I am very excited to complete the first two works of my new series, Family Portraits. This series lies at the intersection of heritage and family history, art history and digital technology, craft and fine art, grief, memory, mental illness, addiction, and love.
I am 3/4 Belgian-American, and I am lucky to have visited Belgium several times. This series involves combing through boxes of family photographs and researching the art of the Flemish masters. A digital collage is printed onto cotton fabric, layered with lace, batting, and backing and stitched by and/or machine. Each portrait is an homage, an exploration of family dynamics and grief. All is done without the use of AI.
When I look at this work, I cannot believe the painter is unknown, let alone the dressmakers. That dress is gloriously ridiculous. It must have taken teams of lacemakers and dressmakers months to complete. The dress itself is a masterpiece, and the painter painstakingly recreated each strand of lace with the stroke of a brush.
Countess Ursula’s stunning gown inspired me to create an homage to my Nana, Rosella Van Belle, my mother’s stepmother. Nana was the Martha Stewart of here day. She cultivated a lovely rose garden, was a great cook, dressmaker, and hosted a magical Christmas Eve celebration throughout my childhood. It was always a highlight of my year.
Countess Ursula’s stunning gown inspired me to create an homage to my Nana, Rosella Van Belle, my mother’s stepmother. Nana was the Martha Stewart of her day. She cultivated a lovely rose garden, was a great cook, dressmaker and needle worker. She hosted a magical Christmas Eve celebration throughout my childhood. It was always a highlight of my year.
The digital collage includes a picture of her grandchildren singing Christmas carols, her Singer sewing machine, a fantastic bit of handmade lace, and buttons, patches, and the cover of a needle packet from her sewing box. There is some of her best-loved cookies on the table, along with a Christmas stollen. She is crowned with one of her bracelets.
