"Alice Through The looking Glass" Painting

For this unit, I had to create something that was linked to the upcoming movie of 'Alice Through the Looking Glass' through any kind of media, so painting, sketching, fashion, make-up etc. I settled for making a painting/illustration for the unit.

My research was mainly on American McGee's work, he's a game designer that's known for his work in DOOM 2 and his games of 'American McGee's Alice' and 'Alice: Madness Returns'. I personally know him for his Alice games that I've played, and the artwork, illustrations, character design etc. in the art book of Alice Madness Returns. He created the video game developer 'Spicy Horse' in 2005 and I find him quite an inspiration for being so successful despite his history and past.
I personally know him for his Alice games that I've played, and the artwork, illustrations, character design etc. in the art book of Alice Madness Returns. He created the video game developer 'Spicy Horse' in 2005 and I find him quite an inspiration for being so successful despite his history and past.

American McGee was born in
1972 the 13th of December 

These are pictures from a book that's linked to American McGee's 'Alice Madness Returns' game, it involves concept art, storyboards, character development, illustrations, quotes, maps, information, backgrounds etc. from the game that was and wasn't included in the game.
I mainly looked at the character and costume designs of Alice, the colours, patterns, details and backgrounds used with them, aswell as some illustrations of the game, Alice herself and even some other characters.

The cover of the illustration book of American
McGee's Alice Madness Returns

I looked at the costume and outfit design for Alice, seeing how
different they make some of her outfits from each other

Also looked at character design, where they mainly
tried to figure out Alice's looks of her body structure,
face and hair

More illustrations of Alice and different outfits

An official illustration of the Alice character that
was actual used to promote the game

Another official illustration that was used to
promote the game aswell

An illustration of Alice that I'm quite interested in
and used alot for inspiration for my painting

My idea for this unit linked to Alice Through the Looking Glass, and was to have her looking into a mirror, linking to the looking glass, and have her reflection different, the reason for this is because I wanted it to look interesting and surreal, the Alice kind of theme, but also because I wasn't strong in drawing faces.
To start my painting, I first sketched out the shape of Alice and her reflection, though I was advised that maybe I should cut them out so I wouldn't have to paint the base/background around it and ruining the drawings shape, so I did. I cut out the pencil drawing and then placed it on another piece of paper, holding it down with some tape and board clips before painting around the cut out, and on it slightly, with a slightly light, greyish blue. Once the main background/base was done, I re-sketched details onto the space that was left from the cutout covering it up from the blueish background, the details being of Alice's outfit. I started to use black paint on areas that needed it, this being the parts of the checkered floor, the boarder across the bottom of the mirror, Alice's dark grey shoes and the reflection to use as a base.

The cutout I did around the pencil sketch and
placed onto another piece of paper

The cutout after I had gone over the new piece
of with the light blue and greyish base.

The painting after I had added some black
paint onto the reflection, the checkered floor,
Alice's shoes and the boarder across the bottom
of the mirror.

The reflection with the details of starts with some
blue and pink smudges and flicks of white paint

So far satisfied with how it was looking, I then went onto adding some stuff to the reflection. I wanted something that was surreal and would catch people's attention, so I though about adding a space look, this also being because I find inspiration and take alot of interest in space. To give it this space look, I used a sponge and dipped it very lightly in pink and blue paint before lightly smudging it on parts of the reflection, giving it the space dust and nebula clouds kind of look. Once satisfied with the 'cloud' look and effect, I started to add in the stars by flicking on white paint and making bigger stars with a thin brush.

I then moved onto doing Alice's dress and striped tights/stockings, using white and red paint for all of it, along with some watered down black to cast a small light shadow on the leg and the creases in the dress. Once I had completed her outfit, I then moved onto the skin. Though I do have trouble understanding how to get a good skin colour, I asked a classmate to help, and they advised, showed and taught me how to get the kind of skin colour I want, what colours to use and what amounts I needed of them.

A nebula cloud, which I used as research
and inspiration for my painting

Another example of a nebula cloud and stars that I used to help
and inspire me to make the same kind of look in my painting

A close up of the detail I put into the space
themed reflection, where the smudges of blue
and pink can be seen

Alice's red dress with white frills and striped
white and red leggings/stockings

The final piece for the unit linked to 'Alice
Through the Looking Glass'

I then finally moved onto doing Alice's hair and black hairband. I used quite an orange base for her hair first before adding in mixes of brown and a but more yellow and gold colours, finishing it off by adding in some lighter streaks into the hair using some white paint.
In conclusion, I'm very satisfied and happy with how this painting turned out, I didn't have much difficulty or problems when making it, I did spend quite a bit of time and concentration on it too. If I could improve anything it might've been a better base colour for the mirror, but defiantly the hands of Alice since my skill in drawing and painting hands sin't that good.