Ever since I created the masterpiece collection of handmade backdrops inspired by some of my favorite paintings I’ve wanted to create a calendar with these babies as art pictures. I even originally designed twelve backgrounds with this in mind. When Prestonwood Pregnancy Center reached out to me about photographing their clients for their annual calendar I was thrilled. When we discussed using the masterpiece collection to create these pictures for the calendar I knew it was my dream fulfilled. I am so happy the calendar ultimately will be created to benefit such a great organization.

In anticipation of the upcoming 2022 calendar I am sharing these darling babies as art inspired photos along with links to my inspiration for creating each of these unique backdrops. The most recognizable and a beloved favorite from the masterpiece collection is inspired by Vincent VanGogh’s Starry Starry Night.

Did you know all of these backgrounds are handmade by yours truly? I begin by hand dyeing wool to get the colors I want. I will also sometimes use a mix of deconstructed yarn to get different textures and colors. This second image is also a beloved favorite inspired by Claude Monet’s Water Lilies.

After dyeing the wool and letting it dry for what seems like ages in this Texas humidity, I then start pulling the wool apart into pieces that mimic brushstrokes. These are each individually place just as a painter would place brushstrokes. This next image always makes me smile. The Scream, by Edvard Munch.

Once I’ve “painted” with my wool and yarn I then use felting techniques to lightly secure my creation to the background. I’ll also use a few different techniques to make other shapes like I did with the flowers in this image, Sunflowers, by Vincent VanGogh.

Wheat Field with Cypresses, by Vincent Van Gogh, was one of my most recent creations. I used solely deconstructed yarn to create the wonderfully textured look of one of Van Gogh’s impressionistic paintings.

Edgar Degas is always a favorite of mine so I of course had to create one of his ballerina-inspired artworks. This one is reimagined from his iconic Blue Dancers.

I couldn’t leave out a few of my favorite modern painters as well. This was probably the most fun to make. One: Number 31, by Jackson Pollock

While he was still living I reached out to Israeli painter Leonid Afremov to request permission to use his art as inspiration for one of my backgrounds. He graciously agreed. I have since purchased a couple of his beautiful paintings and was so sad to hear of his passing. His art is still so inspiring. Autumn Music, by Leonid Afremov.

Rainy Day in Paris, by Gustav Caillbotte really started this whole project of babies as art. I was at an exhibit of Caillbotte’s work at the Kimbell Art Museum when the idea for creating the masterpiece collection began to take shape.

Jack in the Pulpit No. IV, by Georgia Okeeffe, was a real challenge for me. To create her vibrant hues required a little more photoshop magic than most of these handmade creations.

Curtain, Jug and Fruit still life by Paul Cezanne is another one that brings a smile to my face.

How darling is this alert, chunky guy in Irises by Vincent Van Gogh?

Field of Poppies by Claude Monet is dedicated to my dad. He loves poppies.

La Promenade by Claude Monet has such a beautiful movement to it.

These last two backdrops were created as “filler” for the collection. Both are original backgrounds made by me. The first is inspired by a blooming garden.

And this one was created for all the sweet “rainbow babies.”

Hope you have loved viewing these darling babies as art. I’ll be sharing on social media how you can donate to Prestonwood Pregnancy Center to receive one of these calendars so stay tuned.