NEWS: Four-Year-Old Artist

Sure, kids learn to speak before they can spell, but do they understand the meaning of the things they say?

You can argue all day about what is art and what isn't. That isn't the point of my arguement.

I am just disgusted that the art asses (critics) who routinely fuck things up by inventing fads would dare to put their tainted touch in the life of this child.

As for the merits of abstract art. . .

I am disturbed by the blantant display of ignorance some have posted here.

It is alright to not understand, but not alright to flaunt your ignorance by submitting hateful posts. I don't understand quantom mechanics, but I don't hate it just because I don't understand it.

Abstract art is puzzle and not the give me give me condense it all in one half hour sitcom. Contrary to popular belief, the good abstract works are not just randomly slopped on to canvas. There are decisions made as to what stroke goes where. Otherwise the result would be a mess. Think of jazz improvization. Yes, it is improvised, but if it was improvised in the wrong key, then it would be a fucked up mess. Next, try this exercise. Imagine that (god forbid) you were forced to sit in front of two canvases, two canvases depicting the same painting. They both are slightly different from each other, though. First ask yourself which one do you like more, then ask yourself "why" you like one detail over the other. This is perfect training on how to appreciate a work of art for its details and not its subject.

What I like about abstract art is that it the only way to paint abstract ideas, like happiness, anger, the psychological effects of the atomic bomb, etc. These are things that can not be strictly painted through any kind of solid subject. They are ideas!

And as for Michelangelo . . . in one of his journals he remarks that he is impressed by the colors on his palette, the way they juxtipose against each other and swirl into each other. He writes in appreciation of this accidental discovery of abstract art, but says that the world isn't ready for that sort of painting, yet.

And yes, I'll be the first to admit;I am a bit jealous. Still, my jealously toward this child pales in my disgust that there are people out there who would take this beautiful gift and pervert it for money and personal acclaim by association.

You can argue all day about what is art and what isn't. That isn't the point of my arguement.

I am just disgusted that the art asses (critics) who routinely fuck things up by inventing fads would dare to put their tainted touch in the life of this child.

As for the merits of abstract art. . .

I am disturbed by the blantant display of ignorance some have posted here.

It is alright to not understand, but not alright to flaunt your ignorance by submitting hateful posts. I don't understand quantom mechanics, but I don't hate it just because I don't understand it.

Abstract art is puzzle and not the give me give me condense it all in one half hour sitcom. Contrary to popular belief, the good abstract works are not just randomly slopped on to canvas. There are decisions made as to what stroke goes where. Otherwise the result would be a mess. Think of jazz improvization. Yes, it is improvised, but if it was improvised in the wrong key, then it would be a fucked up mess. Next, try this exercise. Imagine that (god forbid) you were forced to sit in front of two canvases, two canvases depicting the same painting. They both are slightly different from each other, though. First ask yourself which one do you like more, then ask yourself "why" you like one detail over the other. This is perfect training on how to appreciate a work of art for its details and not its subject.

What I like about abstract art is that it the only way to paint abstract ideas, like happiness, anger, the psychological effects of the atomic bomb, etc. These are things that can not be strictly painted through any kind of solid subject. They are ideas!

And as for Michelangelo . . . in one of his journals he remarks that he is impressed by the colors on his palette, the way they juxtipose against each other and swirl into each other. He writes in appreciation of this accidental discovery of abstract art, but says that the world isn't ready for that sort of painting, yet.

And yes, I'll be the first to admit;I am a bit jealous. Still, my jealously toward this child pales in my disgust that there are people out there who would take this beautiful gift and pervert it for money and personal acclaim by association.

uh, no. of course I don't. that was... um... kind of my whole point.

I'm rude. Fuck you.

never mind.

[Edited on Jan 16, 2005 by Turin]

Can I interest you in Dislumbrationism?

Hey Turin and louys - I said "I'm rude fuck you" in response to an earlier post that said I was "bloody rude." So, no offense. To you. I hate when people use the word bloody in that conteext. Oh, and dislumbrationism rules.

Sorry, I spelled context wrong.

When one labels themselves, they risk losing their identity to those they meet, who will associate them with everything they associate with the label so applied. When you label someone else, you risk never knowing them, because you only know them as that label, and all that implies to you.

However, with that risk in mind, I suppose I shall speak as an artist, but for myself.

Like many other so-called artists, I find myself far less successful than this little girl. I am mostly certain that I am more talented, and have acquired more skill at my craft than she has.

Unlike so many posting to this thread, I cannot bring myself to vent my frustrations on someone who obviously lucked out with such well off, and very encouraging parents, and happened to have her work displayed where it caught the attention of those who appreciate it, and who also happen to be well off. More power to her. She has already developed skills with paint and brush that are not to be dismissed lightly. Should she continue to enjoy what it is that she does, she will likely become much better as time goes on, acquiring all the skills and abilities that so many naysayers complain her current work is lacking.

Argue all you like about whether or not what she does is "art". Language is malleable, you'll find people can't agree on the definitions of words such as warmth, anime, or Republican. Of course people will have different ideas as to what art "should" be.

I do envy the little girl, and applaud the encouraging attitude of her parents. If more people were so encouraging to those around them, we might see more "geniuses" in the public eye.

ironicly enough, to me that looks exactly like what a 4 year old would do.

interesting part here is this time the art was done by an actual 4 year old.

wow... lessons in hating on a four-year-old. i could learn a lot about that from this discussion.

gotta give credit where credit is due, even if it's not your style (and it's not mine either), she's done this entirely out of her own head. she is doing what she finds to be pleasant and fulfilling to her, and she has the patience and attention span to do it.

what she's doing is she's blowing away people's expectation of what someone can do at the age of four, and rightly so. it's quite honestly fucking amazing.

and this is how she's starting. if this isn't a phase, if while she gets older, she continues to have the fire and the intensity and emotion she has now then she is going to set her little corner of the world on fire. and good for her on that.

as she progresses she's going to get more and more figurative, and she's going to find joy in that, and if she sticks with it, you ain't seen nuthin' yet.

Yeah, reallllly pissed..."you should have sold them for 50,000, Mom!"