I had to do an artist statement with this one, in order to enter it into a competition.  (I really hate writing these.)  But here it is:

I’ve always been fascinated with the visual imagery and rich colors of the steampunk genre.  During a trip to Europe late last year, I took a photograph of this beautiful young lady in her Victorian dress, and immediately began to envision a new setting for her.

The limited palette of dark reds and purples, golds and blues were purposely selected to evoke the richness of the era.    By first placing her against a richly patterned motif reminiscent of 19th century wallpaper, and then creating borders that echoed the embellishments adorning the dress bodice and linear features of her skirt, I further emphasized the antique and fantastical aesthetics that embody the genre.