You cannot use artist/atheletes faces or likenesses without their permission. Even some of the old film stars are licensed 'products'. I guess you would have to decide how deep are your pockets compared to the artist/athelete or those who hold the license? Litigation can be quite costly. They may just send you a cease & desist to stop selling the product or go after you to make an example of you. Even if they send a cease & desist you have already put much time and money into your product. There have been a number of cases where the rich & famous have gone after the 'little guy'. I know of one case where they even went after the printer (as well as the artist) the printer lost his business. The printer could not claim ignorance in printing licensed product. As for copyrighted material there are some good sites that show the international law as well as US. These are two different issues- using someones likeness and copyright. You can however produce 'originals' but not reproduce for sale. Meaning you could technically produce say, 3 original paintings of Marylin Monroe but not make prints to sell, you could however produce say, a large print of an original just to use as a sales tool but not to sell. When this is done however, someone invariably wants to buy it and puts you at risk. Then someone else comes along and says, 'where'd that big piece go? I'd like one'. That's when the trouble starts because most artists want to keep clients happy and need the money as well.