The Mad Tea Party – Original Watercolor by Karen Strum Cherchez La Femme hardcover copy of "The Cosen"

hardcover copy of "The Cosen" by Chaim Potok which was published by Simon and Schuster

The raised lines mimic the thickness of fresh henna paste or jagua gel

The book drew criticism for its frank treatment of sexuality and its morally ambiguous portrayal of romantic obsession

I wanted to capture both the Gothic mystery and the rational heart of Conan Doyle’s classic

and a small loss at the top of the back panel

The Mad Tea Party – Original Watercolor by Karen Strum Cherchez La Femme hardcover copy of "The Cosen"The Mad Tea Party is one of my favorite scenes from Alices Adventures in Wonderlandand 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