Iemanja

Yemanjá - goddess of the ocean, salt water, and motherhood. Every New Year's eve in Brazil, I would go to the beach and make an offering to Yemanja. It is one of the things I miss the most about spending the holidays in the US: not going to the beach on New Year's eve for the traditional celebrations. When I sat down to paint this collection, I wanted to create something that would be my own offering to the goddess, since I can't go to the ocean and throw my flowers in. I chose blues and creams, representing the ocean, the sand and some pops of dusty rose (later I created other colorways too). I picked orchids and wildflowers, seashells, and stars as my homage. And then I chose to arrange these elements into patterns that evoke May Morris (William Morris' daughter). When I see those prints, I immediately think of flowy dresses by the beach and gratitude for Yemanja.