Make Art with Me: A Special Opportunity

Uncovered and in my bathing suit I sat on a quiet nook of Lake Ontario shoreline, working up the nerve to plunge into the thrashing water.  

Internally, I was as stormy as the great lake.  

Annoyed with the people in my life.  Frustrated with silly circumstances.  I was a grump that day.

Sighing, I looked down at my legs.  Legs thicker and straighter than I’d like, I let my mind stew on the stories I’ve told about my body and the ones others have told me too.  Knee deep in feeling sorry for myself, out of nowhere I heard an inner voice.

“What are the new stories?  What are the new dreams?”, the voice asked me.

I didn’t have an answer at that moment but I sat with the question for a few days, taking to my journal to sort through my thoughts and feelings.  A few days later, a single word came to me.

“Closer”

In a flash, my mind’s eye showed me an ethereal, grainy image of a mother tenderly cradling her small child. This image, clearly taken on film, was the embodiment of where I want to take my art going forward.  

I had my answer.  The first step in my new story, in my new dreams.

This fall I have my first exhibition as an artist at the Tett Centre.  In honour of this first, it’s my dream to create a new body of work focusing on the tenderness of the mother’s relationship to her child.

Closer: Motherhood Sessions.

Can you help me with this?  

If you are a mother, at any stage in the journey, and are available for an evening session between now and mid-September I would love to hear from you.

This opportunity is for you if:

• You love the idea of a session focusing on your motherhood story, but feel like it’s an indulgence.
• You are willing to take direction from me on clothing and style considerations.
• You are available to be photographed, with your child, in the early evening before the middle of September.
• Are willing to answer a few questions about motherhood with candor.
• Are able to attend an in-person (socially distanced) viewing appointment to see your images.

 

This opportunity isn’t for you if:

• Want a family session.  This is just for mom with her little one(s).
• If you expect dozens and dozens of images.  I will be photographing these sessions on fine art film, which will yield a handful of really special images.
• If you have specific posing or creative ideas.  These sessions will be for me to experiment and play with the word “Closer” and how it relates to being a mother.

What you’ll receive:

• A complimentary magical, intimate Fine Art portrait session just for you and your little ones.
• A complimentary archival Fine Art matted print, valued at $100
• An opportunity to show up, be seen and document your love for your children.

 

If you think you’re a good fit for this tender, magical experience drop me a line at melissa@dustandbreath.ca before Friday, August 28th.  Tell me the ages of your children and finish this sentence “My Closer: Motherhood Session will make me feel…”  We’ll take the conversation from there.