Cinderella

MCN: CXYQ3-QH4AV-EQK92

From my very first photo shoot. The model is the beautiful Francesca.

I always felt ambiguous about Cinderella; on the one hand I love the romance of it and the hope, on the other I detest the fact that her happiness relies on others - the Fairy Godmother and Prince Charming... I've always preferred the Czech film version, Three Wishes for Cinderella, I watched as a child. In this Cinderella takes and active role and is the driving force in getting her life sorted and getting what she wants, and the prince isn't it, at least not in the beginning. LOL :-)

This shot depicts that one perfect moment we all hope for....

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0182

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Mermaid

MCN: CCCN9-4NE7G-B2DEU

Model: the beautiful Francesca again. :-)

From my very first photoshoot.

I've always loved Andersen fairy tales, although, most of them are very sad much more so than most of the other ones you find from this time. The Mermaid is one of the most tragic ones. The mermaid is so brave to leave her world behind for love and it makes it so much more tragic when she's then betrayed by her love and returns to the sea. I am not sure what the message is... I think it depends on your experiences what you take away from it. I tried to show the dual nature of the mermaid as a woman and her nature as a fantastical being, her sadness and her 'other'-ness.

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Rapunzel

MCN: CJHT2-F3QA5-MWL7U

This is another shot from my first photo shoot. It's my favourite because of the amount of emotion that comes through. I always liked Rapunzel; children always seem to pay for their parents' mistakes and in that way the tale is quite realistic. Depending on the version of the tale you read Rapunzel does quite a lot to free herself, other than most of the other princesses, which only seem to hang around, often asleep or otherwise incapacitated, waiting to be rescued. ;-) I am still waiting for a gung-ho princess, although, saying that Fhiona from Shrek was a good start....

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0186

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Red Shoes

MCN: CEDRS-1EF6S-KVMRC

The fairy tale The Red Shoes is one of the most disturbing and scary ones I know. Andersen wrote a few of those.... however, the picture of the red shoes is one I keep coming back to in my mind. Here's a poem I wrote called plans that I felt worked with the picture.

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Sleeping Beauty

MCN: CB5LW-CY59S-X869K

From my very first photo shoot. The model is the beautiful Francesca.

I always wondered about Sleeping Beauty, what better way to escape all the frogs than to sleep for a hundred years and be woken up by Prince Charming? :-)

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0187

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Snow White

 

 MCN: CWNCF-Y5AFX-E9FJS

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0188

From my very first photo shoot. The model is the beautiful Francesca.

Snow White in her coffin. It's always been one of my favourite fairytales, despite the fact that I was always annoyed that she just didn't learn from her experience, but maybe that's why it's such a good example?

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Spring Glory

MCN: C1YDN-U4X9C-98QCD

I love spring. By the end of winter I usually feel so depressed by all the grey and dreariness that spring can't come soon enough and the first little sign of it cheers me up no end. Suddenly there's colour again and light and everything and everyone seems to wake up and come alive again. That's what this image is all about. Dig it?

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0178 

 Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

 

Recycling and Upcycling and a new bracelet....

Just came across this fabulous blog and shop:

Recycled Market Blog - with lots of recycling ideas and stories.
Recycled Market Shop - with lots of stuff that has been made from recycled or upcycled materials.

I am a great believer in re-using materials and found great inspiration just looking through the shop.

Incidentally I found some time yesterday to make a new bracelet that fits right into the theme....

Not all the materials are recycled, but the beads, the typewriter key and the chains are. I've also used opals and two bird charms. Most of the materials came from Etsy and the beads from an old necklace I picked up at an antiques fair some time ago and took apart.

I'll be making more of these bracelets with the typewriter keys and semiprecious beads soon. There might be a few necklaces as well.... I haven't made much jewellery recently but caught the bug again. I just wish there were more hours in the day!

Texture Packs Spring Offer

Special texture packs for post processing photographs or to use as textured backgrounds for digital art. You can buy the packs here (prices are detailed underneath each pack) or buy some of the textures individually on TextureVault, see info beneath each pack and samples at the bottom.

Until 31st of March 2012, 

buy 1 pack get the 2nd (cheaper one) half price.

To order, send me an e-mail for details - use the contact button on the right-hand side. Payment by PayPal only. Please detail which packs you want in your email and I get back to you with details.

Note: You can use the packs to process your (commercial) art, but you cannot resell the textures themeselves or create new textures using the textures from my packs.

 Brandnew, also available on TextureVault as single textures.

Textures that have the feel of paper and canvas, complete with vignettes, crackles and other painterly textures.

$20 for 6 large high res textures.

Some of these textures are also available on TextureVault individually. You get 10 large mid res textures to add a grunge feel to your photographs or art.

$20 for 10 textures.

Some of these textures are also available on TextureVault individually. You get 12 large high res textures to add a soft grunge feel and colour to your photographs or art. The textures can be used several at the same time.

$20 for 12 textures.

Some of these textures are also available on TextureVault individually. High quality, high res textures to add a raised texture to your photograph, from handmade linen paper to embossed paper, to polkadots and a vintage frame texture. 

$25 for 10 textures

Exclusive to this blog. Ten textures with a romantic feel to add romance to your photographs and art. Use several of them together or use them individually to create something special.

$25 for 10 textures

Samples

 Original photograph

 Original photograph plus Arte Texture

 

Original photograph plus Black & White Grunge texture (and a couple of gradients to add colour).

 

Original photograph plus Floral Grunge texture (and a vignette).

  Original photograph plus Handmade Paper texture (and a vignette).

Original photograph plus Romance texture and colour gradient.

Original photograph and several of the textures from different packs plus vignette.

Happy, Sweet and Cute

Also available as greeting cards, posters, matted, framed and canvas prints, stickers and iPhone 3 & 4 and iPod cases, see below:

and some stickers:

They are all available through my Redbubble shop. Check out clothing and stickers here and iphone/ipod cases here.

I am currently also toying with the idea of having these designs on cushion covers and tote bags in my envelop shop, what do you think?

Credits

Shadowhouse

Pixels & Ice Cream

Font

All other resources my own.

All designs are copyrighted:

Happy: MCN: CE4WG-WEM9Y-A6MEJ

Cute: MCN: C62KP-RQQVM-NPA43 

Sweet: MCN: C9B32-AF2K5-4ADCD 

 

Rocks

MCN: CT2YU-LS8MD-6KMQX

Illustration to accompany my poem rocks.

Credits

• Park Portrait 8 by faestock
• Hair brush set by para-vine
• Starry-Night by moda-fokka

All other brushes/images/textures etc. my own.

Cut Me

MCN: CYRGA-TE9U3-XWLF5

This one is an interpretation of Rapunzel, still going with the fairytale theme here.... Made me think about hair and how the power is 'ours' as long as we cut it, but not when someone else cuts it, then it diminishes us (i.e. what they used to do to women to 'mark' them as prostitutes). I remember some fairytales I read a long time ago, where the only way to 'cure' a witch was by cutting off her hair, she'd become a normal woman then. There is power in hair and the length of it...

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0176

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Eat Me

MCN: C6NWG-P8X38-GS7LC

I love fairy tales, so I tried to recreate the feel of Snow White (a little tongue-in-cheek) with this one. You can't beat a red apple. There's a little Adam and Eve in there too.... 

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0177 

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

Storm Watch

MCN: CMEDT-9KT2F-GBM11

For Faestocks Creative Challenge No 7, see here

See my poem here. The poem was inspired by the image, although it doesn't exactly relate to it.

Credits

Daenerys by faestock

Hair brush set by para-vine

All other images my own or bought.

Blind Mirror

MCN: CJH5A-YVW55-ALMKG

This was originally composed for my FB group 1/52 challenge. I wondered about blind mirrors and that a blind mirror is in fact a contradicition in terms; the mirror doesn't see, so can't be blind. However, if 'blind' is taken to be 'non-reflective' the whole purpose of the mirror is gone and it becomes noting but an empty picture frame, or doesn't it? Or maye it becomes magical at this point because it then reflects what's inside the viewer?

Part of my new series of images for licensing on Arcangel-Images - use this code: SYST-0162

Created with my own photographs in Photoshop, no stock used.

 All my licensing images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

A Bit of Spring

MCN: CXNEF-EACEF-KDMHE 

 Arcangel-Images, use ST-0170

 

MCN: CW7NF-3GSXC-7KVU5

Arcangel-Images, use ST-0171

You can't beat spring flowers. They make such a difference when it's still dark and dreary outside and spring and summer seem light years away. :-)