Oh Frabjous Day!

I managed to get one reasonably decent photo of the second painting I've been working on for the Poetic Visions Exhibition. So, here it is! This one, too, was finished just in time for the varnish to dry before taking it in today.

Inspired by one of my favourite poems, "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carrol, I had fun painting this. The poem is chock full of nonsense words, leaving much up to the imagination of the reader. This is my interpretation of this delightful poem, based on the author's definitions of his made-up words.

Here is a snippet for your amusement:

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

Toves are the badger/lizard/corkscrew creatures, the mop-like birds are borogroves, and the lost-looking green piggy things are mome raths. That is just the beginning of the fun!

You can read the entire poem and the definitons here.

This is not one of my best paintings by a longshot, but it was fun to do and a chance to explore some new techniques. It will likely end up being painted over at some point in the future, but for now it can hang in the exhibition and hopefully make some folks smile!

NOTE: This painting is currently on exhibit at the Classic Theatre in Cobalt, Ontario. It is currently for sale, but will not be available to ship until the end of March.

Details and purchase information available here.