Missing Child Portrait 48 by johnpaulthornton on DeviantArt (original) (raw)

Portrait of a missing girl, inspired by the 1-inch square image on a disposable flier.

But listen, I met this little girl!

I met her. Her name is Amber. She was safely recovered.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent her and her family out to southern California for an event, and I was invited to meet her and show this painting of her to her family.

Amber saw it and quickly said, "That's not me." (I think she was maybe six). She just wanted to keep eating her ice cream. But her mother was very affected.

I was just sort of embarrassed.
I had painted this girl while she was missing, and was just blown away by the sight of seeing her in real life, running around and playing.

The mother has requested the painting. I still have it until she is ready.