I’ve been assembling old images loosely categorized as “Stories without Words.” These are paintings with strong characters in them but uncertain story lines. As I trawl through them from 2014, a shift seems to occur around 2019 to fewer images suggesting sweet endings. From 2019 forward, they’re often bleak or just about hoping and coping. I guess I’m an artist of my times and reflect the state of the world.

I must note that these are all uncommissioned works. In this same time period, I’ve illustrated a few well-received picture books (all written by others). There is work to be done I guess to develop some of these into meaningful and attractives commercial narratives. Onward.

It’s still a bit subtle but I don’t think these are your standard American picture book themes: “the long dark night of the soul”, Confused angels, Prometheus, birds pushing a bully over a cliff…?