Picture Book Report

Meg Hunt v. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

February 1, 2010 at 10:05 am meg 6 comments

Let’s start this unveiling of illustrators, shall we? Okay, I’m going first I admit. (It was my idea, after all! Gotta put my illustrations where my mouth is, as it were!)

• Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Meg Hunt, and I am an illustrator currently dwelling in the deserts near Phoenix, Arizona. I make pictures because I want to make people happy, and it is my firm desire to be a maker of things people like to surround their lives with. I live out my days with a microscopic dog and plot constantly about moving and developing a silkscreen printshop up in Portland, OR. When I’m not doing that, I am drawing pictures of animals and patterns and anything else I can think of. It’s quite nice, and I’m always excited for the next bend in the road.

• Why did you put together Picture Book Report?

I’m a sucker for stories, and I wanted a project where I could develop and explore a body of work. Once I decided on my book, I thought ‘This is too good to do alone. I wonder if some of my friends might want to challenge themselves too?’ Thus I started inviting people, and Picture Book Report was born! It’s one of my further attempts at curation, something I didn’t know I loved doing until I stumbled into it.

• Why did you pick the story you chose?

There are a few reasons; one, I always liked the book and have tried twice before to illustrate bits of it (once in high school, once in college; both were laughable and destroyed somewhere around the way!). As such I’ve always wanted to do right by it someday. After all, third time’s the charm! Beyond that, I’ve always found the stories puzzling and comforting at the same time. The idea of Wonderland (a land of wonder, a land that makes you stand on your head and rethink your ideas) has always appealed to me. Alice is a charming protagonist– a little pushy, a little indignant, but I’m always happy rereading and seeing her approach the next strange event.

Secondly, and this is a reason that came after I chose it, is because it was my father’s favorite Disney film. He passed away on the cusp of the new year, and after that sad occasion and its aftermath I found that my initial view of Wonderland started mutating. My dad was a physician’s assistant and while the medical field was nothing I ever wanted to pursue, because of him I have always been fascinated by science, nature, and organisms. Thus my view of Wonderland started becoming more biological and cellular in nature, what I’m terming microbiology-meets-Marimekko. I don’t think I would’ve honed my view in this direction unless things went the way they have. Bittersweet!

As such I’m unofficially dedicating this project (I hope everyone involved doesn’t mind, I know it’s a little presumptuous) to my dad, because while he wasn’t really a creative he taught me to practice and persevere and pursue things with both guns blazing, and I hope that pursuing this project will do him proud.

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My first illustration will pop up on Monday, February 8 and start this whole party off! I do hope you check back.

In the meantime, would you care to see my portfolio? Or perhaps my rep’s website, if you’re in the mood to see more. And you can always buy some art prints up at my shop!

Next up: Will Bryant and a certain boy who never grew up!

Entry filed under: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Introductions. Tags: meghunt.