This is the first of three beeswax collages that I am working on. The woman in the collage is my great grandmother Francesca holding my mother. Although I never had the chance to meet her, she is a person of great interest to me. She was one of the first in our family to imigrate here from Italy. Another thing that fascinates me is that my mother looks just like her now that she is approaching the age that my great grandmother was in this photo.

This piece was created using natural papers on canvas board. I designed it to loook like an envelope. The image is a photocopy of a vintage photograph. I also added a vintage looking button to the flap of the "envelope." Beeswax is used not only to adhere the papers to the canvas board, but also to protect the piece. It is a very interesting process!