The COMICAL Series

Comical, a series Marshall began in 2022, investigates the innocence of childhood through the anchor of the comic book. Comic book pages are plastered across the canvases, representative of adolescence - innocent, impressionable, unaware and unprepared for what life has in store beyond that moment.

A leading work of the series, BEANO, depicts the loss of this innocence as a clawed monster reaches from both sides of the canvas trying to shove representations of childhood into its horrific, yellow toothed mouth. Nearby the monster are other vices and obstacles to retaining childhood innocence – chemical symbols for cocaine and Adderall, two drugs that seem to be omnipresent and have indirectly effected Marshall’s life, are inside hearts scattered around the canvas. More symbols and words scribed in Latin such as violence, greed, and validation further interject themes and events that the once innocent child, now exposed to adulthood, must face. To balance the maturity and intensity of these themes, Marshall’s work consistently strikes with playfulness and subtle positives. Angel wings, a halo, Latin phrases such as “one must master one’s self to master the world.” And, of course, the monster has not actually eaten the Beano, the BEANO remains bright.

Forthcoming works from the Comical series will explore heartbreak and healing, wasting time and taking a leap of faith.