The Right Way to Drown

What should have been a moment of pure joy turned into heartbreak when Aly had to say goodbye to her daughter before she took her first breath. Tracing her daughter's delicate features and preserving each detail on canvas became a poignant ritual of remembrance.

Years later, grief pours over her once again as she faces the loss of her mother. Creating a unique work of art featuring her daughter and mom brings healing as she finds the strength to keep her head above water.

In this deeply moving memoir, Aly chronicles her journey through grief. She reveals how she found solace through paint and pixels. A blend of personal reflection and candid storytelling, readers will discover how she found purpose and resilience through her creative expression, ultimately leading to her career as an award-winning Bereavement Artist. The Right Way to Drown is a testament to the enduring power of art and faith in navigating life's greatest losses.

Aly Elliott of Bloomington, Indiana is married to Sam, and they have 6 gorgeous children. They travel, homeschool, and take in every sunset they possibly can. She has been a professional photographer since 2007 and has a gorgeous little studio on the town square. She has undergrad degrees in Fine Arts and Marketing, as well as a Master of Photography, CPP, Craftsman, and Master Artist degrees from PPA. In 2022, she was honored with 2 Grand Imaging Award finalist images (in Senior Portrait and in Master Artist) and represented the United States at the World Photographic Cup in 2024. The same image was honored with a win in the "children and teens" category at the 2024 International Photographic Competition. She earned 5x certified Master recognition by NAPCP in addition to several ASP awards and Portrait Masters Associates honors. She has had the distinct honor of various photography and digital art awards internationally. She speaks to artists and business owners all over the country, and is an exhibiting artist with work all over the world (29 countries so far!). Aly is a firm believer in having it all.