Collage of a Life
Not all of us are handed down keepsakes to remember our loved ones. So, I felt inspired to create a collage of my great-grandmother using a box of keepsakes belonging to my mom.
Anyone can make a similar collage by simply borrowing a few items and taking photos before returning. Once the collage is created, it can be shared with other family members.
I created this digital collage with Photoshop. However, you can also print the images to the size you’d like and cut-and-glue in the traditional way of our childhood.
Primary Source
This School Atlas is an art and poetry journal in disguise. My great-grandmother filled this childhood school book with original drawings, signatures, doodles, songs, and poetry.
Additional Inspiration
Vintage souvenir books and postcards help tell a story. This book is most likely from when my great-grandmother took my grandmama to Scotland in 1949. It has lovely landscape images to remind us of where my great-grandmother grew up. It also serves as inspiration for places to visit! The image I chose for the collage is of a castle on Loch Ness where I visited with my husband and daughter. We are Nessie believers!
Below is a small sampling of the art found in her school book and some inspiration from the souvenir book.
My great-grandmother was such an incredible artist! I love how she signed her name over and over - Miss Mabel Strathern. What future aspirations did she dream of at this time in her life?
