An artist in New Brunswick is using her talents and a paint brush to help those grieving the loss of a loved one.
Elizabeth Burns lost her father in 2010 and her mother in 2011. Her parents were cremated and for the past few years she has kept their ashes in an urn, that’s until she heard about Bev Roy’s art work.
“What I do is I take the ashes of the deceased and I put it into one of my prints,” says Roy.
Those looking to have their loved ones incorporated into a piece of art can chose from a series of images Roy has created, or they can choose an image that holds personal significance.
Roy got the idea after she decided she wanted her remains painted into one of her works of art. She then thought others might like to do the same for loved ones they’ve lost.
“I’d rather have my parents or loved one hanging on a wall where I can see them, opposed from an urn on a shelf,” says Burns.
Roy says the closeness she has with her clients is one of the things she enjoys most about her work.
“When you can bring tears to somebody’s eyes over a painting, you know you’ve touched them. It’s just a feeling, it’s hard to explain, but it’s a good thing,” says Roy.
Roy doesn’t just paint with the ashes of people, she also works with the remains of pets.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ashley Blackford
