the key is laughter

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Another digital collage of images from various (vintage) resources, including some I bought, some which are in the public domain and some from The Graphics Fairy, Vintage Printable and Karen's Whimsy. I added my own flair and and imagination and a little magic to make this.

Inspired by this quote by Yakov Smirnoff, 'if love is the treasure, laughter is the key'. :-) Perfect quote to start the new year with. :-)

On Society6:

The Cost of Flying - More Steampunk

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

This is quite a personal image to me. I am scared of heights and I'd love to fly just so I won't have to be scared of falling. However, this is also a conceptual image, about the dangers involved in flying (free), hence the scissors, on the other hand flying is it's own reward (hence the keys). Anything we do has a cost and unfortunately nothing is free but too often we feel the dangers even before we get close to experiencing them.

Images from a disc of royalty free public domain vintage images, with my own photos and brushes and a few freebies mixed it, all coloured and mashed up by me.

I'd love to know what you think about the image, so drop me a line or leave a comment. :-)

On Society6:

Magnification

© Sybille Sterk 

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

I had a little play with my new magnification lenses. I liked the effect and the way the object seemed to change depending on how closely you looked at it, so I combined it in a triptych and added the clever quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes.

The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

All images/textures/brushes my own or bought. Edited with Photoshop.  

All my images are available on Redbubble, Artflakes, Society6 and Bluecanvas as prints, cards, posters, skins for laptops, Blackberry, iPhones and other phones (for the skins go to Bluecanvas).

Girl with Blue Butterflies - Photo Manipulation

 

 

 

Inspired by Jan Vermeer, the Grant Wood's American Gothic and René Magritte

I wanted to re-create an old master with a modern twist.

It was fun to do, however, I had more problems with taking things out again than with finding things to put in... LOL There was a lot of texture work and actual painting involved with this one.

I hope the image speaks for itself, however, in case it doesn't - the blue butterflies are symbolic for all the dreams we have when we are young and the keys for all the choices and options that are open to us. I leave it up to you what you think the girl is thinking. :-)

Credits

Model

• Portrait II 3 by AimeeStock

 Stock

• Braid by NiennaAlatariel
• Blue by RhapsodyinAlto
• Blue Butterfly by Fully-Stocked
• Butterfly 2 by jxp3397
• Dreamweaver69stock 130 by dreamweaver69stock
• butterfly 4 by kayne-stock
• Key 1 by matazidah
• Key 2 by matazidah
• Key 3 by matazidah
• Key by stockimagine
• Ghost Key by bluewave-stock
• FREE STOCK, Key 1 by mmp-stock
• O-key dokey... by chop-stock
• Bows PNG by AWorldOfMagic by aworldofmagic

Backgrounds and Textures

• Doors by PirateLotus-Stock
• Red Gold Floral Background by Enchantedgal-Stock
• Daguerreo Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• New Square Texture Set by Shadowhouse
• High Altitude by dazzle-textures
• didn't hear you leave by CKdailyplanet

Brushes

• Arabesque Brush Pack by ElementsUnleashed
• 17 Grunge Border Bars Brush Set by Shadowhouse
• Ropes -n- Chains Brushes by redheadstock
• Lace mix by NadinePau-stock
• Hair brush set by para-vine

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

MCN:C1XQG-H1BUQ-V3VM8

Pandora - The Secret Keeper's Daughter - Photo Manipulation

The Secret Keeper's Daughter - illustration for the story The Secret Keeper - Part II

Credits:
Model:

•  Ethereal - Stock by steamed-pepsi-stock:

Backgrounds/Textures:

• Nr 44 by Angelia61-Stock
• Antique1 by SheisprettyStock
• Aged by SheisprettyStock
• BlueTextures by letinhastock
• sky stock 150 by hatestock
• Sparkles 10 by PandoraLore-Stock

Stock:

• Clouds by Alison Ashwell
• field sky in ResourceNation by night-fate-stock
• field sky2 in ResourceNation by night-fate-stock

 Keys:

• Key 1
• Key 2
• Key 3
• Key 4
• Key 5
• Key 7
• Key 8
• Key 9
• Key 10
• Key 11
• Key 12
• Key 13

Butterflies:

• moths and butterflies stock 19 by hatestock
• moths and butterflies stock114 by hatestock
• moths and butterflies stock134 by hatestock 
• moths and butterflies stock 43 by hatestock
• butterfly 6 by kayne-stock
• butterfly 5 by kayne-stock
• butterfly 4 by kayne-stock
• butterfly 1 by kayne-stock

Brushes:

• Hair brush set by para-vine
• Sparklies Photoshop Brushes by redheadstock
• Glitter + Sparkles Brushes by redheadstock
• Grasses and Plants PS Brushes by redheadstock
• Lace mix by NadinePau-stock

All other images/textures/stock are my own. The ribbons are handpainted.

 MCN: CT9A4-M7UXN-8H8B4

The Secret Keeper - Story and Photo Manipulation

Illustration to accompany the story of the same name.

He stood in the dark wood, doubtfully looking at the moon through the trees. He shivered in the cold air. Before he had time to consider his choices and give in to his fears she stood before him.

Her hair was long and shimmered blue in the light of the moon. Ribbons were tied in it, each with a key at the end of it.

“You are the Secret Keeper?” he asks her.

Read the rest of the story here.

All images,patterns and textures are my own except for the credits given below.

Credits:

• Model, Faestock
• Background, Trinketstock
• Moon, Fantasystock

Textures:

• Texture 1, Sirius-sdz
• Texture 2, JRMB-stock
• Texture 3, Violentkiwiresources

Keys:

• Key 1
• Key 2
• Key 3
• Key 4
• Key 5
• Key 7
• Key 8
• Key 9
• Key 10
• Key 11
• Key 12
• Key 13
• Keyhole

Brushes:

• Clouds 1, Leboef
• Clouds 2, Leboef
• Script, Lady Victoire
• Lace Mix, NadinePau-Stock
• Hair, Para-Vine

MCN: CRWTN-C7A8W-VGSM1