Posts filed under ‘Alice's Adventures in Wonderland’
Alice part one: down, down, down through the earth.
Posted by: Meg Hunt
Book: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (purchase on Amazon)
Kicking off the art sharing today with Alice embarking on her journey down a certain rabbit-hole. (Apologies in advance for the length! But I felt the need to start things a little over-the-top and play up the scene)
Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her, and to wonder what was going to happen next….Down, down, down. Would the fall never come to an end? “I wonder how many miles I’ve fallen by this time?” she said aloud. “I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth.”
The somewhat tricky thing about Alice is that so much of it has all been done before. When I decided on images I would like to work on for the project, I kept thinking ‘Oh, I have to do that scene. And that one.” (there’s a couple I chose specifically because I didn’t see them so often though, so no worries!) So there is definitely a lot of iconic material in something that’s been covered so much; but I definitely am trying to put my own spin on Wonderland as this living world that is organic to the point of having its own distinct personality and body– it’s not just things look a little topsy turvy and the inhabitants are all crazy (they’re definitely not going to be creepy or certifiable in my take, as I never got that from the book), but that by falling down the well you’re almost leaping into Wonderland’s mouth and about to explore the creatures and environment within its body.
My own view of Wonderland has been informed by lots of studying of some older biology books, some for children like this wonderful Golden Deluxe book, a dash of Mary Blair (though trying my hardest not to pay too close attention to her work for the Disney movie) and Charley Harper of course, some Marimekko, over two decades of reading National Geographic, and also the illustrated plates of Ernst Haeckel. How else it will evolve will be interesting to me, but in the meantime it’s a fun mishmash.
I hope you enjoy this first little foray into Wonderland, and get ready to see lots more!
PS: do check back tomorrow for Will Bryant’s first illustration for Peter Pan & Wendy!
Meg Hunt v. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
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.
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!
