tooth fairy of the forest

Although it may be hard to tell via a photograph, this work is 3-dimensional. After the initial drawing was marked out, multiple separate layers were drawn and cut out, and then wood pieces were put in between to create the depth. The layered construction encourages viewers to move visually through the image, revealing shifts in perspective and detail.
The piece reimagines the figure of the tooth fairy within a dark fantasy setting, transforming a traditionally gentle childhood symbol into a guardian-like presence within a forest of monstrous forms. Drawing on fairy-tale and storybook aesthetics, the work contrasts softness and menace. Familiar motifs, such as teeth, creatures, and candy, are altered to suggest corruption and repair, reinforcing themes of preservation, intervention, and the cost of healing.
By presenting a narrative that blends whimsy with discomfort, the work explores how childhood myths can be adapted to address darker, more complex emotional landscapes. The fairy’s role is not purely benevolent; it implies sacrifice, resilience, and confrontation. The dimensional format enhances this tension, making the scene feel immersive and physically present, as though the story exists just beyond the surface of the page.