A Rake's Progress series 

Inspired by William Hogarth's series of 8 paintings from the 18th century. Hogarth's series shows the decline and fall of Tom Rakewell. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Rake's_Progress

My recreation of the series starts with childhood and ends with my divorce (from my first husband) - illustrating some important milestones in my life and some of the decisions that lead me to who I am today. Each of my 8 paintings derive their inspiration from the 8 scenes in the original series.

 
1. The Windsock - in the first painting I am a child on a grassy runway throwing paper airplanes in to the wind.  (The windsock represents my husband, Matt Sesow, who was struck by a landing airplane when he was young.) I don't have any control over which direction my paper airplanes will fly - just like I had no idea which direction my life would take me when I was a child. But the windsock acts like a beacon, leading me to my current life with Matt.

2. The Circus - in the second painting, I am a small girl at the circus holding the hand of my imaginary friend, a monkey. The circus is an analogy for childhood... it is supposed to be an innocent and fun place. But in this painting, the circus has a sinister and sexy element. I was exposed to many movies, jokes and situations as a child that were not suitable for a child of my age. I believe they had a great impact on my early development.

3. The Corruption - the third painting is about the loss of innocence and loss of virginity. The tree is reaching out and pulling me in to the darkness of a forrest. My innocent teddy bear that watches over me on the left side of the painting now lies on the ground (on the right side) discarded because innocence has been lost.

4. The Betrothel - the forth painting shows me being carried off to my wedding. I was married right after graduating college which I realize now was too young and too soon.

5. The Race - in the fifth painting, I ride in on a horse. The horse and I are both wearing blinders and are being led down the aisle by my ex-mother-in-law. Getting married and following a traditional path in life was what I thought I was supposed to do and was slightly pressured in to it by my (future) in-laws and the pressures of the society rules I thought I had to follow.

6. The Temple -the sixth painting represents my efforts during my previous marriage to observe the Jewish religion because my ex husband and his family were a very observant Jewish family. Even with my best efforts to attend temple and listen to the services, I remained an atheist.


7. The Prison - the seventh painting is the beginning of the end. I am living in the suburbs with a view of the city off in the distance. Although I did not have children (I have never wanted children) many of my friends were having babies. My life was beginning to drive me crazy. I wanted something more for myself. So I started to cut loose the things that were holding me back and trying to escape to a better life.

8. The Madhouse - in the final painting in the series, I sit in a straight jacket on the front lawn of my 'perfect' little house. My picket fence began to feel like prison walls.