I've always loved fairy tales. Not the sanitized versions produced for most kids these days, but the old versions of Bros Grim and other older style tellings of folk stories.

Thumbelina is one of my favourites from HC Anderson, though honestly I prefer the Ugly Duckling. Someday I'll have a go at that one too :)

This painting started as an experiment with art nouveau, just diddling around with a design for a frame. The rest painted itself, I had no intention to paint this particular scene...but somehow it started appearing, and the overly designed frame I began with receded until it was completely gone.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it.