It took several versions/revisions to all of the Wonderland character paintings to get them just so, and this was especially true with the Mad Hatter. He had quite a few different looks before I finally settled on this one!
I suspect that all illustrators get especially fussy/perfectionist when representing favorite stories, right? Obsessing over whether the images you're creating are fitting for a beloved text can drive a person, well, a little mad.
The Mad Hatter 11"x14"x1" Acrylic on canvas
Though he's an erratic nut, I have always felt rather sorry for him. Then I learned that blindness is another side-effect of mercury poisening, so I thought an eye patch would be a fitting finish to his portrait.
I kept his hat and coat rather demure, so that his crazy acid-yellow floral print silk bowtie and tousled hair could stand out.
Thank you very kindly for the nice words about the first two Alice paintings. I think the next painting I post will be Alice herself - the fourth and final in the quartet of portraits. Then it'll be on to other sights and creatures!
Happy weekend to you!