"Chasing Alice" Collection Reveal

Hello! And welcome to my big collection reveal! Im really happy you popped by :) I wrote this blog reveal due to the intricate stories involved in the process of creation. Inside this blog youll find photos and descriptions of each piece and what they symbolize.

After selling my iconic "Alice" ("The path to Underland"), painting, Im very happy to introduce you all to the next heir to the throne, "Chasing Alice", a collection of 8x10 paintings depicting the search for the illusive, currently missing , Alice.

The Idea

In a desperate attempt to get money for Christmas gifts this year I posted a painting for sale that I KNEW would sell...... Ill be honest, I had never actually intended to sell it.

The painting in question was a highly sought after piece from the moment I created it. The color, the composition, all of it came together to form a magical piece that I proudly displayed on my wall as a reminder of my real capability. Every time I was in doubt I would look up at "Alice" and remind myself that I was worthy.

"The Path to Underland"

I told my husband I was ready to sell her and we talked about price. Selfishly I wanted to post it for a price that would never sell, but reminded myself this was for my kids, for Christmas... So I bit the bullet..... $300 was the price I settled on. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to change it to more. So before I could screw it up for myself I listed it on Facebook. Less than 24 hours later, she sold.

I sobbed.

Literally sobbed knowing I would not see that painting hanging on my wall anymore.

It feels silly to say that out loud but I did. I lovingly packed it up with foam squares and tons of packing paper. I laminated the certificate of authenticity (If you've purchased from me , you know I don't usually laminate them), I wrote a little note and even decided to include the participant ribbon she got at the fair. Roughly a week later the box hit the mail and the hollow feeling hit my stomach.

I now had a big problem..... I felt empty.

The spot on my wall where "The path to Underland" used to hang was now occupied by my second Alice painting titled "The return". (My attempt at Alice returning to Underland to ensure everyone and everything is still in order.) I sat one night staring at that painting trying to find the same inspiration I used to find in the sister painting...

"The Return"

then lightening struck.....

I would spend the rest of my life "Chasing Alice".......that particular Alice.

Thus the idea was born to infancy. I wanted to create a collection showing my desperate search for Alice.

The Story

In "The Path to Underland" painting, we see Alice in the mirror. Looking into Underland but not there yet. The first part of her journey only just starting. She has not yet formed the love for the creatures and the land and is hesitant and cautious here. We see all manner of pieces from Underland floating through the scene and its clear to us that Alice is not the focus here.

In the sister painting we see that Alice seems relaxed, with her arms behind her back, almost as though she is merely observing the land with a quiet contentment. But we notice that her friends are not present here. There is no hatter or hare or any indication of visitors other than alice. Shes the focal point of this painting standing front and center, confident and strong. We see that she almost appears as a guardian looking over the land.

My new 5 piece collection fits right in the middle of both of those paintings.

In the moments where Alice is lost in the in between years. The original painting being her before her entrance into the rabbit hole and the sister painting being the well-seasoned visitor that shes become.

In the new collection we come upon 5 iconic scenes that should be featuring our dear Alice, in some way but in fact are missing her.

Where is alice?! Dont worry...well get there....

Painting #1

In this painting we are confronted with the singing flowers.. Alice can certainly learn a lot of things from the flowers... if she were there!

We see the shock and sadness on the faces of the flowers as it becomes apparent that there is no one there to sing Alice's part in "Golden Afternoon" which is exactly why this piece is titled "Empty Afternoon".

They watch on to an empty grass path hoping to see a tangled mess of blonde hair walk through, but alas there is none. Where is Alice? Lets go down the path and see if we can find her.... Follow me....

Painting #2

As we walk through the path we part the grass and come upon a tall grouping of mushrooms and the heavy smell of perfumed tobacco... could it be? Absolem! Have you seen Alice?

We see the hazy blue caterpillar seated atop the mushrooms puffing away on a hookah. He glances over his shoulder barely noticing us before sending up a smoke signal.... "Where r you" he mutters to himself. And so we titled this adventure, "Where Are you."

We trudge on through the grass.... will we find Alice in the next one?? Come along......

Painting #3

We emerge from the forest to a barren path with no more than a tree and a sign. Which way do we go now? Suddenly a small chuckle greets us from the tree and we see a suspicious looking cat peeking at us from under his tail. Ches?! Is that you! Have YOU seen Alice?

"If youd really like to know, she went.... that way.", he said deviously.

"Who did?"

"Alice."

"She did!!!!"

"She did what?"

"Went that way."

"Who did!"

"Alice!"

"Whos Alice?"

Ugh!!!! What a frustrating feline! We dont need him, lets follow the sign to the hare and the hatter as we meander "That Way". We move down the path, hopeful to see something soon.

Painting #4

At the end of this path we find a tea party, but its unlike any tea party weve ever been invited to. All the tea cups, tea pots and sandwich trays are empty and the clock seems to be broken. Malliumpkin and the hare sit in shock at the busted arms on the pocket watch spring and sputter, Time seems to have stopped. The hatter has gone looking for Alice and left his hat at the top of the tree to signal to Alice that they are looking for her if she comes back to an empty table.

As we continue on our journey and our search for Alice, we dub this adventure " Tealess Tea Party". Is there any hope of finding Alice? Lets keep going and find out.

Painting #5

As we step past the table and under the broken watch we step forward to a new scene. Here we see the white rabbit ever anxiously checking his own broken watch. In the center we see a large tree with a suspiciously sized rabbit hole at the bottom. In the background we see something promising.... A door.... could that door lead to alice? Could the keyhole, be the key? We title this piece "The Key" and move on.......

Move on? But Crystal you said the series was only 5 pieces.....

As the I stated at the start of this blog, these 5 pieces take place in between my two sister paintings, so technically the full collection is 7 pieces, the final piece to the ENTIRE collection being "The Return" which hangs on my wall as we speak.

If you've thought this through you've realized that the first piece sold to a private collector, which means that even if someone purchases all the last remaining 6 pieces, they will never own the whole collection.

And as this collection will be offered piece by piece it will carry that no one will own the entire collection.

Meaning everyone who loves my Alice and the story within, forever will be.....

Chasing Alice.... just as I have.

Conclusion

From the time I was a small girl the idea of a story created around a curious, rebellious girl has always intrigued me. I was always the trouble child no matter what I did and often felt a bit like Alice looking at a strange world being the only one in it to know that something wasn't right. Having people think Im crazy or rude by pointing out the inconsistent nature of Wonderland and the characters within it.

Alice always carried such big emotions with her, so big in fact, they nearly drowned her. I relate to that with every cell in my body, as Im sure a lot of people can.

I appreciate each one of you who took the time to read this blog and explore my newest collection and encourage you all to leave me your favorite storybook stories and how you relate to them.

Thank you all again for checking out the reveal, I appreciate every single view I get and every comment I have ever received. My art means nothing unless it is felt and shared.

For those interested in purchasing one or more pieces in the collection, each 8x10 piece will be listed at $50 each or $250 for all 5 pieces in the collection. Also a reminder that "The Return" is still up for sale for the price listed on facebook.