A memory from ashes: LA artist draws homes of fire victims
Artist memorializes homes destroyed in California fires
Artist Asher Bingham has been volunteering to make drawings of homes destroyed in the California wildfires.
LOS ANGELES - With so many homes lost during the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County, one local artist is trying to help people by keeping the memory of their homes alive.
Artist Asher Bingham drew the home of her best friend which was lost in the Eaton Fire. She then shared the image online and it quickly went viral, and she has since received over a thousand requests.
"Doing this absolutely fulfills the desire that I set out to… which is how can I help people in this time," she told FOX 11.
When the raging wildfire broke out in Altadena, Bingham's best friend was out of town, so she rushed to rescue her friend's cats. But by morning, the house was gone.
"I’m sorry doesn’t cut it. At that point there’s no words for someone losing their house. They just got married. It was their first home, all of those feelings, and I was like, okay I can draw it."
Thinking someone else would want to remember their home before the fire, Bingham threw out the idea on social media to draw homes free of charge for other fire victims.
"I started to realize ‘I think I might be over my head if this keeps going’, and it definitely turned out that way," she chuckled.
The drawings bring on a myriad of emotions, including happiness, sadness, love.
Bingham aims to capture every detail that makes victims' homes so special.
"Some lady had a bucket of flamingos and there were like six flamingos in the bucket, and I’m like I’m drawing that. Because I know that bucket has been there for a while and she must love flamingos," Bingham said.
With thousands waiting for their drawing, Bingham brought in volunteer illustrators from all around the country.
"I’ve gotten hugs from people. I’ve gotten full on crying as soon as they see the picture. It’s a very light form of almost grief counseling just handing over the artwork," she said.
If you'd like to have your home drawn, you can send a photo to Bingham on her Instagram or by emailing Drawinglosangeles@gmail.com.