Origin (Canvas) - MTW Sept. 2019

Over on the More Than Words Challenge blog this month we were tasked with finding inspiration from the word "Origins" and using the colors of our country. I love genealogy, so for me "Origins" is "where did I come from?" I love seeing faces of people I never knew and finding some resemblance!

For this project I used a photo from Ancestry.com of my great-great grandparents and eight of their ten children and maybe a grandchild (the youngest being held). Based on records on Ancestry.com, this photo is over 104 years old. (The youngest girl passed away in 1905 at only 12 years old.)

I chose this photo for this project for a couple of reasons. First, it is representative of the Cherokee I have in my family history. Besides the red, white, and blue of the United States, I (tried to) incorporate the colors of the flag of the Cherokee Nation, orange, yellow, green, and black. The following is from Cherokee.org's FAQ page regarding the flag and seal:

The seal of the Cherokee Nation was created by an executive Act under Chief Lewis Downing in 1869. The Act calls for the seal to contain a seven-pointed star inside of a wreath of oak leaves, symbolizing the eternal flame of the Cherokee people. The star is not designated to point a specific direction, but in the original version from 1869, it rests on a single downward point. The points of the star represent the seven traditional Cherokee clans. Within the rings of the seal, the words Cherokee Nation, September 6, 1839, are included, recognizing the date of the signing of the first Cherokee Nation Constitution after relocation to Indian Territory, as well as the date of the Act of Union, uniting the Old Settlers and Eastern Immigrant Cherokees into a single Cherokee Nation government once again.

The Cherokee Flag contains the Cherokee Nation seal (see the question above for the full symbolism of the seal) in the middle with seven stars in the outer field along with a single, black star. The seven stars in the outer field represent the seven clans, and the one additional star, which is black, is to remember those who died as a result of the Trail of Tears.

In addition to the Cherokee in my history, the "white" part of this particular branch of my family has been in the United States since before it was the United States! So, there you have it! The colors of my country and what "Origins" means to me!

Process Video:

Close-ups:

Products:

• [From the] Tres Jolie Sept. 2019 Mixed Media Kit
• 9x12 Canvas
• 13@rts
• Mixed Media Stencil
• His & Hers Remastered
• Mechanical
• Ayeeda Paint
• Red Bronze
• Snow Cap
• Ayeeda Powder
• Rusty Bronze
• Rust Reagent
• Ayeeda Powder 3D
• Old Gold XS Microspheres
• Lindy's
• Starburst Squirts
• Beaver Tail Brown
• Hockey Puck Black
• 13 @rts
• Ayeeda Mist
• Patina Bronze
• Prima
• Prima Flowers
• Item #637682
• Item #632014
• Resin Icons
• Item #573355 (Feathers)
• Finnabair
• Metallique Paint
• Royal Blue
• Ranger
• Tim Holtz
• Mini Blending Tool
• Splatter Brush
• Distress Paint
• Lucky Clover
• Candied Apple
• Dylusions Paint
• Tangerine Dream
• Glossy Accents
• 49 & Market
• Vintage Shades Flowers
• Yellow Cluster
• Graphic 45
• Rose Bouquet Collection
• Triumphant Red
• Folk Art
• Enamels
• Yellow Light
• Liquitex
• Matte Gel
• Matte Super Heavy Gel
• Unknown/Unbranded
• Texture Pebbles