Custom Oil Painting or Relief Sculpture
Story & Dream Keeper
Commissions
There are certain seasons of life that profoundly alter the fabric of who we are.
These pivotal moments can drop us to our knees in grief, lift our chin to the sky with pride, and unveil the depth of our emotional reservoirs. These are times that possess the power to forge our resilience & softness, unveil our latent dreams, and mold the ultimate shape of who we become.
Life moves fast and memory is fallible, so how do we remember the seasons that write our stories where words don’t reach?
Invite your’s to be held and told by a Story Keeper.
Whether you’re seeking a guardian, protector, champion, or a guide, these custom works of fine art will act as a daily reminder of your fortitude and tenderness, of your vision and dreams, of the seen and unseen support around you.
Some stories are too deep for words, and too important to forget.
That’s what Story Keepers are for.
What is a Story or DreamKeeper?
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Story Keepers are custom fine art pieces created to capture a unique experience in your life. These works can be done in oil paint or relief sculpture.* Relief sculpture is a technique that creates a projected sculpture on a two-dimensional background.
To create your heriloom artwork, you’ll meet 1-1 with me via Zoom to share your story. From the abstract, emotional, non-linear bits to the detailed, logical, and clear edges of your experience, this space is yours to share whatever you desire.
I’ll then translate your story into a painting or relief sculpture.
Everyday as your eyes meet your Story/Dream Keeper you’re invited to witness your own experience with perspective. On days when it feels unimaginable to continue forward, your Keeper can act as a champion and guide. When you’re afraid, this piece can remind you to look within and around for protection and guidance.
What you’re needing from this season of life will inform your Story/Dream Keeper. Then, it’ll be there to remind you, day in and day out, who you’ve chosen to be, who you’re becoming, and how far you’ve already come.
*Relief Sculpture Types:
Alto-Relievo (high relief) approaches three dimensions
Bas-Relief (low relief) can be more like a two-dimensional drawing. -
The ‘why’ beneath ordering a Story or Dream Keeper is, of course, different for each person. As the creator, my hope is that these works can become as a source of support, acting as a clear mirror to see yourself in, as a reminder of community, as a timepiece holding the sacred and significant moments of your life.
Imagine what it might be like to slowly build a collection that punctuates the major thresholds you cross, turning walls in your home into secret journal pages.
Imagine what it might be like to one day tell your kids the story of this piece of art—what moved you to commission it, and where you were in your life.
Imagine what it might be like to inherit a Story or Dream Keeper and have an opportunity to reflect on the beauty of ancestral inheritance and the power of connecting with bloodline magic through the art.
These are the things that moved me to create this offering, and I really look forward to hearing your ‘why.’
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There’s no edge for what qualifies as a season for a Story or Dream Keeper.
Perhaps there’s something distinct happening—a wedding, a birth, a death, a graduation, a move, a new business, the end of a relationship.
Maybe it’s a quieter, internal season of reckoning and growth.
Perhaps it’s the weight of living with a chronic illness, a mental illness, as a single parent, or without a relationship with your family of origin.
Maybe it’s an annual tradition to capture your year with a Story Keeper, or solidify your vision for whats to come with a Dream Keeper.
Or maybe it’s simply the fact that you made it to today—and that, in this world, is worth punctuating and celebrating. -
It’s possible to include an important place in your Story/Dream Keeper. If you desire, I can turn soil and mineral pigments into paint to complete your piece.
If you’d like to incorporate a portal place, a power place, a place of personal parable, I’ll create a custom paint for your piece—either finishing your relief sculpture, or including in the palette of your oil painting, making sure to highlight the pigment in a significant way.If the pigment you’re looking to incorporated is in or around Ojai, Santa Barbara, Ventura, or Los Angeles, I can forage pigment for you if desired.
Beyond that, I’ll use some space in our 1-1 session to share a breakdown of how-to collect pigment.
How It Works
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This is where you’ll select:
• the size of your piece
• the amount of sculpted space (half or full—this is offered if you want some negative space, and as a way to make larger works more financially accessible.)
• the finish of your piece
• and the duration of your 1-1 session with me.You won’t be charged shipping at check out. An estimate will be sent to you 3-5 business days after your purchase, and a final shipping invoice will be sent once your piece is complete.
Make sure to add gesso to your order to its ensure archival quality.
This is a separate listing so you can choose the type of gesso you prefer.You can also choose to seal your piece with a natural varnish to add an additional layer of protection.
If you’d like to book more than 90 minutes together, you can add additional time here.
All Story Keepers are created on an linden wood panel with a 1.5 inch standard gallery profile (side depth).
All Story Keepers come with a Certificate of Authenticity. -
We’ll meet 1-1 via Zoom for the duration of your choosing to discuss the essence of what you desire capturing in your Story Keeper.
Session durations range from from 30 - 90 minutes in 30 minute increments, with the option to add more time here.
The link to book your session will be emailed to you within 3-5 business days of your initial purchase, along with your shipping estimate.
If you’d like to add a fiber element to your piece, or need support finding pigment on your property (for ‘ship you my soil’ paint), please book a minimum of 60 minutes. -
To guide you through the process of commissioning a Story Keeper, you’ll receive 6-7 emails beginning after your initial purchase.
Based on the size and intricacy of your piece, and your place in the commission queue, artworks can take anywhere from 4-12 weeks to complete. If changes are made during the process (outlined below) additional time may be required, and will be discussed.
Email 1. Sent 3-5 business days after initial purchase.
This email includes a shipping estimate based on the size of your commissioned work and its destination, plus the booking link for your 1-1 session.
A full refund is available at this point.
Email 2. Sent 3-5 business days after your 1-1 session.
This email includes a 1-1 session recap with a project agreement to be signed & returned. If you’ve added any fiber elements, a fiber invoice will also be included.
A partial refund is available at this point. This amount is calculated by deducting the price of our 1-1 session + 10% of the total commissioned artwork.
Email 3. Timing based on your place in the commission queue.
This email lets you know work on your piece has begun!
No refunds are available once this email is sent.
Email 4. Timing based on the size & intricacy of your project.
Halfway through the sculpting of your piece, you’ll receive a check in with progress photos. This is a time for light feedback. Major changes won’t be made as big things will be agreed upon during our 1-1 session. However minor shifts can be made.
This is the last chance to make minor changes to the sculpted elements.
Email 5. Timing based on the size & intricacy of your project.
If you’ve chosen a color finish, once sculpting is complete you’ll receive an email to confirm your color formula.
This is the last chance to make a change to he color of your piece.
If you’ve opted for a ‘send me your soil’ custom color, your soil must be received by this point. If it hasn’t arrived, the completion of your piece will be paused. You’ll receive an email if this is the case.
Email 6. Timing based on the size & intricacy of your project.
Final photos & the finalized shipping invoice will be sent when your piece is complete.
Once the shipping has been paid, your piece will be sent off!
Email 7. Timing based on receipt of your shipping fees.
The final email will include tracking information for your shipped artwork and a major gush of gratitude for supporting my work! -
An initial shipping estimate will be sent to you within 3-5 business days of your initial purchase. You can choose if you’d like to insure your parcel now or at any point up until your final shipping invoice is sent. Insurance is recommended for all orders.
When your heirloom artwork is finished, you’ll receive a finalized shipping invoice (shipping prices may change during the creation period of your artwork & unfortunately that’s out of my control). Once paid, your artwork will be shipped and you’ll receive tracking information.
Custom crating is available for any order. If you prefer professional fine art crating, please indicate that at check-out. This is recommended for larger works.
For domestic shipping within the United States, I will compare USPS, UPS, and FedEx to find the cheapest rate. If you prefer a particular service, you can note that at check-out.
For international shipping, DHL will be used.
Please Note: Your artwork is professionally packed to ensure safe delivery, however delivery issues do occasionally arise. Once your artwork has left my studio, the responsibility of delivery will be with the mailing service. Any damaged or lost packages will have to be reimbursed within their system. Insurance is recommended.
You and I will discuss repairing any damage to your piece if there was any during shipment. I want to ensure you love looking at your Story Keeper for years to come!
There may be an additional fee if significant damage requires repair. Insurance is recommended as that can cover any necessary repairs.
Customizing Your Artwork
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The standard available sizes I offer are
• 5 X 7 (half sculpting not available)
• 8 X 10
• 11 X 14
• 12 X 24
• 16 X 20
• 12 X 36
• 24 X 36For larger works and custom sizing, email vyana@huemansonearth.com
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Choose from half sculpted or full sculpted. This gives the option of adding negative space to your piece, and allows for making larger pieces more financially accessible.
Half sculpting is not available on 5 X 7 pieces. -
Choose from:
• Raw white plaster
• A monochromatic earth pigment paint made in my studio
• A custom formulated color. This can be either a multi-pigment color mixed from my studio pigments, or can include soil from your property.
Soil you send can be mixed with additional pigment to create a custom color, or used on its own as a monochromatic paint.
If you desire this option and want support knowing what to look for, I’ll share tips in our 1-1 session. Book a minimum of 60 minutes if you want to discuss pigment foraging. -
Gesso is used as a primer and protective base layer. This ensures the otherwise raw linden wood base of your Story Keeper is protected against temperature based expansion and contraction over time.
You can choose from an eco, petrol-free, vegan gesso or an acrylic gesso.
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I use a 100% natural and non-toxic varnish to seal works. This adds a glossy finish to your piece and an extra layer of protection.
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Select the session duration of your choice. If you’d like to add a fiber element to your piece, or need support finding pigment on your property (for ‘ship you my soil’ paint), please book a minimum of 60 minutes.
Sessions will be held over Zoom. You’ll receive a link to book your session 3-5 business days after your initial purchase, and a link to our call after scheduling.
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It’s possible to add fiber elements to your relief sculpture, which we’ll discuss and explore in your 1-1 session. This can be a spun yarn or raw basketry fibers.
With my background in fiber art, I can add woven, macramé, stitched, and fringe elements.
Fiber can be purchased ready to use, or naturally dyed in my studio.
Adding fiber elements will extend the timeline of creating your commission. The amount of additional time required will depend on the process required to prepare the fiber for use (dying, harvesting, etc.) and the complexity of the fiber inclusion.
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When creating a custom formulated paint for your Story Keeper, DNA inclusions can be added.
This can include:
• ashes of a loved one or pet
• embryo straw ash
• or hair (note this will not be used as pigment in the painted layer. It can be used as a textural element in the final sculpted layer, or as an element added under varnish.)Do you send remaining ashes home?
If there are any ashes leftover, they will be returned to you when your artwork is shipped.
Even so, please do not send me everything you have. We’ll discuss quantities in your 1-1 session.
HOW TO PACKAGE ASHES:A plastic self sealing bag is fine. I recommend double bagging to be on the safe side. PLEASE LABEL THE BAG with your name & ‘cremated remains.’ If the ashes belong to your pet, please include that as well on the bag.
If you live within the United States, USPS offers a ‘cremated remains’ shipping option. That’s not necessary, but it is an option you prefer.
I recommend insuring your package and sending it priority. No required signatures please.PACKAGING AND INCLUDING HAIR
If you’d like your hair inclusion to be visible in your sculpture, make sure to add varnish to your piece. This will allow me to place the hair and seal it under a clear layer.
Can I add more than one persons hair to a design?
Yes, hair from different family members, or even fur from a pet can be included.
The hair I am sending is light blonde/white/grey. Will I be able to see it?
Grey & light blonde hair risk being more difficult to see due to the light tones. Depending on the color finish of your piece, it may be more visible or more difficult to see. Darker backgrounds will create a better opportunity to see the lighter toned hair against.
How to package hair
The preferred way to receive hair inclusions is by placing the hair strands into a piece of folded foil with a piece of tape to close it. A folded piece of tissue paper (not tissue) sealed with tape is also a viable option. Both options can be sent in a paper envelope once corrected sealed. MAKE SURE TO LABEL YOUR INCLUSION. You can write on the foil/tissue paper, or include a post it.
For more than one persons hair being added, please package separately using the guide above. Separate envelopes aren’t required, however if you’re sending multiple hair samples, please make sure there are post-its for each sample.
Is remaining hair sent back home?
Given the nature of small wisps of hair, anything not used in your piece will not be returned. I also don’t keep leftover hair in my studio. Only send what is needed for your piece. If there are any extra bits, they will be mixed into my garden compost.
If you have any additional questions about DNA inclusions, you can ask me in our 1-1 session, or email vyana@huemansonearth.com