Emily and her husband approached me last year asking if I could create a custom painting infused with one dollar bills. Below is the heartfelt story behind her money painting request, written by Emily…
Years before my grandparents passed on, they had me over for dinner to ask if there was anything I desired from them since they were preparing their Will. I asked if I could have a few days to think about it. They were expecting me to say jewelry or other typical items one might ask for, however, after much thought I realized I wanted to remember them every single day and I wanted a piece that actually meant something to me as well. The one piece that kept coming up for me was this framed sheet of $1 Canadian Bills from 1984 in this hideous frame. This frame was above the couch in their living room for my entire life. I slept under the frame on the pull out bed when I stayed over as a child, I had my first Gin & Tonic, always delivered by silver platter and likely well before the legal age, under that frame. All of my favourite memories and conversations with of my grandparents happened in that room and those dollar bills were always front and centre. Those bills really saw it all - I wanted those bills!
My grandparents thought it was a hilarious request, but of course obliged. I had no idea what I wanted to do with them when they were eventually passed on to me. I thought I might just put them as-is in my basement, however, felt that the meaning behind them would get lost hidden in a basement. I wanted my grandparents, who I loved so much, to be front and centre in my living room watching my family continue on. For that to happen, those bills also needed to be above the couch in my living room. That’s when I sought out Sarah Phelps to help me realize this vision and re-invent these bills into a modern art form that will live on in my house forever.
~ Emily Roukhkian
See below the completed painting with the infused one dollar bills.
Can you spot the money?
