Monday, 17 December 2007

The Artist's Son

I have 10 small seasonal cards in front of me made by our 5-year-old son.
1) A head and face. Female. Fat lips, not unlike a dog turd. A flat head, with a fringe of hair covering two round knotted eyes. If the head is thinking, it is thinking about tropical fish, over-fed guppies probably. Also, long locks hang either side, like a pair of crutches carrying just the head.
48mm x 36mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
2) A head and face. Female. A wider head, with a single line successfully denoting a smile. The hair is even curlier than the smile. This time the falling locks either side are like two toned legs walking the head. If it is going somewhere, it is to win. The eyes are almost perfect thick dots.
40mm x 53 mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
3) A torso and head. Male. The figure is large and in a birdcage. The mouth is frowning. The hands are clenched into fists. There is only a smattering of hair on the head. The eyes are slight. If it is done for effect, it is very successful.
38mm x 52mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
4) A head and face. Sex indeterminate. The head is like a potato and has no neck. The lips are clown-like, satirical even. The hair is black and two flaps of yet more hair hang like springer spaniel ears. The eyes are two circles with two dots. If it is in fact a potato, and not a head, it is precariously balanced and about to bounce to the floor.
66mm x 54mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
5) A head and face. Male. A simple attempt at a circle, the resultant coil not unlike a light bulb. The smile is a thin black line running from left to right like a clothes line. The hair is curious - one part suggests thick hair and another baldness. If this character's life is empty, at least it is not unhappy.
39mm x 51mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
6) Blank.
38mm x 51mm. Folded red card. 2007.
7) A head and face. Sex indeterminate. Possibly extra-terrestrial. Either side are two cat's ears. In these, towards the tips, are parked the eyes. The eyes are wide open. They are either comic or unable to blink, and therefore watering heavily. The hair is like two quickly drawn rivers. The mouth is horizontal and houses two fangs. The neck may be thin and the shoulders dropped, but this is most definitely a trained killer.
49mm x 52mm. Very black ink on folded red paper. 2007.
8) A star. The star sits in the middle. It is surrounded by trails of neat scratched lines. At a distance the star looks like a busy dove of peace. Light fills the room when you look at this.
49mm x 50mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
9) A head and face. Round, like a thumb-squashed piece of gum. The eyes are large and totally black, giving the impression of round sunglasses. Each ear has a large black dot in the middle, suggesting they are badly pierced. The mouth is part-smile, part-frown. The hair is like a soldier's hair on leave and at the bar. There is a hint of a double-chin, but no malice.
39mm x 51mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
10) A girl. A body. She is smiling. Her arms are open wide. I think she is dancing. Her legs are like tassels. There is music. She looks like the 5-year-old artist's 8-year-old sister.
50mm x 50mm. Black ink on folded red card. 2007.
They are all for his friends.

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