{"id":449694,"date":"2025-02-04T10:55:01","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?p=449694"},"modified":"2025-02-04T10:55:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T16:55:03","slug":"shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a small paper tunnel book depicting large mushrooms and a figure hiking through a landscape\" style=\"object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9-640x536.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9-960x804.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9-768x643.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9-1536x1286.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Mushroom Hike Tunnel Book&#8221; (2024). All images courtesy of Shelley Aldrich, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2025-02-04T10:55:01-06:00\">February 4, 2025<\/time><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-design\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/design\/\" rel=\"tag\">Design<\/a><a class=\"category-illustration\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/illustration\/\" rel=\"tag\">Illustration<\/a><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\"><li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2025%2F02%2Fshelley-aldrich-tunnel-books%2F&#038;title=Imaginative%20Scenes%20Vibrantly%20Expand%20in%20Shelley%20Aldrich%27s%20Illustrated%20Tunnel%20Books\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2025%2F02%2Fshelley-aldrich-tunnel-books%2F&#038;description=Imaginative%20Scenes%20Vibrantly%20Expand%20in%20Shelley%20Aldrich%27s%20Illustrated%20Tunnel%20Books&#038;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F02%2Faldrich-9-960x804.jpg\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12.289,2C6.617,2,3.606,5.648,3.606,9.622c0,1.846,1.025,4.146,2.666,4.878c0.25,0.111,0.381,0.063,0.439-0.169 c0.044-0.175,0.267-1.029,0.365-1.428c0.032-0.128,0.017-0.237-0.091-0.362C6.445,11.911,6.01,10.75,6.01,9.668 c0-2.777,2.194-5.464,5.933-5.464c3.23,0,5.49,2.108,5.49,5.122c0,3.407-1.794,5.768-4.13,5.768c-1.291,0-2.257-1.021-1.948-2.277 c0.372-1.495,1.089-3.112,1.089-4.191c0-0.967-0.542-1.775-1.663-1.775c-1.319,0-2.379,1.309-2.379,3.059 c0,1.115,0.394,1.869,0.394,1.869s-1.302,5.279-1.54,6.261c-0.405,1.666,0.053,4.368,0.094,4.604 c0.021,0.126,0.167,0.169,0.25,0.063c0.129-0.165,1.699-2.419,2.142-4.051c0.158-0.59,0.817-2.995,0.817-2.995 c0.43,0.784,1.681,1.446,3.013,1.446c3.963,0,6.822-3.494,6.822-7.833C20.394,5.112,16.849,2,12.289,2\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n\n\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d; \" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"mailto:?subject=Imaginative%20Scenes%20Vibrantly%20Expand%20in%20Shelley%20Aldrich%27s%20Illustrated%20Tunnel%20Books&#038;body=Imaginative%20Scenes%20Vibrantly%20Expand%20in%20Shelley%20Aldrich%27s%20Illustrated%20Tunnel%20Books%20&mdash;%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2025%2F02%2Fshelley-aldrich-tunnel-books%2F\" aria-label=\"Email\"  class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\">\n\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M20,4H4C2.895,4,2,4.895,2,6v12c0,1.105,0.895,2,2,2h16c1.105,0,2-0.895,2-2V6C22,4.895,21.105,4,20,4z M20,8.236l-8,4.882 L4,8.236V6h16V8.236z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \">\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"449694\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"1\" style=\"\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\" style=\"\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by theatrical stage sets, one innovation that rose to popularity in the 18th century was the tunnel book. Known at the time as &#8220;peep shows,&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-2.gif\" alt=\"a gif of a tunnel book being opened to show its three-dimensional scene inside of the winter scene and lamp post through the wardrobe in Narnia\" class=\"wp-image-449726\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Narnia Tunnel Book&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For self-taught illustrator <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shelleyaldrich.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shelley Aldrich<\/a>, 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 <em>The Chronicles of Narnia <\/em>and <em>The Hobbit.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I\u2019ve always enjoyed crafts, but I didn\u2019t really begin painting (or making) art until I was 45,&#8221; Aldrich tells Colossal. &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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, &#8220;It\u2019s 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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, <em>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"928\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7-960x928.jpg\" alt=\"a small paper tunnel book depicting the wardrobe from 'The Chronicles of Narnia,' which opens up to reveal the lamp post and winter scene\" class=\"wp-image-449730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7-960x928.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7-640x619.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7-768x743.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7-1536x1485.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-7.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Narnia Tunnel Book&#8221; (2024), open<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Recently, I have been discovering vintage paper art that is rarely seen except in museums,&#8221; Aldrich says. &#8220;I can\u2019t wait to figure out all the techniques, mash them together and make modern pieces that have never been combined before.&#8221; She is currently experimenting with the possibilities of combining tunnel books with Victorian <a href=\"https:\/\/louisamayalcott.org\/virtual-valentine\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">puzzle purses<\/a>, which were used as a means of exchanging private or romantic messages that could be encased in intricate folds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;I still love the feeling of awe when you experience something that makes your heart swell,&#8221; Aldrich says. &#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find more on the artist&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shelleyaldrich.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/shelleyaldrichminimuseum\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"966\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-960x966.jpg\" alt=\"a folded, illustrated piece of paper that functions like a narrative that can be unfolded to reveal the message\" class=\"wp-image-449735\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-960x966.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-640x644.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-768x773.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12-1526x1536.jpg 1526w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-12.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8216;The Hobbit&#8217; combination puzzle purse and tunnel book, closed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-960x1280.jpg\" alt=\"an illustrated piece of paper that functions like a narrative that can be folded and unfolded to reveal the message\" class=\"wp-image-449736\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-960x1280.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-640x853.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-13-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8216;The Hobbit&#8217; combination puzzle purse and tunnel book, open<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"815\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6-960x815.jpg\" alt=\"a tunnel book showing a scene of a garden through an oval aperture, labeled with the word &quot;blossom&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-449740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6-960x815.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6-640x543.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6-768x652.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6-1536x1304.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-6.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Highgrove Tunnel Book&#8221; (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"423\" height=\"488\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-3.gif\" alt=\"a gif of a tunnel book being turned to show its folded sides and the three-dimensional scene of a garden inside\" class=\"wp-image-449727\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Highgrove Tunnel Book&#8221; (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"842\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8-960x842.jpg\" alt=\"a small paper tunnel book depicting a garden scene, with the words &quot;Winter Garden&quot; written underneath a cutout oval image\" class=\"wp-image-449731\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8-960x842.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8-640x561.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8-768x674.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8-1536x1347.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-8.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Winter Garden Tunnel Book&#8221; (2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"908\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4-960x908.jpg\" alt=\"the exterior of a tunnel book, shaped like two large doors, which can be opened to reveal a narrative inside\" class=\"wp-image-449728\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4-960x908.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4-640x605.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4-768x727.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4-1536x1453.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-4.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;Wonka Tunnel Book&#8221; (2025), closed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1202\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-960x1202.jpg\" alt=\"the inside of a tunnel book made with paper and watercolor, depicting a garden scene from Willy Wonka\" class=\"wp-image-449729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-960x1202.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-640x802.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-768x962.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-1226x1536.jpg 1226w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5-1635x2048.jpg 1635w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-5.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Wonka Tunnel Book,&#8221; open<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"350\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-1.gif\" alt=\"a gif of the inside of a tunnel book showing its three-dimensional scene inside of the winter scene and lamp post through the wardrobe in Narnia\" class=\"wp-image-449725\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Detail of &#8220;Narnia Tunnel Book&#8221;<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"1028\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-960x1028.jpg\" alt=\"a folded, illustrated piece of paper covered in flower designs that functions like a narrative that can be unfolded to reveal the message\" class=\"wp-image-449734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-960x1028.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-640x685.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-768x822.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-1435x1536.jpg 1435w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11-1913x2048.jpg 1913w, https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-11.jpg 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Shakespearean sonnet combination puzzle purse and tunnel book, closed<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An 18th-century tradition inspires a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2306,"featured_media":449732,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1312,494,1327],"tags":[17,248,471,9,3655,384],"class_list":["post-449694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-craft","category-design","category-illustration","tag-books","tag-drawing","tag-landscapes","tag-paper","tag-shelley-aldrich","tag-watercolor"],"acf":{"acf_sponsor_post":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#039;s Illustrated Tunnel Books &#8212; Colossal<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#039;s Illustrated Tunnel Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colossal\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Mothes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@colossal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@colossal\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kate Mothes\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Kate Mothes\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/07d97f61fe8356d3798fd95d8faea522\"},\"headline\":\"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\"},\"wordCount\":555,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"book art\",\"drawing\",\"landscapes\",\"paper\",\"Shelley Aldrich\",\"watercolor\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Craft\",\"Design\",\"Illustration\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\",\"name\":\"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich's Illustrated Tunnel Books &#8212; Colossal\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00\",\"description\":\"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg\",\"width\":2000,\"height\":1675,\"caption\":\"\\\"Mushroom Hike Tunnel Book\\\" (2024). All images courtesy of Shelley Aldrich, shared with permission\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\",\"name\":\"Colossal\",\"description\":\"The best of art, craft, and visual culture since 2010.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Colossal\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png\",\"width\":988,\"height\":988,\"caption\":\"Colossal\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/colossal\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/colossal\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/itscolossal\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/07d97f61fe8356d3798fd95d8faea522\",\"name\":\"Kate Mothes\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41f76ac4427eee5f03bf799ab99f1b60?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41f76ac4427eee5f03bf799ab99f1b60?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Kate Mothes\"},\"description\":\"In addition to her role as editor for Colossal, Kate Mothes is an independent, semi-nomadic contemporary art writer, curator, and organizer based most of the time in the Upper Midwest. She is also the founder of Young Space and a regular contributor to Arts Midwest's Creativity News Desk along with various print and online publications. Learn more about her work at katemothes.net.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich's Illustrated Tunnel Books &#8212; Colossal","description":"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich's Illustrated Tunnel Books","og_description":"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/","og_site_name":"Colossal","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/","article_published_time":"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2000,"height":1675,"url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Kate Mothes","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@colossal","twitter_site":"@colossal","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Kate Mothes","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/"},"author":{"name":"Kate Mothes","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/07d97f61fe8356d3798fd95d8faea522"},"headline":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books","datePublished":"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/"},"wordCount":555,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg","keywords":["book art","drawing","landscapes","paper","Shelley Aldrich","watercolor"],"articleSection":["Craft","Design","Illustration"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/","name":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich's Illustrated Tunnel Books &#8212; Colossal","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg","datePublished":"2025-02-04T16:55:01+00:00","dateModified":"2025-02-04T16:55:03+00:00","description":"For self-taught illustrator Shelley Aldrich, tunnel books inspire a series of vibrant books and folded visual narratives.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/aldrich-9.jpg","width":2000,"height":1675,"caption":"\"Mushroom Hike Tunnel Book\" (2024). All images courtesy of Shelley Aldrich, shared with permission"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2025\/02\/shelley-aldrich-tunnel-books\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Imaginative Scenes Vibrantly Expand in Shelley Aldrich&#8217;s Illustrated Tunnel Books"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/","name":"Colossal","description":"The best of art, craft, and visual culture since 2010.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#organization","name":"Colossal","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-crow-sandal.png","width":988,"height":988,"caption":"Colossal"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/thisiscolossal\/","https:\/\/x.com\/colossal","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/colossal\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/itscolossal\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/07d97f61fe8356d3798fd95d8faea522","name":"Kate Mothes","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41f76ac4427eee5f03bf799ab99f1b60?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/41f76ac4427eee5f03bf799ab99f1b60?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Kate Mothes"},"description":"In addition to her role as editor for Colossal, Kate Mothes is an independent, semi-nomadic contemporary art writer, curator, and organizer based most of the time in the Upper Midwest. She is also the founder of Young Space and a regular contributor to Arts Midwest's Creativity News Desk along with various print and online publications. Learn more about her work at katemothes.net.","url":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2306"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=449694"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":449765,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/449694\/revisions\/449765"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/449732"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=449694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=449694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=449694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}