Family “Photo” Album Project

When I took away the “noise,” there was just me, an easel, and the woman who always encouraged me to make art.

Some photos in the plethora of boxes just begged to be studied, re-created and brought to life through my own hands. This project is nowhere near done and might never be. It’s a living thing. It’s comprised of the moments that made me. Even the ones I wasn’t there for. The ones that came before.

Do you have boxes like this? The Family “Photo” Album Project goes like this. Choose an image that stops you - one that causes a pause. A reflection. Put it aside. When the art energy comes along, re-create it. Add things. Remove things. But keep the essence of the reason you put it aside in the first place.

My original number one fan and the one who first encouraged creation. Grammy.

It’s been cathartic. And whenever catharsis is required, I revisit it. This project. Photos are beautiful. A snapshot (literally) in time. But your own interpretation is deeper, more personal and often, I’ve found, empowering.

Using your own life as inspiration for creation. It doesn’t get much more authentic than that.

Mom and Dad. In love. At a party. Way back when.

That “ye-yow” dress, though. My re-creation - no other guests, just mom and dad. Before they were such.

Gram - who, according to Gramp, “had a great set of gams.”

Playing with grayscale to honor the black and white.

Coming someday. The serious engineer, looking giddy. Rare and worthy of being re-created this snap is. The maker. Doing what he loved to do best. Making things.