Before photography, slide projectors, movies, television, or anything electronic, entertainment came from what we now think of as analog sources. In the 1700s, for example, your leisure time may have been spent listening to live music, visiting an art show or a theatre performance, playing games, and reading books.
Inspired by theatrical stage sets, one innovation that rose to popularity in the 18th century was the tunnel book. Known at the time as “peep shows,” the art form combined storytelling with numerous layers that, when opened up, created the illusory effect of depth and perspective. Typically small and delicate, the scenes frequently depicted figures in a range of landscapes and commemorated special events.
For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, the tradition inspires an ongoing series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives. Using primarily watercolor and gouache, she paints flowers and text that nod to folk tales and famous stories, like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit.
“I’ve always enjoyed crafts, but I didn’t really begin painting (or making) art until I was 45,” Aldrich tells Colossal. “My background was in marketing and financial analysis, which I did for more than 20 years. After I left my career to raise my girls, I fit painting into bits of free time to keep my mind growing.”
Aldrich learned the basics of creating a tunnel book from another artisan on Instagram, and she adapted the method to her own style. She always enjoyed stationery design, toys, and books that had tiny, hidden compartments or miniature surprises. She says, “It’s no wonder that when my first daughter was born, I started making tiny scrapbooks that involved moving elements: flaps that opened, hidden letters, mini books, and spinning objects. That was probably the beginning of my paper fascination.”
Aldrich continues to experiment with different paper tricks, such as sliding doors and increasingly elaborate folds. She constructs scenes inspired by nature, as well as recognizable elements of famous stories, like the magical portal from the first Narnia book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
“Recently, I have been discovering vintage paper art that is rarely seen except in museums,” Aldrich says. “I can’t wait to figure out all the techniques, mash them together and make modern pieces that have never been combined before.” She is currently experimenting with the possibilities of combining tunnel books with Victorian puzzle purses, which were used as a means of exchanging private or romantic messages that could be encased in intricate folds.
“I still love the feeling of awe when you experience something that makes your heart swell,” Aldrich says. “As you get older, I think this happens less because of the responsibilities and burdens of being an adult. You tend to see less magic. I hope, with my art, to evoke the childlike wonder and hope that is in all of us.”
Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
