large matted matilda bookcase etsy pic.jpg

what a dahl: bluestocking matilda.

inspired by roald dahl’s matilda.

“what a dahl: bluestocking matilda.”

faerie tale feet painting inspired by roald dahl's matilda.

blue·stock·ing [bloo-stok-ing]
noun
a woman with considerable scholarly, literary, or intellectual ability or interest.

for whatever reason, in the third grade, i won a $10 gift card to waldenbooks. mom drove me to monmouth mall (we were living in new jersey at the time), & i came home with matilda, the wonderful story of henry sugar, the fantastic mr. fox, & the twits. i consider it one of the more defining moments of my inspired life. my roald dahl obsession was (& still is) real.

in this faerie tale feet series painting (the original is gouache), i pay ode to another of my favorite literary heroines: matilda wormwood. (although she hardly seems related to her terrible parents, that is her last name.)

a precocious chatterbox, she taught herself to read, devoured all the children’s books at the local library, and took up the classics all before finally convincing her parents she was a truant and ought to be allowed to attend school. her magic was born of her angst, and with practice, is what rescued both herself, miss honey, & the entire school from the maliciously nefarious headmistress trunchbull.

have a look at the painting process below and then we'll chat (just a smidge) more about the story...

oh, man, i love roald dahl. and “matilda” is the coolest little bookworm you ever did have the privilege of reading about. unless you know her? could you introduce me, please?

oh, man, i love roald dahl. and “matilda” is the coolest little bookworm you ever did have the privilege of reading about. unless you know her? could you introduce me, please?

i LOVE how the colour scheme turned out for this one. so painting the background in that cool grey like a chalkboard [integral to the plot!], and then filling in the icons one by one was a real joy.

i LOVE how the colour scheme turned out for this one. so painting the background in that cool grey like a chalkboard [integral to the plot!], and then filling in the icons one by one was a real joy.

pretty pretty pretty… continuing to fill in each story icon with its own colour.and always leaving the feets for last!

pretty pretty pretty… continuing to fill in each story icon with its own colour.

and always leaving the feets for last!

yes, i did a colour mock-up with my crayolas on her argyle stockings so i wouldn’t get confused.

yes, i did a colour mock-up with my crayolas on her argyle stockings so i wouldn’t get confused.

and here’s matilda’s feet– before i painted in the chalkboard border! [yes, i wore saddle shoes; even in high school. proud nerd.]

and here’s matilda’s feet– before i painted in the chalkboard border! [yes, i wore saddle shoes; even in high school. proud nerd.]

included story iconography
i could explain ALL of the icons for you, but i’d hate to spoil such a scrumpdidilliumptious read if you haven’t read the master storyteller’s novel yet for yourself.  

but if you need some seek-n-find fun, here are some hints:  

  • the green library chair

  • the dreaded telly

  • a newt

  • the airplane getaway for the rest of the fam

  • her dad’s car/business

  • her mom’s blonde hair (and a reference to one of matilda’s better pranks)

  • a bull {for ms. trunchbull; yikes!}

  • miss honey’s teapots

  • books {because, obviously}

  • the parrot {another inspired prank with some help from the neighbors}

  • the chalkboard to scare away The Biggest Bully Ever {trying not to give you spoilers!}

  • and well, of course, matilda’s metaphorical bluestockings.

you may read to know that you are never alone.
and please to remember that reading is always preferable to the telly. :)

 
matilda greeting card.jpeg
 

please email me if you’re interested in collecting the original framed gouache painting, $450 (+$40 for safe US shipping.)

original painting size is 11 x 11” and framed in a handmade soft black wooden frame to 19” square.