Funerals and cremations are taboo topics. The problem with them is that nobody really has to research into what can be done with ashes until you have to. When you find yourself going through the grieving process of losing a loved one, then having the ashes but unsure what best to do with them, moving on can be tougher for longer.
Should the idea of a traditional urn not be to your liking, there are many other options and some will only require a small quantity of the ashes. This can make alternative creations ideal for having more than one memorial item created, such as having various pieces of jewellery made to share with family members and close friends, or turn ashes into living art to be framed, preserved and displayed without the art even looking like it is made from ashes.
3 Forever Items that Can be Framed for Preservation
Vinyl records
Rather than the traditional scattering of ashes, they can be sprinkled onto raw vinyl, then pressed into a vinyl record. Audio can be included too; such as having favourite songs or audio recordings included in the record.
Given the uniqueness of these records, frames make ideal storage conditions, preventing dust from getting into the grooves of records causing scratches or other blemishes on the vinyl.
Portraits or paintings
Mixed media art has taken off. To the extent that art can be made using only remnants of ashes. Artists have different techniques for working with ashes. Some will mix a small amount with acrylic paint; others take a mosaic approach by applying ashes to beeswax to make portraits.
One of the methods employed for black and white portraits is working with a mix of birch coal to create shades of grey, and white using white marble dust. The ashes, birch wood, and white marble dust can create a black and white portrait.
Even more meaningful is what the other components represent. In the case of portraits, the ashes are only part of the story. The ashes from birch wood represent life (ashes from trees), and the spiritual representation of white marble dust is a representation of immortality.
Portraits and paintings made with ashes can take “living art” to another level. When mixed with acrylic paints, artists can create personalised paintings of anything. For example, a favourite location, flower, or even a floral arrangement.
Pencil portraits
For a purer medium, pencils can be made with the carbon from ashes. Being pencils, they won’t have the ‘forever lasting’ impact, however, the art that is drawn with the pencil can live on forever… with the proper care. Pencil sketches will require a quality frame for preservation.
Creating the Ultimate Keepsakes
Each of us has our own preferences. Some will be drawn to having cremation jewellery created, such as rings, diamonds, lockets, or pendants. These have the advantage that they can be worn, but they are not for everyone.
For those who would rather have something more unique than, for example, an urn on a side table, fascinating creations are being made by artists with a unique talent for working with ashes and various types of mediums to make living art something truly meaningful that adds to the memories of loved ones, helping their spirit live on forever.