The Mad Tea Party – Original Watercolor by Karen Strum
The Mad Tea Party is one of my favorite scenes from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland—and not just for the quirky characters and nonsense dialogue. To me, it carries a powerful message about boundaries, respect, and the importance of standing up for yourself.
In this original watercolor, I blended playful cartoon characters with intricate swirls inspired by my background in henna tattoo art. The whimsical chaos of the tea party is captured through bold linework done in black gel pen and a soft, dreamlike wash of watercolor. It's a lighthearted image with a deeper lesson: healthy human connection depends on mutual respect and open communication. Alice didn’t get that at the tea party—she was talked over, insulted, and bombarded with riddles that went nowhere. Eventually, she had enough and left, declaring it the stupidest tea party she’d ever been to. I love that moment. It’s a reminder that walking away from disrespect is sometimes the best choice.
The painting is professionally framed in a clean white 16x20 frame with a black mat that fits the painting in an 11x14 opening. It's protected with plexiglass and finished on the back with brown craft paper and a wire for easy hanging. I’ve attached my artist information both to the back of the painting and to the back of the frame, so it stays with the piece for easy reference.
This artwork makes a meaningful gift or a great addition to any space that values creativity, character, and self-respect—served with a little bit of tea and a lot of attitude.
