Copyright Infringement? Photos into Paintings

I am not sure but I don't think you should sell them. If you make profit from it - enough to draw jealousy - they will quite definitely sue you. If you want to go into this full-time, try work out a profit-sharing arrangement with them.

There are great answers to questions like this on Wetcanvas. You can search the site without being a member. It's a site totally devoted to art issues. There is a legal forum that addresses just this issue. It is actually a violation of copyright to use the photo for any means unless you get permission from the owner or unless it's free domain. You can still do a painting on your subject, you just have to make it so unrecognizable that the owner would not know that you used their photo. But, be careful, there have been lawsuits from just using an element of a photo (but the artists have won those cases). My advice is that if you are not sure and can't afford to defend yourself, then don't copy it exactly.

I am not sure, but I would think that if you make money off it that you stand a chance of getting into trouble for it. Personally, I would not want to take any chances so you should definitely look it up online to be sure if you are going to consider doing it.

I think that it would be legal. You are just being inspired by the photos not photocoping them. What you have when you are done is YOUR original work! I would say that it is perfectly legal.