Instant Relatives

For years now I have collected vintage images. It all started with a purchase of this particular French Risqué postcard from 1903:

From that one purchase came a desire to root around in dusty stacks of unknown faces, some yellowing with age, some scarred by time. I wonder of their stories, what tragedies did they witness, what love did they experience. I find that the photograph usually chooses me.  Here are a few of my more recent finds:

As soon as I saw this one I knew these little rascals would be coming home with me. One of the boys reminded me of Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter and another of Ron Weasley. Can you guess which ones?

I love this portrait of three siblings, dressed in uniforms. The girl is portraying Mignon, a gypsy from a popular Opera during the time. I have dozens of images of Edwardian women and girls portraying Mignon and are among the favorites of my collections.

She's so fashionable, what with a dead animal over her shoulder and all, but she seems so bored with her life. Perhaps she dreams of escaping to a more exotic land.

I also like to collect images to use in digital art and to share with other artists. I have many vintage images that you can use for free in your artwork in my DeviantArt Gallery. Here is a sample of one that is available for download:

I love collecting anything that depicts the fashion of the time and wedding photographs are a perfect example!

And finally, an image I created recently for the cover of a blurb book I'm putting together called My Secret Garden.

Maybe sometime, fifty years from now, someone will collect images of us and we'll become their instant relatives. Ya just never know! :)