Alice’s Nightmare – Through the Looking Glass
By: Shalla Mar N. Mugot; published by Julia Rivers, Storytroll
Rating: 5 of 5
I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass coloring books. In this second coloring book in her Alice Nightmare series, the artist (Shalla Mar N. Mugot) takes on a nightmare version of Alice’s Trough the Looking Glass.
As with the previous book, the story stays true to the book but the vision is seriously different. This is not a coloring book for little children (and there is an appropriate warning on the back of the page. There are some fairly twisted and creepy characters and some slightly gory scenes as well. Be sure to check my silent, full-book video to see if this book will work for you.
The designs are detailed but do not, for the most part, include intricate elements with lots of tiny spots to color. Some of the designs incorporate a good bit of black as a pre-colored element to the illustration.
This is what I discovered while coloring in this book and testing my coloring medium on the paper:
40 Designs inspired by Alice’s Through the Looking Glass
Printed one side of the page
Paper is typical inexpensive quality by CreateSpace printing: white, thin, slightly rough and non-perforated.
The designs do not merge into the binding and have a framing line around the outer edges.
Glue Binding
Alcohol-based markers bleed through the page quickly.
Water-based markers bleed through in spots.
Gel pens and India ink pens leave shadows on back of the page. India ink can bleed through if you apply heavily or multiple coats.
Coloring Pencils work well with this paper. I found that I could layers the same color for deeper pigment or multiple colors and I could blend easily using a blending stick. I tested both oil and wax based pencils. I also found that hard lead pencils leave dents through the paper.
I like to use a blotter when working in the book. I use a page of card stock or several sheets of heavyweight paper under my working page. It keeps seeping ink and marring dents from ruining the pages below.
Here are some sample photos from the coloring book:
I am a huge fan of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass coloring books. In this second coloring book in her Alice Nightmare series, the artist (Shalla Mar N. Mugot) takes on a nightmare version of Alice’s Trough the Looking Glass.
