Friday, September 29, 2006

Some Enchanted Evening


doorstep
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.
I'm influenced by the movies I watch. Recently I've been most intrigued by old movies from the 30s and 40s. There's something about the dramas that are both compelling, if a little hokey. The musicals are pure escapism. The shorts are madcap. This man, to me, looks like he's up to no good. Perhaps he's about to meet the mistress of his dreams. Or maybe he's a door to door salesman about to make that lucky break he's been pushing for. All I know is that these strangers will meet and define the movie. Comedy or Tragedy? Farce or gangster drama? It's all possible from this point.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The Doll's House


The Doll House
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.
This image was loosely inspired by Katherine Mansfield's 'The Doll's House', a short story about a large elaborate gift given to a rich family with little girls. The pre-pubescent aristocrats show off their new toy house to all of the neighborhood children, two by two. All the neighborhood children except for the Kelveys, who are the socially unacceptable daughters of a local washer woman. I don't want to ruin Mansfield's plot, which is as much in the telling as the tale, but she does reinforce the idea that bias is taught early.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Tractor


tractor2
Originally uploaded by Wilson Swain.
I'm starting sketches for an upcoming show with an 'apparitions' theme. Mostly I just wanted an excuse to move into farm machinery. Where are the ghosts, you may ask. Good question. I'm a fan of the movie Ironweeds, where the main character is haunted by visions of his past. That may be what's going on here. Or perhaps the wife is hounding her husband to babysit. Either way.