When I was asked to illustrate for Modern Motherhood Pause – The Ride Home, by Suzanne Lavoie DellOrfano, a journal designed to support new mothers through postpartum care, guidance and support, I knew this project would be special. The Ride Home is the first in a series of journals that will help new mothers navigate the first year of being a mother. As an illustrator whose work focuses on empowering women, I wanted to create visuals that resonate deeply with the new mothers who will use this journal.
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Drawing from My Experience as a New Mother
Rather than turning to outside research, I drew from my own experience of being a new mom to two boys. What was my ride home like from the hospital? I remembered the sleepless nights, the overwhelming love, the rollercoaster of emotions, from the joy of holding my newborn to the uncertainty and exhaustion that followed. These personal moments shaped the illustrations, allowing me to create visuals that I hoped would resonate with other moms going through the same intense, beautiful, and sometimes difficult postpartum journey.
Translating Emotions into Visuals
I created 2 illustrations which were designed to be a visual reminder that, though the postpartum journey may be difficult and sometimes chaotic, it is also filled with beauty and growth. I used simple line work for my images with a scattering of dots to represent the chaos and unsettled feelings I remembered so well as a new mother. I also wanted comfort and empowerment to be a key focus in my designs. My illustrations are meant to remind new mothers that their vulnerabilities are matched by their incredible resilience. I designed them to be a visual reminder that they are not alone in their experiences. To provide moments of pause and reflection.
Where To Find The Ride Home
Contributing to Modern Motherhood Pause – The Ride Home has been such a deeply rewarding experience. A huge thank you to Suzanne (author and creator) and Kim Wooldridge (graphic designer) for an amazing opportunity to collaborate on a very special project. It allowed me to create art that speaks to women’s unique journeys, and I hope that my illustrations will offer new mothers a sense of comfort and encouragement as they navigate their first year of motherhood. I’m currently working on illustrations for the 2nd journal in this series which I can’t wait to share with you.
If you would like to purchase or find out more about this amazing journal that I wish I had when I was a new mother, please check out Suzanne’s website: https://www.modernmotherhoodpause.com
Continuing this creative path and exploring more opportunities to empower women through art is truly a dream come true for me and I look forward to sharing it all with you!
Stay tuned – in the meantime, grab a bevvie and read some of my other posts!
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