DETAIL IMAGES: "Alice", "Human Cards and White Rabbit"

The Queen shouts "Off with her head!" The pack of cards come flying down upon Alice. Her dream is ending. The cards and Wonderland are transforming (Copyright © 2010 Audra D. Lemke).

DETAIL IMAGES: "Cheshire","Roses", "Card, Rose, Ghostly Suits","Rabbit and 'Queen of Hearts'"

At the Queen of Hearts' garden, Alice met three card gardeners (Five, Two, and Seven of Spades) who curiously were painting white roses red. They had planted a white rose-tree instead of a red one, as expected by the Queen, and feared that she would cry "off with your heads!" Shortly afterwards, the Queen of Hearts arrived with her procession, including the White Rabbit. A croquet game is started, and the Cheshire Cat's head appeared above Alice.

In this interpretation of the garden scene, the Queen of Hearts's wrath destroys card after card and leaves a trail of ghostly suits - clubs (soldiers), diamonds (courtiers), and spades (gardeners), but sparing the royal children (hearts). In the book, Alice saves the three gardeners, but here the Queen sends ghostly 5, 2, and 7 of Spades billowing away. The Cheshire Cat appears in the sky, grin first, and remaining partially transparent. The White Rabbit stays by the Queen as her herald. (Copyright © 2011 Audra D. Lemke).

DETAIL IMAGES: "Alice1","Alice1 Face", "Alice2","Alice2 Face", "White Rabbit", "Hot Air Balloon"

Alice enjoys her world of childhood, yet wants to understand the rule-ridden and confusing world of adults. She sometimes feels confident about growing up, the path ahead of her, but then also feels hesitant and uncertain at times. Here, the White Rabbit starts the journey for the two sides of Alice, and the Queen of Hearts looms through the clouds like an ominous dream. (Copyright © 2011 Audra D. Lemke).

Inspired by Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, as it reminds me of Alice curiously watching the white rabbit run by. Graphite pencil drawing. (Copyright © 2012 Audra D. Lemke).