MATERNAL REFLECTIONS
Holding Reproductive Memories in Artwork
BEYOND WORDS…
Some experiences are more profound than language can fully depict.
Like - Pregnancy. Birth. Postpartum. Infertility. Loss.
And so, we make your story visible - through an original artwork reflective of your story.
Through a compassionate conversation, you'll have space to tell the parts of your experience that have stayed with you—the sensations, memories, images, contradictions and emotions that aren't always easy to explain.
Your story is then interpreted by an artist and transformed into an original work of art: something you can see when words haven't been enough.
The art is then able to help you identify, express and further make meaning of your experience.
Overview
Through this Arts in Counseling project, artist heather michel riddle meets with you for a guided conversation to gently witness and explore a pivotal moment in your reproductive journey. She then translates the emotional and symbolic essence of your narrative into an original one-of-a-kind artwork. Artwork is approximately 6×8 to 8×10 inches.
Together, in your guided conversation, you’ll gently explore a meaningful moment from your experience—whether that’s pregnancy, birth, loss, fertility, adoption, fostering, postpartum, or motherhood. Whether your story feels clear or hard to put into words, Heather helps you slow it down and make sense of it at your own pace.
This isn’t about getting it “right” or telling a perfect story—it’s about having your experience witnessed, held with care, and reflected back to you in a way that often doesn’t happen in everyday life.
WHO IS THIS FOR? “Reproductive journey” is inclusive of pregnancy, birth, loss, NICU, fertility, adoption, fostering, postpartum, godparenting and grandparents taking care of grandchildren. For those whose efforts to conceive did not lead to motherhood, your story is deeply meaningful and welcome here.
How It Works
As part of this experience you will:
Complete this interest form.
Arts in Counseling will follow-up by email to connect and offer a scheduling link.
Schedule a 15-min phone consultation with artist, heather michel riddle at Arts in Counseling, to learn about the project and confirm your interest in booking.
Engage in a fully guided 60 min guided conversation with artist heather (in-person Hatboro, PA or via telehealth). This is a space that’s just for you, where you don’t have to take care of anyone else for a little while. There’s nothing to prepare and no pressure to share in any certain way—come as you are (babies are welcome).
After the meeting, heather will create an original two-dimensional artwork inspired by your story. She will enter a dedicated period of artistic creation, translating the emotional and symbolic essence of your narrative into an original, one-of-a-kind artwork. Each piece is created over several weeks. The result is a deeply personal artifact—crafted to be kept, honored, and revisited over time.
heather presents you with your artwork either in-person or through shipping.
The current cost of this experience is $185. Includes guided conversation, original artwork (complimentary frame), artwork delivery.
about heather
heather michel riddle (she/her) is a mother and artist living and working in Pennsylvania with her husband and daughter. As an artist parent, her art is influenced and intertwined by the specific - surroundings, family, daily caregiving responsibilities - as well as broader topics including mothering, reproductive justice/infertility, mental health and grief. Often working in series, her practice ranges from painting to mixed-media work. She received her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Artwork Gallery of Maternal Reflections Original Works
by heather michel riddle
How it Started
This project was envisioned and designed by Lindsay Edwards, a perinatal mental health therapist and creative arts therapist. Lindsay knows that moms’ mental health improves when they get to share their stories to someone who compassionately listens and cares. Furthermore, it can be healing when someone’s story of vulnerability is metabolized and reflected in such a poignant, lasting way. Lastly, these reproductive experiences can be truly hard to fully describe with language alone. Art captures the profound experiences that words alone cannot. And then, through their original artwork, the participants can more deeply understand and appreciate their experiences.
The project was inspired by a Drexel University PhD research study that Lindsay participated in, led by Victoria Scotti entitled, Beyond_words: making meaning of transitioning to motherhood using montage portraiture : an arts-based research study.