Artist Statement
This series represents for me, the all-encompassing nature of motherhood and the fleeting nature of time during this stage of life. Since my children were born, I have struggled with many of the challenges that come with motherhood. To be a mother to small children means losing possession of my time, my body, and my personhood to the care of these little people who have no end to their need for me. I am fascinated with the duality of my own feelings in relation to motherhood. I resent the loss of self, but also feel so intensely all the love and tenderness I’m capable of for them.
In my efforts to understand my feelings better I have been making portraits of my children from snapshots taken with my phone. I draw with charcoal from images of everyday life over collaged paintings my children have made. The images are then embellished with hand embroidery. I work intuitively to create a composition to fit the mood and personality of the subject, drawing upon my own memories of the moment.
I think a certain intimacy and fondness comes in the time spent trying to capture someone on paper, making it therapeutic to document in a physical, tangible way the sweet faces of my children, knowing they change and grow so quickly.