Paul Means stands in front of his mural at the Butler County Alliance for Children Child Advocacy Center.

CENTER TWP — A trio of local artists hope their efforts will help make children’s lives easier.

A massive seascape covers the walls of a hallway, and a jungle tree flourishes in the medical exam room of the Butler County Alliance for Children Child Advocacy Center’s new location at 101 Mahood Road.

Denna Hays, the executive director of the Alliance for Children, said the art was intended to provide a bit of peace and a needed distraction for children visiting the center.

The Butler County Alliance for Children provides various services to victims of child abuse, including forensic interviews, forensic medical exams and a multidisciplinary investigative team.

Hays said renovations of the new center began in October.

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A seal and an octopus cavort around a sunken ship in the seascape that fills the hall of the new Child Advocacy Center in Center Township.

Artists Paul Means and Diane Smith worked together to create the seascape mural with its attendant sea creatures.

Artist Diane Smith painted in a lot of the fish that make up the seascape. She said the puffer fish makes most people laugh.

This whale shark was drawn to change perspectives, depending on the viewer’s angle. Artists Paul Means and Diane Smith worked together to create the colorful seascape mural at the new center to offer children a distraction during their visits there.

Artist Jennifer Spryn estimates she spent 160 hours creating the jungle tree and its inhabitants. At right, she used 11 gallons of dry wall compound, two gallons of Elmer’s Glue and 22 rolls of toilet paper to cover the tree’s wooden frame with a trunk and niches to hide 20 animals that are in the tree. All three artists donated all their time and materials to the project.SUBMITTED PHOTOS