Art is a fundamental part of the essence of Stylish & Hip Kids Photography. When you create photography, the way you see is shaped by everything you’ve accumulated within yourself over time. For me, it’s about color, movement, fiction, textures, stories, the city, and playfulness—it’s all connected. It’s a mental web that allows you, during a photo session, to tap into that point of creativity and imagination that exists within children and families.
I had the incredible opportunity to meet Teresa Familiar, also known as “Sita,” a multidisciplinary artist in Sevilla. We connected on such a deep level artistically—it was truly a gift. Sometimes, words become unnecessary because you just know the other person perfectly understands what you’re thinking and imagining.
I commissioned Teresa to create a series of collages for SHK, inspired by the idea of capturing the essence of our sessions in artwork that families could treasure in their homes. I provided her with photos of New York, and she brought them to life, creating eight imaginative stories full of humor and wonder. These collages are like windows to endless conversations. They’re the kind of art that, when you grow up with them, reveals something new every time you look at them.
Kveta Pacovská once said that books are museums for children. I love to think that as parents, we hold the magic wand to fill our homes with pieces of art that feed the soul and spark creativity.
And exciting news—we opened an Etsy shop!
Now you can purchase the digital files of these beautiful collages to make your prints. We recommend using textured paper for the best effect, but you can print them on anything you like.
Artist Statement by Teresa Familiar “Sita”
The Beginning
8 Tales of NYC was born from a creative collaboration with Mariliana Arvelo, photographer and director of Stylish & Hip Kids Photography—a studio with over a decade of experience capturing the essence of families in New York. SHK combines editorial aesthetics with lifestyle photography to authentically and beautifully tell family stories. With Manhattan and Brooklyn as her playground, Mariliana constantly seeks ways to add imagination and fun to her clients’ experiences.
When we met, we shared ideas and quickly realized that collages would be the perfect medium to bring the magic of New York to life. The idea was to create surreal moments for families to display in their homes—because nothing is more delightful and comforting than being surrounded by images that breathe life into the everyday. Mariliana entrusted me with her photos, and I, surrounded by my own box of memories, travel albums, paper scraps, and colors, dove into creating imaginary worlds—all from the reality of a hospital bed.
From this intimate and transformative space, 8 Tales of NYC emerged: a tribute to collaboration, friendship, playfulness, and the creative force that drives us forward. Each collage is a window to the unexpected, an invitation to explore a New York that exists between memory and imagination.
My Creative Process
When I look at images, I first seek the word, the meaning that binds them together and brings them to life. My mind never stops—it’s always racing ahead of my hands, as if ideas are jostling to be the first to emerge. Many are born as I walk, talk, or even dream, and sometimes I fear they’ll slip away. But they always return, insistent, until I bring them into existence.
Stories crave company; they refuse to stay still. They stir, searching for new ways to exist, new voices. What begins as text—a narrative formed by words and ideas—evolves into something more: a collage, a drawing, an image blending clippings, colors, and textures. Through this process, each thought finds its place and form, as if destined to transcend words.
It’s a creative cycle in constant motion, where stories change their skin without losing their essence. Writing is only the beginning; then art takes over, transforming those narratives into worlds you can not only read but also see and feel. Somehow, they always find their way.
The Collection: 8 Tales of NYC
This collection was born during one of the most challenging times of my life: from a hospital bed after brain surgery. In the midst of recovery, the stories, images, and scraps became my refuge—a way to bring order to the chaos and make sense of the storm. Through them, I found a way to transform vulnerability into creation, and creation into a new beginning.
The Materials
Each collage began with a photograph as its foundation, layered with pastels, acrylic markers, cellophane cutouts, fragments of newspapers, and pages from old books. All elements were assembled on 120-gram white vellum paper—a delicate yet durable canvas that highlighted the richness of textures.
From Story to Collage
- The Girl Who Took Her Penguins for a Walk
A girl strolls through Central Park with three penguins, reminding us that New York is a place for everyone—even the unexpected. - The Boy, the Egyptian Tiger, and the Food Tour
A boy and an Egyptian tiger explore New York’s flavors, guided by a radiant woman who lights their way. - The Boy Writing Stories in the Library Among Giraffes and Flowers
A magical corner of the public library where a boy writes stories surrounded by flowers and giraffes among the shelves. - The Girl Swinging Off the Manhattan Bridge to Steal a Hamburger from a Chinese Dragon
A girl defies the winds and a dragon, finding camaraderie over a shared meal on the Manhattan Bridge. - The Kids Singing “NY, NY” to a Psychedelic, Futuristic New York
A chorus transforms the city into a futuristic landscape full of light, rhythm, and infinite possibilities. - The Giraffe City: A Map of New York
A giraffe covered in maps moves as if the city itself is breathing, showing New York as a living being. - The Girl and Her Stories of New York
A girl narrates her day over the phone, as the building in front of her transforms to reflect her imagination. - The Zebra and the Girl Who Dreamed of Broadway
A girl and a zebra dream of making it big in the city of endless possibilities, where even closed doors lead to open windows, always striving for Broadway.
The Magic of Digital
Once the physical pieces were complete, each collage was digitized and printed on high-quality canvas paper. This material preserved the depth and layers of the original works, ensuring that every detail—from the finest stroke to the texture of the cutouts—remained vibrant and alive.
