Birth in Brushstrokes

What is Birth In Brushstrokes?

Birth In Brushstrokes is a collaboration project based in Grand Forks, BC, between watercolour artists Tess Noren and Alyssa Baresinkoff. They are collecting birth stories and photographs from women all over the world, using the photographs to create art for each story. They will be publishing the compiled stories and art in a book, and exhibiting the original works. Sales from artworks will go in part towards training birth and postpartum doulas in Grand Forks, BC, where there is no maternity ward.

Why?

We process our birth stories for the rest of our lives. There are few moments in life that are so transformative, how it happens affects mothers and their families for life.
Alyssa and Tess feel that real-life stories carry enormous potential not only for educating and preparing, but for empowering women to birth within their power—feeling respected, confident, healthy and happy, with however their birth unfolds.

They also feel there is great healing and celebrating to be found for women processing past traumas—finding acceptance, camaraderie and a safe space to process. Sometimes words are hard to find for an experience such as birth, which is why they are combining the written stories with art. Art has the power to resonate, in ways words sometimes can’t; they are excited to combine both!

When?

They are currently collecting submissions and painting their hearts out. This project is large and is projected to take two years to compile and more to publish and exhibit the art. Along the way they are planning a motherhood and birthing expo in their hometown, fundraisers for their project and charities such as UNFPA and more.

Where?

Alyssa and Tess are collecting stories from anywhere in the world, from any time period.