Genealogy and Art

I like to include bits of my family history into my collages, combining my love of both art and genealogy. Here, I’ve scanned in my grandparents’ marriage certificate, my great-grandparents’ wedding photo, and a few other pieces, to create the whole.

I don’t know why these historical elements seem to work well for me, but they just do. While art and creating are often described as a struggle, a difficult process, this just feels easy and right. The same is true for the warm colors, here built up as a texture from a combination of photos.

I’m accommodating the idea that life doesn’t always have to be hard, a new idea for me, and this is a case in point. Thoughts?

3 Comments Add yours

  1. Jilla says:

    Hi Liz,

    I was wondering if you would ever make custom pieces for other people? If you had all the right elements, it would be a portrait of sorts. I could also see this type of artwork on the cover of a memory box, like the one I am making of/for my sister. Is that too commerical an application for fine art? I love the idea of bringing fine art into daily life, but sometimes its not the right application for the artwork or artist. What do you think?

  2. Liz says:

    Yeah, that’s exactly where I was thinking of going with this. The elements are so personal. Either that, or greeting cards…

  3. Bert & Reina Ruest says:

    Hi Liz!
    We are interested in purchasing a copy of the one with Grand-mère & Grand-père Guay’s wedding photo & certificate.
    How do we go about this?
    By the way, where did you ever get a copy of their marriage certificate?
    If you ever decide to make one similar with my mom & dad and a photo of the pharmacy in the background or something in that effect, let me know!
    That would be a great keepsake!!!

Chime in!