My remaining Wasp in a Wig pieces are on display until March 30th at the Vandalia Municipal Building.
Pool of Tears : Studio Images
This painting is 28"x16". This is another in the series Wasp in a Wig: Paintings Inspired by the Writings of Lewis Carroll. Excerpt from Chapter II: `I wish I hadn't cried so much!' said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. `I shall be punished for it now, I suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That WILL be a queer thing, to be sure! However, everything is queer to-day.'
Painting sketch.
Blocking in color.
Defining the birds and some values.
Starting the purple rocks.
More rocks and water.
Something seems to be missing.
The Cheshire added a nice touch to the narrative.
Working from the photos I took at the Field Museum of Chicago.
Detail of face.
Detail of Cheshire.
Detail of hand.
The finished painting.
Junc Yard : Studio Images
This painting is a part of the Wasp in a Wig Series and measures 24" x 36". Inspired by Chapter 5 of the second book, Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll. This painting shows Alice transformed into a goose and the White Queen as a sheep. The scene explores the concept of "loss of innocence" and I have illustrated this with a young oyster bringing her new beau home to meet Mom while the walrus looks on as well as with the discarded toys.
A base of blue and the start of some Scented Rush.
Establishing some ground and the boots.
A few crabs and some coral.
Adding more definition to the values.
I felt like the composition was lacking, so I am adding in a Mock Turtle (cow) using tracing paper to see the placement.
Once I liked the placement, I used transfer paper to get the image on canvas and then started painting.
Detail of the Mock Turtle.
Detail of crabs and boots.
Detail of oyster family.
The finished painting.
The Madness : Studio Images
This painting is from the Wasp in a Wig Series and measures 14" x 24". A different kind of tea party.
I had to cut up the sketch to get the composition the way I wanted it before transferring it to canvas.
Blocking in colors.
Does he look like Elton John? You are not the first to think that, but it is my friend, Charlie.
Detail from the time lapse video.
Detail of the Hatter.
Detail of Baby Bear.
Detail of Cheshire.
The finished painting.
Keeping Check : Studio Images
From the Wasp in a Wig Series, this painting is 18" x 24". Inspired by The Red and White Queens from Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There. Models Anastasia Acid PopTart and Pam Adams.
Original sketch.
Blocking in color.
More color and a peek at my reference shots.
Started the White Queens face.
A detail of the white queen.
Started the Red Queen's face.
Detailed the lion stand next to the white queen.
Added a curtain to soften the background, and honestly, cause I could not get the left side of the window to work with the right side. Gotta love curtains!
Worked on rose bush and the Tove (part badger, part lizard, part corkscrew).
I used tracing paper to get the general layout of the piece, so I could work on a sketch to add an element to the back of the chair and next to the lion. The platform was really bothering me in both of those locations, so I decided to add two additional narrative elements: The King, and a hookah smoking hedgehog.
The King transferred and roughed in with color.
All hail the King!
Changes to the king and the white rabbit. You can see the basic outline of the hookah too.
Hookah developed further. Also Bill the lizard. He has an offering for the Tove.
Detail of the hedgehog to be.
Hedgehog finished.
Detail of the queens.
Detail of the white rabbit and king.
Detail of the Hookah Hog.
The finished painting.