watercolour and ink on paper

Amoral Tales

Short graphic stories based on ideas in Aesop's fables often keeping the animal heads but usually with nude figures suggesting alternative amoral versions of the moral tales.  A workshop of ideas to be brought together.  Let me know what you think about them and if you think I should neaten these drawings into a collection.

Amoral
An exploration of hedonism and failure through the retelling of some of the oldest and...

Do not promise much and deliver little
The mountain was a beauty, though she shall not be named in this story. The labour...

On tyranny and excuses
/ˈtɪrəni/ cruel and oppressive government or rule: "refugees...

The Fox and the Crane
Fox invited Crane for dinner but served bean soup in a broad flat dish the soup...

On deception and gullibility
/dɪˈsɛpʃn/ the action of deceiving someone: "obtaining...

The Woodman and the Serpent
One winter Woodman found Serpent stiff and frozen with cold Woodman gently cradled...

The Fisher
Fisher went sailing on the lake Playing the bagpipes Saying: the fish will dance...

The Belly and the Members
The members of the body rebelled against the belly.  They said: why should we do...

The Lioness
There was clamour and boasting amongst all the beast. Claiming their worth by the...

The Dancing Monkeys
Prince trained Monkeys to dance; He dressed them in fine flowing clothes; And...

On clothing notoriety
/ˈkləʊðɪŋ/ clothes collectively: "bring warm clothing and...

The Seaside Travellers
TRAVELLERS travelled along the seashore,  Climbed up a tall cliff to...

The Mule
One Sunday after dinner with nothing to do MULE frolicked and...

Two Soldiers and a Robber
When travelling wearily home Two soldiers were beset by a robber One...

The Bat and the Weasels
BAT fell to the ground Caught by a WEASEL who said: BIRD is my favourite...

The Man and the Satyr
MAN and SATYR shared a drink And another After a third they decided to be...

Pomegranate, Apple-Tree and Bramble
POMEGRANATE: Look at me, I am so beautiful. APPLE: Nay, look here, everyone...

The Ass and the Grasshoppers
GRASSHOPPER was singing, so beautiful and sweet. ASS was enchanted, the singer...

On familiarity and content
/fəˌmɪlɪˈarɪti/ close acquaintance with or knowledge of something:...

BOY Hunting LOCUSTS
BOY hunting LOCUSTS BOY had a goodly haul BOY saw the best of all BOY...

Hercules and the Wagoner
Picture a Wagon in a country lane Wheels sunk deep in a rut, stuck And the...

The Mole and his Mother
MOLE, poor thing, blind from birth Said, MOTHER, I am sure I can see MOTHER...

The Herdsman and the Lost Calf
HERDSMAN loved the flock, every one One day BULLCALF was lost HERDSMAN...

The FARMER and the STORK
FARMER caught all the thieves in the nets Five resigned CRANES and one shameful...

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller
CHARCOAL-BURNER worked from home where black was black FULLER worked from home too,...

The Raven and the Swan
RAVEN lusted for SWAN Floating in the pond With dazzling white...

ANTS and the GRASSHOPPER
THE ANTS were industrious Working hard, planning for their...

The LION and the MOUSE
LION was woken by MOUSE, oh dear careless MOUSE LION lashed out: You’ll...

On fairness and equality
/ˈfɛːnəs/ impartial and just treatment or behaviour...

Father and Sons
Everyday they would argue Bicker and squabble One against three, two...

On vacuous magnificence
/ˈvakjʊəs/ having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless:...

What is precious to one may have no value for another
COCK was searching for food for himself And the HENS When he found a...

DOG in the manger
DOG reclined, luxuriating in the manger. It was so soft, so gentle on sensitive...

On looking and leaping
/ˈlʊkɪŋ/ having a specified appearance:"a young-looking...

The Dog and the Shadow
DOG snarled, greedily protecting his piece Suddenly DOG was confronted with a...

The BEAR and two TRAVELLERS
Two youngsters travelling together Came across an angry BEAR PANDA, quick...

The HARE and the TORTOISE
HARE ridiculed TORTOISE with her softness and curves With his hand on his crotch this is...

The FAWN and MOTHER
Young FAWN said MOTHER You are larger than DOG You are faster than...

On death and respect
/dɛθ/ the action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a...

The SWALLOW and the CROW
SWALLOW was a flutter and a flaunt Saying: Beauty and Grace, my natural...

On assumed collaboration
/əˈsjuːm/ suppose to be the case, without proof: "topics which assume detailed...

TORTOISE and EAGLE
TORTOISE luxuriated like only tortoises could Sunbathing lazily between the...

The FLIES and the HONEY-POT
These are the FLIES This is the HONEY Oh dear, the HONEY...

The MAN and the LION
MAN and LION, another night in the forest  Boasting of strength and...

FARMER and the CRANES
The CRANES are in the field  And FARMER chases them...

CAT and VENUS
CAT fell in love with a beautiful youngster So CAT fell at the feet of...

OXEN and AXLETREE
The WAGON was laden and heavily pre-loaded And OXEN was strong, industrious...

Thirsty PIGEON
Fucking hell, PIGEON needed a drink PIGEON saw the sign and flew to...

GOATHERD and GOAT
You've heard this story before GOATHERD watching the GOATS A lazy,...

MISER
MISER invested everything in a gold bar: beautiful naked gold MISER...

On cunning and connivance
/ˈkʌnɪŋ/ having or showing skill in achieving one's ends...

The GROOM and the HORSE
Oh GROOM currycomb HORSE Rub it, rub it, rub it, so it feel good Oh GROOM take...

On choices of the lithe
/tʃɔɪs/ an act of choosing between two or more possibilities.:"the choice...

On the conceit of the boast
/kənˈsiːt/ excessive pride in oneself: "he was puffed up with...

On righteous entitlement
/ˈrʌɪtʃəs/ morally right or justifiable: "feelings of righteous...

On mischief and insult
LAMB looked down on WOLF with a giggle and a sigh and a mischievious smile Your...

From the Shepherd and the Wolf
Now listen carefully while tell you this tale Of a young little whelp, fragile...

Amoral
An exploration of hedonism and failure through the retelling of some of the oldest and...