Little Horrors
Little Horrors
These are paintings about the inclusive world of children. I call them little horrors for a few reasons. First, in England, where I grew up children are often referred to (sometimes affectionately sometimes not) as little horrors. Second, because the images depict " little horrors" children playing and fighting with each in their own world, while the adults who are responsible for them fight or make love. These adults remain relentlessly oblivious to and separate from their children’s activities.
Finally, and most obviously they are " little horrors" because they are small paintings that depict relatively diminutive (in the scheme of world events) unpleasant domestic events.
In these paintings I use animals to represent the perpetual anxiety and confusion many children feel, that is often engendered by the adults around them, but is only expressed in play or seemingly unrelated acting out.
The palette I have used for these paintings is mostly muted and matte. The lines often wobbly. Raw canvas sometimes shows through. I am after something that feels hazy, like an old memory.
