The Four Horses of the Apocalypse

SOLD: This showstopper set of four was released as the headliner of the Halloween 2018 collection.

Death

"When the Lamb broke the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. Authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth." -Revelation 6:7-8

Death - Front

Death rears his pale head, crowned with a scythe shaped horn, and large, cloak like wings, stretching and flapping powerfully as graves appear like weeds at his feet.

Death- Left

The Four Horsemen have been a project in the making for close to 6 months.

Death -Back

I became inspired to make 2018's Halloween theme "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" while watching one of my favourite shows - Supernatural.

Death- Front

I wanted Death to be the most imposing of the four and the clear leader of the group. Although, he is biblicaly the last to arrive, it is clear that he runs the show as the result of the other three is inevitably Death.

Death - Close Up

"As old as God. Maybe older. Neither of us can remember anymore." -Death from "Supernatural"

Death - Wings

Death - Graves

War

"When He broke the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come.” And another, a red horse, went out; and to him who sat on it, it was granted to take peace from the earth, and that men would slay one another; and a great sword was given to him." Revelation 6:3-4

War - Front

Galloping through the bloodstained mood and chaos of a battlefield, her mane is like a halo of fire along her muscular neck. Blood drips from her thick sword-like horn as she makes a sound that echos like the scream of a thousand armies.

War - Left

I really wanted War to not only represent the battles of armed combat that have happened throughout history and in our own times (which it obviously does as well) but I wanted it to represent every battle that we face in life. The battles of politics, of injustices and for rights...even the battles that we fight within our own minds.

War - Back

War - Swords

The Bible never actually names "War" - but rather refers to this horsman as the one who takes peace and brings sword. In art, War is often depicted with two crossed swards - or swords representing the two sides of conflict.

War - Front Close Up

War - Armor Close Up

The armor, swords and horn are all made of polymer clay. With zero molds to work with, I had to sculpt everything by hand. This was by far the most ambitious project I have ever done in regards to polymer clay.

War - Close Up

One of the things I truly lucked out on with the Four Horses is the horses themselves. I was able to find four horses that actually suited what they would become - War most of all. As soon as I saw that amazing and violent mane, I knew she had to be War.

War - Close Up

"Here's a hint. I was in Germany. Then in Germany. Then in the Middle East. I was in Darfur when my beeper went off. I'm waiting to hook up with my siblings. I've got three. We're going to have so much fun together." -War in Supernatural

War

Pestilence

'Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.' -Revelation 6:1-2

Pestilence - Front

Sprinting swiftly through a infested field of tall grass, a gaunt, white horse flaps his healthy wings, spreading puss, mucus and blood at every powerful turn before he lifts off, showering the world in his afflictions.

Pestilence - Right

For the aesthetic of Pestilence, I was heavily influenced by a beautiful (and graphic) book called "The Sick Rose". I found the book in a Museum in Toronto, and it's full of detailed Victorian illustrations depicting diseases of the time era - including the cover which depicts a woman with cholera inspiring the slight blueish/green tint of Pestilence.

Pestilence - Back

I knew I wanted to drive the point home that Pestilence does one thing very well - spreads. There is debate over the translation of the verse - if it represents "pestilence" or "conquest". But the one thing everyone agrees on is that this horseman can spread like wildfire. I also knew that the easiest place to get sick is an open field where the wind lifts and carries every air born disease it can. Hence the tall grass.

Pestilence - Boil Close Up

I knew I wanted Pestilence to look as sick and disgusting as possible. I wanted anyone who looked at him to be both revolted and impressed. The boils are actually made of typical silicone.

Pesitlence - Wings

The one healthy part of Pestilence is his wings. The better to spread my nastiness my dear.

Pestilence

'Disease gets a bad rep, don't you think? For being filthy, chaotic. Uh, but, really, that just describes people who get sick. Disease itself... very... pure. Single-minded. Bacteria have one purpose: divide and conquer. That's why, in the end... it always wins.' - Pestilence in Supernatural

Famine

'When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, “Come.” I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. And I heard something like a voice in the center of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; but do not damage the oil and the wine.” -Revelation 6:5-6

Famine - Left

In the middle of a dry and barren dessert is a emaciated black pegasus, close to collapse as the sun beats against his small and damaged wings. As he reaches his final breath, he desperately reaches his skull like face towards one of the last good stocks of wheat left...

Famine - Front

Although an inanimate object, I wanted Famine to appear so weak and small that you could practically see his limbs shaking a failing under his weight.

Right

As horrifying as the other horsemen are, I wanted Famine to be the most heartbreaking, as it is the most needless problems this planet has, and definitely the easiest to solve, if only we bothered to help.

Famine - Black

The wings and the cracked ground are made from polymer clay. I also added tiny stock of wheat to create an atmosphere of ever accumulating desolation.

Famine - Wings

Famine - Ground

Famine

'Doesn't take much--hardly a push. Oh, America--all-you-can-eat, all the time. Consume, consume. A swarm of locusts in stretch pants. And yet, you're all still starving because hunger doesn't just come from the body, it also comes from the soul.' -Famine in Supernatural

Famine

The Special Edition Box Set

This special edition set includes all four of the one-of-a-kind horses with special labels, a specially labeled box, four certificates of authenticity, a thank you letter and a coupon. Also, you will receive prints of the matching posters (once they are complete) for free! If interested in the Four Horses email rarezas.art@gmail.com. *Note: Due to their delicate nature the horses are NOT available for shipping and are a market/hand delivery exclusive. Not sold separately.