Cautionary Tales

This ongoing set of illustrations depicts my favorite theme from old, popular cautionary tales: the forest. These old tales served as fun-to-read warnings and have been re-imagined and re-illustrated countless times throughout their history. Each of them is inspired by a specific moment where the woods themselves play a pivotal part in the story.

To see more of my illustrations and paintings, please visit my artist site, erinhovlandart.com.

Hansel & Gretel

“When the moon came they set out, but they found no crumbs, for the many thousands of birds which fly about in the woods and fields had picked them all up. Hansel said to Gretel, ‘We shall soon find the way.'” – Brothers Grim

Little Red Riding Hood

“So she ran from the path into the wood to look for flowers. And whenever she had picked one, she fancied that she saw a still prettier one farther on, and ran after it, and so got deeper and deeper into the wood. Meanwhile the wolf ran straight to the grandmother’s house and knocked at the door.” -Brothers Grimm

The Frog Prince

“…The ball bounded away, and rolled along upon the ground, till at last it fell down into the spring. The princess looked into the spring after her ball, but it was very deep, so deep that she could not see the bottom of it. Then she began to bewail her loss, and said, ‘Alas! if I could only get my ball again, I would give all my fine clothes and jewels, and everything that I have in the world.’”