Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Dragonette on why fantasy is fun and being inspired by Kate Bush...
Why did you choose this book?
I chose Alice in Wonderland because I have so much imagery in my head of this story that my mind has created from reading the book and watching the film over and over (and over and over). All the characters are massively iconic while also being subjective to the reader. I was really excited to be able to illustrate MY version of Alice.
Talk us through your cover
Because playing cards are so thematic in Alice’s story, I thought I would illustrate her as a ‘face card’. Like other face cards either way you hold it a face is up, but in Alice’s case, one side of her is innocent and demure, and the other she in noticeably more wild and dishevelled. One Alice holds a flower while the other holds a mushroom. And the collage is just to use a form of art that I am really into at the moment. Collage artists like Linder, www.misprintedtype.com, and www.ailsonhoney.com are super cool inmy humble opinion… (I guess that’s why we chose collage-ee stuff for our Album cover)
Who else’s My Penguin would you Love to see?
I’d love to see Beck’s cover, apart from really digging his music I think he’s a real visual person and an artist in more than one respect.
Why did you want to be a part of My Penguin?
I’ve always wanted to illustrate a book. But I have trouble drawing the same character twice. So I guess the cover is the next best thing.
What are your top 5 favourite books of all time?
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Of Love and Other Demons-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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The Botany of Desire- Micheal Pollan
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Cat’s Cradle – Margaret Atwood
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The War Of Don Emmanuels Netherparts – Louis De Bernieres
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Beloved – Tony Morrison
Which My Penguin would you give to a friend as a present?
The Secret Garden or Alice in Wonderland
Why was your choice of book the best My Penguin to cover?
Because fantasy is fun.
Do you think your having taken part in My Penguin will encourage your fans to cover their own favourite book?
Quite possibly
A book cover is very different from your usual work, how did you find the contrast?
I’ve always done a lot of visual art, and this is something I’ve always wanted to do, sooooo… it was a pleasure
An album cover often sets the mood for the album, how do you think your cover sets the mood for this book?
My cover sets up Alice in Wonderland as a fantastic and frightening acid trip… which I think is accurate.
Can you judge a book by its cover?
I myself think I am quite skilled in this practice. The book judging by cover practice is tricky business and should be done with caution.
How do you hope your cover will inspire others?
I would hope people would want to open it.
Did you get it right the first time or did you have to give it a couple of tries?
I gave it a few
What music did you listen to whilst covering your my Penguin?
Kate bush hounds of love
Which book will you never have on your bookshelf?
Those silly looking “Shoppaholics Guide to Being an Idiot book, and the Chicken Soup for The Human soul series
What are you reading at the moment?
The Omnivors Dilemma, and the Kite Runner
Which Classic have you always meant to read but never got round to it?
I am embarrassingly not a classics kind of girl. So all of them Moby Dick Wuthering Heights, War and Peace and the rest of them
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?
The mad hatter
Which literary character do you most identify with?
I don’t know and it’s time for dinner so there.