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Click for larger version (PNG); click for PDF version. Click here for the list of dolls.
“It was a picture of a ship — a ship sailing nearly straight towards you. Her prow was gilded and shaped like the head of a dragon with wide open mouth. She had only one mast and one large, square sail which was a rich purple. The sides of the ships — what you could see of them where the gilded wings of the dragon ended — were green. She had just run up to the top of one glorious blue wave, and the nearer slope of that wave came down towards you, with streaks and bubbles on it. She was obviously running fast before a gay wind, listing over a little on her port side. (By the way, if you are going to read this story at all, and if you don’t know already, you had better get it into your head that the left of a ship when you are looking ahead, is port, and the right is starboard.) All the sunlight feel on her from that side, and the water on that side was full of greens and purples. On the other, it was darker blue from the shadow of the ship.” – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Chapter 1: The Picture in the Bedroom
I have often thought it would be fun to do something like this, and since so far this February I have done nothing but a trio of (admittedly cute) rainbow gowns and feel rather as if I am in need of forgiveness from my very patient audience, I thought that now is as good a time as any to try it out. Before you ask, no, I have not seen the movie; rather, I saw a couple of the trailers and decided I most certainly did not want to see the movie, but I would very much like to re-read the book. My favorite of the Narnia books is The Horse And His Boy, but I love the sense of adventure and beauty in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, and as I re-read it, I couldn’t help but think about adapting it to paperdolls. It’s a great medium for a project like this, don’t you think? It provides room for something in between a costume and an illustration, and allows waves to become ruffles and for wildly impractical dragon wings that frame the face.
I’m going to aim to draw a new one every week until I finish, not a whole series of them all at once, so don’t be alarmed when there is a kimono next Saturday! Also – don’t forget to join me for livedolling the Oscars! Apparently the part I’m most interested in (that is, the red carpet) will start at 7:00 PM EST, 4:00 PM for me out here on the west coast.
Now, let me see if I have correctly judged what will most delight a nice big share of my readers…
Colors used: Poppy Red, Crimson Red, Tuscan Red, Black Grape, Violet Blue, Lilac, Cool Grey 20%, Cool Grey 50%, Cool Grey 90%, French Grey 10%, Black, Dark Umber, Light Umber, Cream, Sunburst Yellow, Goldenrod, Dark Green, Kelly Green, Peacock Green, Parrot Green, Pale Sage, Light Green, Spring Green, all the blues I own Light Cerulean Blue, China Blue, Powder Blue, Indigo Blue, Peacock Blue, Sky Blue Light, Cloud Blue, Mediterranean Blue
Holy cow, I literally just check the site a minute ago, and this wasn’t here, and then I load the page again and *poof! Awesomeness! It took my breath away. I love Chronicles of Narnia, and Voyage is one of my seven favorites. You also didn’t miss much, not seeing the movie. It wasn’t all that good. Sad. But the dress is Lewis-worthy!
Your poll is missing the following option: “Yes, and monopods.”
Eeeeeeeeeeeee!
Voyage was always my favourite Narnia book :D That is such an awesome dress ^_^
Gorgeous, colorful, and wildly impractical. I love it!! (Just like I love all your drawings :)
I love it!!! I love the Chronicles of Narnia, and I own all of them. My favorite is the Horse and his Boy too!! Maybe a set of dresses based on that one as well?
Really missed you Liana! Can’t wait to see your interpretation of the story/dresses.
I love this dress and i really want to read the books now!
Yesss! My favorite Narnia book! …well my favorite changes every few years or so since I was 6, but currently this is my favorite. :) You’re brilliant.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia and you did an amazing job with this dress. The skirt is especially impressive. I’d love to see your impression of the dress Ramandu’s daughter wears, if it strikes your fancy, of course. Regardless, I look forward to future Narnian dresses. :)
The dress is so pretty!!!! thank you liana!!!
I can see the resemblance very well. Perfectly stunning.
This is an amazingly beautiful dress, and I just love it. Those waves look so real, but still fit into the dress. I can barely find words to describe it- it’s wonderful.
Amazing fantasy dress, over the top and lovely. Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite book in the Narnia series. My favorite island was the Deathwater Island, but the whole book is fantastic. I’m very excited to see what you come up with.
Dress is so imaginative and creative! what a wonderful idea-to turn the image into a gown! You are so gifted!
Ohmigosh eeeeeeeee!
(Sorry about that, but it was my first reaction!)
:D
I totally would have picked “Yes – and monopods.”!
Love the dress, favorite book, Liana, you rock =D
Ah I love it! Yay for Chronicles of Narnia and for dragons! I didn’t see the movie either, I was wary of it after seeing Prince Caspian and deciding that poor C.S. Lewis must be rolling in his grave.
I totally loved all the movies. My problem is that they are doing them totally out of order. Your work as usual is absolutely awesome. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R Tolkien are my fav fantasy writers. I have read their work mutiple times.
Wonderful! I did read the Narnia-books when I was very young, and I have read them several times after that too! They are wonderful, and your dress brings memorys back. I like how the dress at first looks like an “ordinary” dress, and then, when you look closer you see that it is a ship. I look forward to see the next dresses!
It’s a coincidence I take a look at your site today, but you’re doing a wonderful job as always ^^) You know, I’m Japanese and several months later after I started training myself reading English books, Narnia became the one, while I was not aware of, that I wanted to read someday… And when the time I finally could read it came, all the series was really fascinating ^^) It was like watching a Disney movie. No wonder Disney made movies of it, though ^^;;
By the way, the “Site” says it’s under looong maintenance… I’ll be up for another one hour, maybe two hours, and I’ll make sure you can tell. If you couldn’t make it, that would be okay ^^) I came here just in case ^^) And if you feel it inappropriate, don’t hesitate to remove my comment ^^;; Of course, after you read it ^^) ^^)
I have to say, before I actually comment on the dress, that I was reading the Narnia series. I stopped on The Horse and His Boy because I lost it, but I’ve been meaning to pick it up again.
Anyway, about the dress…wild! My first thought. But I see how it fits in…I saw the movie, which wasn’t nearly as good as the book, so I’ve heard (as usual, books are always better), and I think this fits in quite well. Beautiful work!
Whoa, a dawn treader dress! No way! You continue to amaze me Liana, with all your creative ideas and drawing talent. I love this dress!
Ooooooh wow!! Very awesome! I love your interpretation of the story/imagery in dress form—what a great idea :D The waves look soooo cool.
My vote was “haven’t read but want to.” My dad read all the books to me and my brothers when we were much younger, so I am not completely deprived, but it’s been a really long time. Still, the scene with the ship painting coming to life and flooding the room has always been a very vivid one in my memory. It’s such a fantastic image!
*Weeps silently* I love it, it is really pretty as always. I haven’t read any of the Narnia books yet, but I have seen some of the movies. But, I guess the books will be better, they always are. As I said in my last comment for the last dress… I think… I NEED YOYR SKILLZ LIANA!!!! I can’t draw clothing and I woulld really like to learn… Wait… Oh right, the only colthing I can draw is kina like animal hide clothes… Well thats an idea, animal hide style clothes… I talk to much about myself and my problems, don’t I? Oh well, if I may, can I ask if you can give me some drawing tips on clothing? It would be very much appreciated…
Oh ya, I forgot to ask… My friend and I would like to know… Is it ok if we can get some of the dresses made? All credit will go to you…
Brian is a clever husband,isn’t he?! :)
Even when we have to wait for a dress, it’s always worth it, Liana! Oddly enough, The Last Battle is becoming a particular favorite, mostly for the description of Heaven by the Unicorn in the end! (And because I’m thirty pro’bly! The Voyage will always have a faithful following though…)
So beautiful. You really didn’t miss much with not seeing the movie, especially since you love the book. They basically took the plot line, ripped it up, and injected their own. I would have to say that my favorite is The Last Battle.
I loved this dress and I loved the books. The movie was ok, but not what I expected for my favorite book. But your dress just made up for that! I love that it looks like a ship! Thank you, thank you, thank you! My favorite character from all of the books is Aravis, so it would be interesting to see if you could do an outfit of hers
YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! u did narnia!!!!! that movie is awesome! february is my birth month, so i am loveing your dresses! <3 the color!
Absolutely Beautiful!
Oh wow!
Not entirely a Narnian dress (though I suspect Susan would have loved to wear it while twirling in the arms of some lordling) but a very dawn-treadery one.
I haven’t seen the film either (watching so-called Caspian made me cry) but am rereading the stories at the moment so can I second the request for the Star’s Daughter?
(Aravis’ riding clothes or the Lady of the Green Kirtle’s green kirtle would be interesting too).
Would it be okay for me to have some of the dresses made, they are gorgeous…
wow, this dress looks exactly how the words describe! you are amazing!!! im so jealous… but im sketching more often & i even bought some prismacolor pencils ^_^
The Voyage of the Dawntreader actually comes out on DVD April 8! I think it would be great if you could repost that for all of your other readers to see!
I love the dress, its really awesome! I was reading and I haven’t seen the movie either, but I have heard from some friends that it was actually really good, It comes out on DVD and Blue Ray April 8th, hopefully others will give it a chance! I plan on buying it :)