A week from her due date

Harley was just a week away from her due date when she came to my studio. She chose this design from my sketches for the lotus, but when she saw the turtle, she exclaimed "Oh, I love turtles!" I loved hearing her excitement of the natural world. She also wanted to incorporate a moon into the design and I found another sketch with moons and combined them for her unique belly art. She saw the mushrooms in the design and said she loved those, so they were added in as well. 

I love creating asymmetrical designs. I feel this freedom from certain limits, and embrace different limits. For example, I only paint in 1 color. There appear to be variations in color, but it's just a lighter, thinner layer of henna. 

There is a unique form of artistic peace that I feel when a design feels complete. I pause then, and take pictures of the art and the woman wearing it. She feels a certain peace as well as she rests in the henna throne. Afterwards, when women stand up and look in the mirror, I witness wonder, excitement and gratitude. 

After the henna session, which took a couple hours, we went into my backyard for some photos. I really love the beauty of spring, all the bright new shades of green and the blooming purple flowers. I'm grateful for this peaceful sanctuary to photograph in. 

Harley was able to meet again for more photos before her baby came. I absolutely LOVE how dark this stain got on her belly! Henna is such a wonderful plant and it's the natural dye molecule that creates this gorgeous "tattoo" on the skin. Henna tattoos last only a week or two, so it's best to photograph them before they fade away. 

In these moments before the birth of the first child, I witness women embracing Motherhood, and the journey it entails. I encourage women to look out into the beautiful world we live in and imagine showing it to their child. There are so many beautiful, safe places in nature to explore with children.  

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