I found an old newspaper clipping in an old book from the 1800's. The heading read "A Pretty Birthday for Little Miss Harrison." I wanted to give this child life again, even if only in spirit, so I sorted through some vintage greeting cards and found a beautiful image of a little girl. I enhanced her features and her gown with colored pencils and she became my muse for this project.

I started by painting layers of yellows and greens on the background. Then I used photo transfers - I had recently gone out and shot trees against a white sky - of a tree and birds. I mixed a heavy-bodied pumice medium with paint which I formed onto the canvas and then collaged the other bits on, including a piece of the original newspaper clipping.

The photo transfers turned out a bit misty looking which only helped this painting - it gives somewhat of a ghostly appearance to the background. I added the butterflies because to me they represent new life.

This piece was done on 10 x 10 x 1-1/2" gallery-wrapped canvas and I used acrylics, pumice medium, image transfers, an old greeting card, a bit from a newspaper article from the late 1800's/early 1900's, colored pencil & photo images. It is signed and dated.