Sudbury artist turns family memories into hand-cast sculptures

Beyond weddings and births, Anita Gregoire also works with families at the hospice, providing a tangible connection to a lost loved one and bringing comfort to those who are grieving

For many, preserving family memories means snapping photos or saving videos, but local artisan Anita Gregoire is offering something far more tangible. Through her unique life-casting business, Captured Impressions, Gregoire creates precise, three-dimensional gypsum cement sculptures of hands, capturing every unique line, wrinkle, and etched life experience. The inspiration for her business came from a desire to preserve her own children's childhood milestones.

"I remember doing one in plaster of Paris, but that would just crumble," Gregoire shared. "It always stayed in the back of my mind that that was something that I wanted to do more." After spotting an online training course, Gregoire decided to switch from her career as a driving instructor to pursue the art form full-time.

The process of creating these detailed keepsakes is gentle and highly accessible, she said. Gregoire travels directly to her clients, especially for those who may have difficulty leaving their homes. Gregoire uses a biodegradable moulding material that is completely skin-safe and pulls away easily without causing discomfort.

The process is so gentle that Gregoire said she’s even taken moulds of individuals while they were fast asleep. Once the mould is captured, she fills it with heavy-duty gypsum cement. The cast requires an eight-week drying period, which she said is usually the hardest part for her clients.

However, it’s during this time that Gregoire refines the details—such as touching up fingernails and smoothing imperfections—before painting and sealing the final piece. While a standard two-handed cast serves as Gregoire's most popular request, she frequently customizes her creations to reflect the unique personalities and hobbies of her clients. The base price for a popular two-handed sculpture is $239.

However, clients can opt for more intricate designs that incorporate meaningful personal items, such as a favourite fishing rod, a hockey puck, or even a beer bottle. Pricing fluctuates depending on the complexity and scale of these custom additions. Beyond celebrating milestones like weddings and births, Gregoire’s work takes on a deeper meaning through her work with the Maison McCulloch Hospice.

She steps into families' lives during their most difficult moments to provide comfort through her art. In some cases, the sculptures serve as unexpected final parting gifts. Families have received the completed hand casts after their loved one has passed away, providing comfort during times of intense grief.

"It's beautiful. It really is," Gregoire said of her hospice work. "The emotion comes from seeing that person's hand again, exactly the way it should be.

It's not a picture, you can hold it." For those looking to book a session, Gregoire maintains a flexible schedule online to accommodate urgent requests, ensuring that families facing time-sensitive situations are never left behind. For more information you can find her Facebook page here.

Jenny Lamothe is a reporter with Sudbury.com