Do you 'get' this?

[ohiofarmgirl]

i dont get visual art at all. give me some good ol' Italian High Renaissance and sure, i'll swoon (and i did once)... but anything else? i think its weird.

i'm always perplexed at the huge empty canvasses or ones that are a "horizon" with just two colors.. i mean ... what the heck is that?

i finally started just giving the same, canned answer when my arty friends would ask me "what does that/this art pieces means to you?"

answer: "its the abyss - with all of us just looking into the depths of our souls and wondering if this is the extreme end of man's inhumanity to man or...... a fluffy bunny"

* huge eye roll, yay for people who understand it *

 

[Wannabefree]

Wonder what DD could get for this

 

[Neko-chan]

Hmm...

I am a bit of an artist. Though I remain modest about it, my husband would (and does) swear up an down that I'm great at it.

I did some studying in graphic arts and design, before college made me pretty broke.

That first picture, of the child painting on the floor among the other paintings. Those other paintings, whether made by her or not, would make a lovely dollar or two for graphic designers looking for exotic patterned papers, or photo backgrounds, etc. That kind of "abstract" look is divine when it comes to design projects, because there's so much you can do with it. Also, it sounds like she plays with things other than paint, like pipe cleaners etc. Those are GREAT for varying texture and creating interesting effects. Taught properly, she could learn all kinds of techniques to increase the awesome factor. This early stage is good in a way; better to learn how colors work, and textures, and pattern, etc.

If her parents play it right, they could have an up and coming graphic design artist in their line. However, they're suffering a bit of a blind spot in that regard, and I agree that they're probably creating a bit of a monster.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of certain colors in art (and life, and everything else). In paintings exibiting these colors, I can stand and bask in their presence all day, just taking in the minute details. I don't look for a deeper meaning or reason, I just fall into the simplicity of the colors. I get the same when seeing the plummage of many species of bird and the scales of fish, when I use certain colored pencils on paper, when mixing paints, and when I dream.

I am the same with sounds, and music. Visual and auditory bliss.

But it may just be me. I don't need a reason to enjoy color.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I'm NOT a fan of abstract art either ... But I do actually think she did some pretty nice work as far as composition, color, and texture. Honestly, I taught 3-5 year olds this year, and while I find they do some pretty creative and surprising things in their art, especially if you let them work in the same mediums over and over, it certainly does not turn out to be all that pleasing in terms of balance, color, etc. almost all of the time. But they like it and they are learning, so I'm happy and so are they.

I did watch most of the video of her painting, and it seems she's learned a good bit of control in applying and moving paint, and mixing it. And sometimes she just concentrates on a different part and smooshes what she's already done. But honestly, I'd say she has learned a lot, and does actually turn out nice work in that style. I would be VERY curious to know what kind of teaching/coaching she got as far as technique. I'd also like to know who selects how many colors as she begins working on a new canvas. Some of her work is clearly playing and not purposeful, but I can only say that with some certainty of a small amount of what I saw on the video.

Now as to how she's being raised well ... a dollop of humility would go a long way in tuning down what can clearly be the beginnings of a rather difficult "princess" in the making. That being said though, within reason, it's fun to spoil children just a bit with their creativity. They just need a dose of reality to go along with it, IMO.

I wouldn't pay $27K for any of it. I wouldn't pay what they spent on the canvas and paint. But that's mostly because I just don't care for the style at all. I guess if I was a wealthy art collector who loved abstracts they might be worth something to me, but it's hard to say because I'm not and I don't. Art is pretty much always set in value by what someone will pay for it, and I'm not even standing anywhere near that group, so my opinion on that means little, lol.

Interesting story though.

 

[curly_kate]

I've seen videos of her too, and honestly, I think there's more going on in this little girl's head than just dumping a bunch of paint on canvas & smearing it around. I am a fan of abstract art, and I think some of her work is very beautiful. But I'm don't think it's helpful to give her a gallery show at 4 years old, tell her she's a prodigy, yadda yadda. She's way to young to be given that much fame. I have the same feeling when I see child actors. It's not possible to maintain that level of success your whole life, and the fall from that peak is going to be ugly (as we've all seen in many cases). It's wonderful that her family is wealthy enough to buy her expensive paint & canvases & all, but they really just need to let the little girl be just a little girl.

 

[FarmerChick]

if you train a kid from birth to "be something", then yea, by 4 years old I would think they could "mimic" what you taught them pretty well.

this kid is PROBABLY not thinking as an artist. this kid is thinking as trained by the artist parents.

(disclaimer, the kid could be a genius, LOL, but somehow I doubt it)


if I taught Nicole to play the piano from day one of being born, by 4 I am sure she could play anything I taught her to play...and maybe, just maybe, play a tune by reading music. Could she compose, nah, I doubt it....because she would be too little to truly understand. (if she was a genius, maybe she could)



Other than art, show me a 4 year old that is capable of true genius.

art is always the 'kids' genius ya notice. cause finger painting can be interpreted with "duh' ya know...lol..hey paint on a canvas, must be art.