I began collecting antique Valentines years ago. I especially looked for ones with romantic messages scrawled across them — and I cherished all the classic cutouts and intricate die cuts. I thought I would one day paint on them. I imagined incorporating my fine art figures into the historic cards, but as the collection grew… I started to dream about a tender collage.

This has been my most challenging “canvas” to date. I arranged 50 antique Valentines, all dating more than 100 years old, on a large canvas board (measuring 28 x 39 inches). The cards themselves had depth, but I wanted to add more: I float-mounted each card about a quarter inch off of the board — giving them all a delicate, hovering illusion.

I worked with one of my favorite figure models, Anastasia, because she has such a dreamy look about her — and because her poses are always so Old World and timeless. Drawing and painting her over these floating Valentines was a complicated labor of love :)

I couldn’t be more swoony about the finished painting. It’s currently on its way to Dacia Gallery, in New York, where it will be available for viewing and collecting. (Inquires about collecting can be made by calling 917.727.9383 or emailing info@daciagallery.com.)