Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Boxed In


This is one of those of my images that can be read in many ways and I am sure it will. To me it means the feeling of being 'boxed in' be it by labels and stereotypes or by your inability to let go off the past and move on into your own future.

In my humble opinion the first step to freeing yourself is facing the truth about yourself and your surroundings. You cannot change anything until you understand what it is you need to change. However, it is a difficult thing to do, so we often find ourselves boxed in by the things we feel hold us back and often realise only too late that we are imprisoning ourselves and sometimes we 'execute' that what makes us 'us' in the process.

Credits
Model
Stock
Background and Textures
All other images/textures/etc my own.
MCN: C5LWC-BR88P-FQUER

Monday, August 29, 2011

Sweets for my Sweet


I wanted to create something happy for a change, however, as per usual, all is not as it seems. Whilst I worked on this, I began to wonder... why are things like sweets, chocolate and candy so often sold by slim beauties who most certainly don't go near the items they're trying to sell us?

Credits
Model
Stock
Background and Textures
Brushes
Font

All other images/textures/patterns etc my own.
MCN: CNSDH-68CQR-32ECN

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Dodge Fluid Drive


Dodge Fluid Drive - see more info here

Image taken a couple of weekends ago. Thought it'd be perfect for the project.
 
The image is as is with a little enhancement to bring out the details, some textures and colour adjustments. I also removed the numbers from the number plate and changed them for the "Fluid Drive", which was originally located at the back of the car. I wanted to give it a vintage feel because of the age of the car. A black and white version with just the car in red might have been good too. Maybe I'll have a play with that one day. :-)

Photograph my own.

Credits - all by Shadowhouse:
MCN: CK4XV-912F3-MVQBB

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Story Within A Story

 
 
This is a story within a story - it's the story of Jack the Ripper mutilating and killing prostitutes and other serial (women) killers like him but also the story of feminism. There's still a lot of fear and hate about and people are still boxing women in - from the models in the magazines (all looking pretty and ever so sexy) to women being told they cannot have abortions in the States... there's still a lot of work to do and some of it is realising that there is still a lot of work to do.

I am not saying no achievements have been made, but sometimes I wonder how deep they go and how many of the preconceptions and misconceptions of women seem to just have received different, more acceptable labels.

Illustration to go with my poem

Credits
Model
Stock
Textures and Backgrounds

All other images/textures/brushes my own.

MCN: CJ6QD-WMAV6-FPA7U

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Not a Toy

 
 
 
Illustration to go with my poem.
My inner freedom and my independence are both important treasures to me, which I'd defend to the death. Sounds utterly dramatic, but being manipulated and steered into a direction as it suits someone else is horrible, no matter how well meaning it might be. I've always strongly believed that we need to make our own mistakes. It's one thing to share our experiences and help with advice and examples and another to manipulate someone supposedly for their own good. It never sat well with me.

Credits
Model
Stock
Background and Textures
Brushes

All other images/textures/brushes etc my own.
MCN: CV3TH-NSH3F-Q83XS

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

A Very Special Cat

One of our two cats died last weekend and I still have a 'Mayberry-shaped hole'. Unfortunately, I never took many photos of her (she never sat still long enough) and those I took aren't very good. I decided not to make the same mistake with our other cat.

He's the sweetest little thing, a little dopey, very cuddly and not a mean bone in his body. He's a very special cat indeed.

Photograph my own.

Credits
MCN: CEM6Y-Y8QM9-TYL1C

Monday, August 22, 2011

The Beach - *NEW* Series

I still remember seeing the sea the first time each summer and how it made me feel. It was magic.

All my own photographs plus
B and W Scratch by pareeerica
MCN: C9N34-9B1V7-2VFQ6

I saw these two bikes lying at the beach just as I was walking back to the car. Couldn't resist. :-)

All my own photographs plus
B and W Scratch by pareeerica
MCN: CDHL1-W47TL-CXJ7C

Another of the walking away images. I loved the seagull on the top of the mast; it is sitting there like a lookout and the red and black flag at the bottom. :-)

All my own photographs plus
MCN: C4ER3-7T64X-H3RS7

As always, all images are available on Redbubble, DeviantArt, Bluecanvas and Artflakes. Also available as skins for laptops, Macbooks, Blackberry, iPhone and Droid on Bluecanvas. :-) 
Just click on any of the link buttons along the right-hand side. :-)

Photo Fun and Sad News

I had some fun snapping photos with my new Hipstamatic app. I love all the different looks you can achieve. :-) Here's just a (very) small selection of the images I shot this weekend. I did some with a 'real' camera as well, those are coming up soon.

It was nice to play around and have some fun on Sunday, especially as I had some bad news on Saturday. One of our cats who had been suffering from a tumour or abscess in her cheek had to be put down by the vet as it was getting too painful and debilitating for her (until the last few days she was fine in herself and painless).

She was one tough old cat - 18 years old. I still expect her to walk through the door with one of her crany miaows. I bet she's in cat heaven (or wherever cats go), hunting mice to her heart's content, however she left behind a Mayberry-shaped hole...

All our cats have been 'rescued' somehow... I wonder when the next one in need of rescuing will walk through the door. Or if you are in the Cambridge area and have a kitten that needs a good home... ?

Friday, August 19, 2011

Hollow

 
 
 
This is the illustration to accompany my poem of the same name.

Credits
Model
Stock
Backgrounds and Textures
Brushes

All other images, textures, brushes (MM Crack Brush) my own.

MCN: CQK1D-GEVVN-JR9TS

*NEW* Skins... :-) *NEW*

MacBook (13", 15" and 17")
PC Laptop (13", 15" and 17")
iPad
 
 BlackBerry Curve
Black Berry Tour
 
Blackberry Bold
 
Droid
iPhone 3GS and  iPhone 4TT

My images on your laptop, Macbook, iPad, iPhone, Blackberry or Droid now available from BlueCanvas. :-)
Delivery is free, prices reasonable and the quality is great. 

You can also check my Redbubble account for more images. If there's an image on Redbubble you like better, let me know and I'll upload it to BlueCanvas. Either leave a comment here or send me an e-mail using the Contac button at the top right-hand side of this page.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Mark of the Dragon

MCN: CDGMN-JS63U-VF8FS
 MCN: CH4G8-AMTN5-8TDAB


I had great fun today painting a dragon (or rather part of a dragon) on my son's arm and hand. He felt slightly tortured at having to sit still for half an hour, but I thought it was well worth the time. :-)
In case you're wondering what paints I used - it's all makeup. Since makeup is designed to go on skin it goes on and is removed easily and it also is less likely to itch or create skin irritation.The dragon skin in the background is from a picture of a Jackfruit I took ages ago.
I couldn't decide which of the two images I liked better, so here's the close-up of the dragon's eye as well.
All my own photographs and my own freehand drawing on the arm/hand.

Plus the following textures:

Monday, August 15, 2011

More Street Life

Street Life III: The Shellac Collective
This is in honour of The Shellac Collective:http://www.mixcloud.com/tag/the-shellac-collective/ - a lovely team bringing 78s and the music that goes with it back into our lives.
All images my own plus:
MCN: CYAKB-368LG-BA6H8

Street Life IV: Much Loved
This collage of images is of all the much loved record sleeves with personal writing on them, and one of a record sleeve made from wall paper for a (obviously) much loved 78. :-)
All images my own plus:
MCN: CYSD5-TPL4P-R2SB6

Street Life V: Hot Numbers
This is a collage with more images from the fair plus some I took in the street. The "street images" are painted on a wall and were a 'sign' or advertisement for a record store that is no longer there. I thought they wen't really well together. Some Cambridge people may remember the store - it was called Hot Numbers.
All images my own plus:
MCN: CGC2N-X3WX5-EP4BT

Street Life VI: Club
This image is mainly made from LP record sleeves - I love the cover art on records, and the thought and love that went into them. I tried to cover several eras with the collage. The word "Club" was an image taken 'on the street' and edited in Photoshop to add the swirls. I finally added a couple of patterns to make it really 'sing'. :-)
All images my own plus:
Aged Photo Effect by Shadowhouse
You'd Be Surprised Texture by Shadowhouse
Assorted Oddities Textures by Shadowhouse
BG Vintage PK4 by Inspyretash-Stock
BG Vintage PK7 by Inspyretash-Stock
MCN: CH3S4-UBEE5-872QE

Well, not street life exactly, although I did walk in off the street and mixed in some street photography. LOL


I went to The Shellac Collective's Record Fair yesterday to see the amazing number of 140000 records (78s, LPs and singles) and was allowed to take loads of pictures, which I combined into more Street Life images. I've also used some of my actual Street Life images (graffiti and paintings on the walls plus signage) to add more character. I am really pleased with how they turned out.


With much thanks to The Shellac Collective for allowing me to take pictures at their Record Fair. If you're interested in seeing this marvellous collection, there's another fair planned for December. I'll post the details on my blog nearer the time.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Dream

I wanted to have a play with a soft focus (lens baby) type of image. Unfortunately I haven't got a lens baby BUT I found the perfect image to play with...

Here's my interpretation of a dream - romantic and peaceful. (Not the kind of dreams I usually have, which are more vivid and often totally weird. LOL)

Credits
Model
Stock
Textures
All other images/textures/brushes etc. my own
 MCN: CJ3VW-GJVS2-9VXLG

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