This piece was inspired by the children's string game "Cats Cradle" which seems to be played in variations all over the world and dates back at least hundreds of years. Although toy manufacturers sell the game with instructions, it can be played with any piece of string and most children learn the game from older children or caregivers and versions exist that can be solo or with other children. The internet has detailed instructions too attesting to the way many of today's children learn.
I used oil colors, but I wanted to keep the colors simple and childlike, so I began with a color ground with three primary colors allowing them to combine and form secondary colors where they met. I wanted the hands to be universal just like the game, so I had them emerge from the ground as if from a mist without clues provided by skin color, clothing or jewelry.
This piece was inspired by the children's string game "Cats Cradle" which seems to be played in variations all over the world and dates back at least hundreds of years. Although toy manufacturers sell the game with instructions, it can be played with any piece of string and most children learn the game from older children or caregivers and versions exist that can be solo or with other children. The internet has detailed instructions too attesting to the way many of today's children learn.
I used oil colors, but I wanted to keep the colors simple and childlike, so I began with a color ground with three primary colors allowing them to combine and form secondary colors where they met. I wanted the hands to be universal just like the game, so I had them emerge from the ground as if from a mist without clues provided by skin color, clothing or jewelry.