Looks like any kids painting to me

[simbrooks]

I was flicking through the BBC website and they reported on a child art prodigy. Personally i cannot see much difference, apart from the materials used to paint with and the canvas material, what makes these so special - i have seen countless other blotchy pictures turned out by kids of a similar age, it just boggles the mind as to what people call art and how a 4 year old smudging paint into a canvas can be called an artist.

They say it they see the influence or similar style to Jackson Pollack, looks like a load of Jackson Pollack's to me, but i guess that is modern art!

[H2Andy]

wow, simon... seems like you and i are disagreeing on a lot lately

the composition and color in those pictures are, simply put, amazing. i would
give my left pinky to have that kind of talent.

i particularly like the last one. also, don't forget this child has "discovered" on her
own modern painting's techniques and approaches... lots of talent there

[simbrooks]

Yeh i am still not sure about the prodigy sports stars either that are "discovered" at around the age of 2-5, just due to them having practice at it and parents who push them on it in some way. When they turn 8-10 i can see them being considered as future talent, but no sooner.

As for disagreements, if we were all the same the world would be a boring place. I am sure there is plenty we do agree to some extent on, i also have a little liberal and conservative mixed in there about different types of subjects - which spices things up.

[The Kraken]

I have a degree in fine art, painting and drawing - and I say you're both right.
I've always been of the school of thought that when an artist stated that s/he was "trying to attempt to convey" or was trying to "solve a problematic ???" it was just a load of crap.

I've seen a great deal of art just like this little girl's in pre-school classes.
My God !!! The world is absolutely filled with little artistic prodigies.

[simbrooks]

I'm more with you Kraken, i am complete for classical art and appreciate almost anything where you can tell what the original person, place, object was. Some barely abstract stuff isnt so bad, but the "throw paint at a canvas and say you were inspired" really doesnt convince me.

Now if this little girl could do better than a stick figure of mummy and daddy and the house (that i see on most parents office/cube walls) and was able to make the equivalent of a 10-12 year olds painting of those same things i would claim they had something to work with and possibly become good artists, but this just doesnt do it for me.

[H2Andy]

well, i guess i havent been around that many little kids and their drawings, cause
i don't see this kind of work too often

i do think she's got a great eye and feel for color and composition, but then again,
this may be far more common than i think

all i know is that i SUCK at painting =)

[The Kraken]

I read the article as posted in the paper. If you took note, the father is an aspiring artist and, more than likely, of the abstract persuasion.

I daresay the young lady was trying to "paint like Daddy" and ended up with what she has.

[H2Andy]

he says he was painting his wife's portrait, so it seems his amateur ways lean
that way

i don't think you can "copy" the dynamics on those paintings, sorry... my
(decidely amateurish) opinion is that she's doing this by feel, and on her own

[The Kraken]

It's not about copying dynamics, it's about the emulation of a parent figure.
Monkey see, monkey do . . .
But then again, perhaps she is a genius . . .

[simbrooks]

But then again, perhaps she is a genius . . .

Can i be the King of England?