites (or more!) that sweep across the whole range of free clipart, stock photos, and paid image libraries. Humanity is fascinated with imagination and grandiose mental image-making. While the technology of the oral tradition allowed Homer, the blind-but-great Greek poet, to recount dangerous deeds of derring-do by memorizing and reciting, the modern world now allows the average desktop publisher to recount those deeds with a few searches and clicks. And perhaps crested helmets and burnished breastplates aren’t the subject of a given clipart need; still, free clip art covers everything from holidays to handbags and school to superstition. Once the mouth to the pen, now the mouse to the printer: the great skill of capturing and captivating the attention of the audience comes by creating the image. Just think: careening chariots and windswept plains caught your mind’s eye. Imagine how free clipart can do the same.

Holiday clip art is images that depict memorable events and special days that different cultures commemorate annually. You can use this clip art as background decorations for your web pages, greeting cards and party invitations. A huge and excellent selection of colored clip art created specifically for national and international holidays is available at clip art websites. You can select from U.S. flags, rockets and ?United We Stand? statements for Independence Day; flag images with patriotic sayings, ?Remember our Heroes? images and a woman weeping at a grave for Memorial Day and Patriotic Day; and flags, eagles and stars with ?Made in the USA? statements for Labor Day. You can also find clip art for secular holidays, such as Irish borders, shamrocks, lambs and bullets for St. Patrick?s Day; sailing ships for Columbus Day; saguaro cactus and colored sombreros for Cinco de Mayo; and groundhogs in different scenes for Groundhog Day.

You can search for clip art for Christian holidays, too. These include manger scenes, Christmas wreaths, Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeers, elves, pine trees, stars and Christmas gifts. There are images of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary, holy saints, the Bible, crosses and churches that suit the season of Lent. Bunnies in baskets, flowers, lambs and Easter eggs are the perfect clip art images for Easter. There is also holiday clip art of menorahs and Stars of David in various colors and designs for the Jewish holiday Hanukkah. For Kwanzaa, there are images of candles, ethnic boys and girls, and statements of social and spiritual principles.

Other popular holiday clip art includes cupids, hearts, singing blue birds, a small red heart inscribed with the words “”I Love You”" and a kissing couple for Valentine’s Day; bouquets for Mothers? Day; witches, ghosts, mummies, graves and pumpkins for Halloween; and balloons, champagne and bubbles, party hats, fireworks and clocks pointing to midnight for New Year’s Day. The World Wide Web is a great source of clip art for all occasions. Browse through the sub-categories of each website to access the newest collection of free holiday clip art.

Having a baby shower soon and planning to make you own invitation, decorations or party favors? Then baby shower clip art is for you. Putting baby shower clip art is the easiest and most affordable way to make your invitations, announcements and even party favors more interesting. They can help you design the perfect card, poster, flier for the up and coming baby shower. And the best part about using baby shower clip art is that you don’t need to be an artist to use them. Aside from invitations and favors, you could also use baby shower clip art to create baby shower keepsakes and scrap booking accents for you, your family and your friends

There are many types of baby shower clip art. The range goes from the outrageously funny, irresistibly cute to the heartwarming sentimental. Of course on top of the list are drawings of babies in various positions. You have babies alone, babies with bottles, babies with teddy bears, babies with blankets or babies tucked in a cradle. You will find baby clip art pictures of babies with diapers, babies with no diapers, babies with a brother or sister, babies with a cute animal or pet, etc.