one recent totally-up-my-alley project i got to do this year were some alice in wonderland designs to celebrate DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: Imagining Alice’s Wonderland, a summer traveling exhibit at the Upcountry History Museum Furman University here in greenville!

the exhibit includes stunning watercolors from charles santore (fun bonus fact: his emerald city of OZ painting inspired me to become an illustrator when i was 17), disney concept art from gouache & color master mary blair, etchings from sir john tenniel, and even the actual Oscar-winning costumes from the recent live-action disney film!

the museum and i decided to create some colourful stickers and a couple collectible zipper pouches to help you remember your summer at the museum!!

so have a look at my process below, and be sure to visit this amazing exhibit now through October 20— & of course don’t forget to exit through the gift shop & collect some wonderland mementos with my art on them!! :D (photos of the final swag below!!)

every time i start a new art project, i always go back to the original source material. so i was happy to re-read through ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (yet again!!) to take some character notes and get some visual ideas!

here are a few snapshots of character ideas and rough drawings from my sketchbook pages… not all of them made it to color, or final products, but it’s always good to start somewhere!

for the pencil zipper pouches (great for art on the go, or, like me, they also double as a purse clutch!), i did pen and ink of the cheshire cat and the mad hatter… i photocopy my original sketch, use carbon paper to transfer it down to my illustrat… — for the pencil zipper pouches (great for art on the go, or, like me, they also double as a purse clutch!), i did pen and ink of the cheshire cat and the mad hatter… i photocopy my original sketch, use carbon paper to transfer it down to my illustration board, then use ink to finalize the drawing!

after my initial india ink lines are down, i use a MOO eraser to pick up any carbon paper (blue line) remnants; then fill in the details with a tiny tiny brush tip! :D

i also did three full-color character paintings for die-cut stickers available in the gift shoppe! gouache is a tricksy medium. and after this project, i realize i much prefer using opaque gouache for my faerie tale feet series’ patterned background… — i also did three full-color character paintings for die-cut stickers available in the gift shoppe! gouache is a tricksy medium. and after this project, i realize i much prefer using opaque gouache for my faerie tale feet series’ patterned backgrounds and NOT tight illustrations! but they turned out great; i just prefer doing illustrations in looser watercolor!! ;D

here’s what our final queen of hearts illustration looks like!! (i think i love the flamingo the most; or her shoes; or maybe the shade she’s giving… ha!)be sure to collect the sticker!! — here’s what our final queen of hearts illustration looks like!! (i think i love the flamingo the most; or her shoes; or maybe the shade she’s giving… ha!)
be sure to collect the sticker!!

this is the final line art with text for the cheshire cat zipper pouch!! i love it so much!! ;D

ohkay!! off to the museum! see you soon!!

& here’s the final cheshire zipper pouch! i bought one for myself. also one of the hatter! ;D just $5 each in the upcountry history museum gift shoppe! perfect for art supplies, makeup, road trip essentials, and you know i’ll use it as a purse, … — & here’s the final cheshire zipper pouch! i bought one for myself. also one of the hatter! ;D just $5 each in the upcountry history museum gift shoppe! perfect for art supplies, makeup, road trip essentials, and you know i’ll use it as a purse, too!! ;D

look how cute & colourful the stickers turned out to be!! ;D i love them all!! :D

i documented my trip the exhibit in my instagram stories today. i sure hope you get to see the show!! santore’s watercolours were simply stunning (i LITerally don’t know how he does it!!!!!!), the costumes were magnificent, the movie props and helen… — i documented my trip the exhibit in my instagram stories today. i sure hope you get to see the show!! santore’s watercolours were simply stunning (i LITerally don’t know how he does it!!!!!!), the costumes were magnificent, the movie props and helena bonam carter’s queen of hearts crown and jewelry, and the etchings and all the art… ugh! and so many OTHER great things in the gift shoppe, too! have a marvelous time!!

down the rabbit hole.

ohkay!! off to the museum! see you soon!!