The Hog Series began over twenty-six years ago and has evolved into an ongoing suite of approximately two hundred eighty (280) works on paper and canvas.  This series explores the rich iconography of the rural southeastern United States, incorporating elements of art history, children’s tales, persistent stereotypes and even commercial imagery.  As a native of Manning, South Carolina, 

Tarleton Blackwell’s visual world is populated with hog farms, opossums, foxes, roosters, wolves, pit bulls and cats but also with images inspired by his experiences as an art instructor, embalmer/funeral director, and as a devoted fan of the seventeenth century Spanish School of painting.

The essence of The Hog Series is related to the series of works created by Diego Velasquez (1599-1660), depicting the court jesters and dwarves of King Philip IV.  The court painter portrayed the subjects as equals to their master.  He has focused on portraying hogs with the underlying theme of dignity and respect, while at the same time revealing and sharing some of his past personal experiences.