The Birth Project: Stunning Collection of Art Inspired by Pregnancy & Birth
The Birth Project is a current series of paintings by the very talented Amanda Greavette, a Canadian figure painter who focuses on birth, pregnancy and motherhood. The Birth Project features life-sized and often large-scale paintings of images inspired by Amanda’s own births, photographs of births she has attended and submissions from viewers worldwide.
When I first came across her artwork a few weeks ago on Facebook, I was immediately taken by the emotions in each painting. I have seen some truly incredible birth photography and these paintings by Amanda have been able to capture pure, raw, and powerful emotions — hard to do in a painting, but she does it so well.
Click through to view the stunning collection of work in The Birth Project:
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Curiosity far greater than the fear
"It felt so simple, so prodigious at the same time Incredible things are happening in the world Magical things are happening in the world"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
Ring the bells that still can ring
"Forget your perfect offering, There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in" (L. Cohen)
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
And you took
"to me like a gull takes to the wind"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
You've got roots
"Cannot be torn from under Won't you shake it like you've never done before" (F. Ford/Be Good Tanyas)
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
She is a new creation
"the old has gone and the new has come"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
Living in the Body:
"Milk and Honey"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
Three little birds were on my doorstep
"singing sweet songs, a melody pure and true, this is my message to you..." (B. Marley)
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
It's a Human Thing
It's a girl?? it's a girl!!
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
The Delivery
"oh, my baby! oh! my baby!"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
The First Installation
One of the original paintings for the birth project.
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
Early labor
"It's early morn, a lovely morn"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette -
The piece that began it all
"All around me voices are ringing"
Photo Credit: Amanda Greavette
© All images used with permission from Amanda Greavette (blog, website, facebook)
When asked why she likes to paint birth art, Amanda answers:
“I believe strongly in the power of the image to shape our perceptions and beliefs. Painting is the last great traditional medium, and I feel that little compares to the impact a large oil painting. The Birth Project is because of and for women; it seeks to tell their stories while providing an image of birth that is both symbolic and real; depicting the raw power of the birth process and the unfolding potential of a woman”
To view her work in person visit Trust Birth Conference in April 13-15 in Nashville, Tennessee, and the American College of Nurse-Midwives Annual Meeting & Exposition in June 3-5, Long Beach, California.
Read more from Devan on Accustomed Chaos & Unspoken Grief
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More on Being Pregnant:
Body Art and Pregnant Bellies: Tattoos and Motherhood
How NOT To Take The Family’s First Photo: Awkward Family Pics
Taking Matters Into My Own Hands: Giving Husband Baby Fever
Beautiful! But sadly I see no women of color
Amanda is from my hometown which is a small town in northern Ontario. She still lives in the area and she paints the people she knows, which the area doesn’t have a large coloured population.