Mistress Mary Quite Contrary
Summary: Mary makes the journey from India to England where she will live in her uncle's vast house. Mary is teased by other children on her journey over. She is picked up by the house keeper, Mrs. Medlock.
Characters: Mary Lennox, mean boys, Mrs. Medlock.
Setting: India, England.
Quote to work from: "Mistress Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And marigolds all in a row"
Research, references, inspiration: As I decided to illustrate the classic rhyme which was altered in the novel and used to tease Mary on her journey to England as the subject matter for my illustration. The original rhyme reads:
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
 |
| Marigolds, illustrated guide to British flowers 'Wild flowers in colour'. |
So from this rhyme I looked into the types of flowers mentioned in the novels adaptation of the rhyme with perhaps the intention of illustrating the rhyme visually. My other idea would be to illustrate Mary herself and have the rhyme accompanying the illustration. Mary is taunted for her sour looking face and Mrs. Medlock describes her as unpretty. She wears a black crepe hat which I needed to find out what this was.
 |
| Black crepe hat. |
Roughs/sketches:
Final artwork: This is the final outcome, as the process is digital collage the original drawing itself is quite basic.
 |
| Original drawing. |
 |
| Colour palette. |
 |
| Final artwork. |