This joyous series consist of 12 graphite drawings and oil paintings of various sizes. It was imagined from my childhood enjoyment of the Oliver Twist novel. Viewing the story in a hyper simplified childhood fashion through my “Show and Tell” record / slide show player left enormous room for creative expression.

I am enjoying these epic drawings narrating my imagined vision of the streets of London in the 1850s. The little boys who are initially forced to pickpocket by their gang leader in order to be fed each night eventually become willing swindlers on their own. The innocence of the younger boys and their eventual corruption is evident in their very expressive faces.

I enjoyed researching this series and feel the dark value range of the drawings add to the cinematic excitement of the steal by these young hooligans referred to as Wiz Boys.