All Fours

This is an 8" x 10" acrylic painting on acid-free paper. It is inspired by my reading of The Dictionary of Faiths and Folklore compiled by W.C. Hazlitt. It refers to a game beloved by children called "all fours" which is exactly the same game of "horsey rides" that children enjoy today. I decided to depict it in a surreal fashion with little grotesqueries. I've made the poor, put upon, baby sitter more animal-like and elongated with a long-suffering look that many a weary childminder has worn. The face is inspired by Grace McDaniels, also known as the Mule-Faced Woman. She suffered from Sturge Weber Syndrome. The bottom half of her face grew very contorted and swollen. I have always found her deformity to be somewhat beautiful and inspiring. Two bored little ungrateful beings sit astride my poor beastie as they take one of those endless, back-wearying kiddie rides.

 

Here is how the finished painting looks. You can get a better look at it Here at My Good Babushka.

All in the Well

I've become quite exasperated with every permutation of children in and out of wells as I've sketched some idea for this lost children's game called "All in the Well".

I've decided to descend into mad, over the top, camp, and throw my children into the well as sacrifices to this tentacled thing that is reaching out from the well. There. All in the Well. You are welcome.

All in the Well

There is a game mentioned in my Dictionary of Faiths and Folklore called "All in the Well" to which no description is given. I'm noodling around with how I think it should look in these sketches.

The first question at issue- is it a game where you want to be in the well, or not?

All Fours

Sketchbook drawing for a painting I would like to do next. "All Fours". Just what it is, a game of carrying children on your back, practiced since time immemorial.