Who stole the tarts?

Needless to say, I ADORE anything "Alice in Wonderland" related. I'm not talking about Disney's boring version of such a lovely, carefree book, nor Tim Burton's leave-a-blank-space-here-from-the-lack-of-a-proper-complain-adjective version of the before mentioned book. But, instead, I'm talking about the Original Alice in Wonderland, just like Herr Carroll pictured it.

Have I ever read a more carefree tale before? a more beautiful one? a more artistic one? A MORE CREATIVE ONE?

It would be hard to find a better exponent of "Portraying one person's mind into a piece of paper", am I right? Going through this book is like going through Herr Carrol's mind itself. His way with words is gorgeous and trully expressive. All of the charachters managed to become dear parts of my teen years as I encountered each and everyone of them. They all have their really well-defined personalities and oddities. Trying to picture each of these charachters is like a tasty feast for anybody's imagination.

The very tale itself is delicious, it's proportions are unmeasurable! There are even words Herr Carroll himself invented for this very tale! Adjectives were created to describe some It is like a rush of multi-colored-sparkly-fuzzy-trippy-crazy waves to your brain as pages pass by! The book practically reads itself for your ears' pleasure! And so, as one reads the book, beautiful illustrations will come across your eyes. DREADFULLY GORGEOUS illustrations, I must say!

Herr Caroll did a great choice asking Herr John Tenniel to illustrate this magnificent book. Tenniel's illustrations are such a beautiful and intricate artwork, the perfect complemment for such a delightful story, in my opinion. Each of these are made out of small lines creating various shapes and shadows and beautiful charachters along the way ; w ;
Text and images complemment each other perfectly, without one stealing anything from the other.

And so, as my love for this tale grew, and nourished my imagination, it was no surprise that when a mandatory College project provided with an excuse to demonstrate my love for this particular tale, I had to take the challenge as soon as I could, and show the world one of this book's precious illustrations! I chose the book's Chapter XI: "Who Stole the Tarts?" White Rabbit with Trumpet illustration and show my love for Alice in Wonderland once and for all ; u ;

-INSERT MANY HEARTS IN HERE-

XI. Who Stole The Tarts?

"The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them--- all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the other.

"Herald, read the accusation!" said the King.

On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, an then unrolled the parchment-scroll, and read as follows:---

The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,
All on a summer day:
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts
And took them quite away!"

Technique: 48x35 canvas. I drew all of it. Using Paper Mate's Medium Marker (0.5mm) and uni-ball micro deluxe pen in black for small details.

This took about 4 days of good ol' torture to get done. This was a trully entertaining project at first, with the whole drawing being made out of small lines and intricate details. It ended up being a trully torturing project, with the whole drawing being made out of small lines and intricate details instead ; n ;
But I think it paid off well. It looked as if I had ripped the image from a gigantic Alice in Wonderland book. And so, my mission was succesfully completed!

Oh, yes, character concept by John Tenniel for Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland".

The Walrus and the Carpenter

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"

"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.

"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."

The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.

But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.

Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.

"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."

"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.

"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."

"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"

"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"

"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.

"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.