Alien Tea Shoppe

That's a whole mess of NO right there It did not begin with this article from Indian Country Today entitled, 17 Redface Costumes You Can Buy , but it was the most recent article about culturally racist Halloween costumes to come across my news feed.  This article in particular, which I read earlier this month, Is Your Halloween Costume Racist? , actually led me to ask some questions, which nobody really answered. I could assume that since no one bothered to accurately answer it (other than saying Ebola would be the most offensive costume this year - seriously, how is that an answer?), that I've been doing things right?  But, since I don't want to assume, I'll have to only half assume. If you reference the second article and the questions it points, I am guilty... but am I? I have made costumes of different cultures before.  They key word here being made.  I have never purchased a costume, nor has it ever been 'sexy'.  Any costume I have ever come...

I thought that if I were showing my illustrations here, I might as well tell you where they can be purchased.   Well, once upon a time, there was a gal in Mississippi who decided painting was a good release.  It made her happy & free.  So, she delved deep down into the world of painting & then some.  She finally decided to open a shop on etsy.com, called Poppyart.  The site & the girl have gone through many changes since the beginning of that journey.  She has come out in the other side as an artist, a Toltec & with a store that reflects those changes.  The Divine Binder of Bright Fame, Rebecca Roberts is artist.  The very eclectic Poppyart is her Etsy shop. How does this involve myself, dear readers?  Why I shall tell you now!  For one, that Divine Binder of Bright Fame is my elder sister.  Secondly, her shop now features other artists... & I, my dearest readers, are one of them.  So, She Who...

Some early illustrations.  As in earlier this year, ha!  A-hem.  On with the illustrations!  Oh wait.  Some of these are done with Sharpie, before I got my Indian inks.  I was also trying my hand at backgrounds. Done for a friend.  Ink & Sharpie.  Background, Palace Versailles, Paris.  Costumes from historical fashion plates. Done for a friend.  Ink & Sharpie.  Background & dress original design. Ink, Sharpie & watercolour coloured pencils.  Background, Spain.  Historical regional costume. Ink & Sharpie.  Background, Schloss Eggenberg, Vienna.  Historical German Court Dress.