h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3701484.stm

You can see samples of her work at:

http://www.marlaolmstead.com/

I particularly like Four, Triptonic and Digits II.

I think it must be a slow news day.

RF

I think similar 'art' can be found gracing 'fridge doors up an down the country.

I was wondering that too. But having said that, I have to say that there a couple of artworks there I would gladly hang on my wall. I like doing my own abstract 'artwork' on various paint programmes. I like them very much and often use them as wallpaper on my pc. My lady says they are 'awful' and can't look at them.

Have a look at her samples on her website if you have time. They are better IMO than the samples on the BBC page.

It's impressive that a four year old concentrates long enough to produce each piece. Some of them are quite appealling, but I certainly wouldn't pay the sum quoted for any of them.

I'd like to see how good her drawing skills are before labelling her a prodigy.

I suspect she didn't choose the paintings' titles

It's not art. It's a mess made with paint by a kid.

RF

I like mess then. I like swirly colours. Granted I could do that myself.

I wasn't able to look at all of them, as they're taking way too long to load. However, that kid knows how to make a painting! Obviously it's not about drawing skills, but when you look at the way she fills the canvas, the balance and contrast between the color objects, and the line forms on it it's good! Her paintings flow. Those are things that many people can never get a handle on even when they've been taught all the theory and how to manage a paint brush.

For anyone who doubts she's got something special, go buy yourself a big canvas and some acrylics and try making your own without looking at any external sources for inspiration. You'll surely have a good time, and you might be surprised at how difficult it can be to get an appealing mess.

When I have parties I often hang a big piece of paper and put out a huge array of paints, markers, oil pastels and colored pencils for people to play with. None of my adult, non-artist friends has been able to make even a little chunk of paper come across like Marla does. It doesn't occur to them to 'fill' the space, much less layer colors.

I like the pics.

I also have pictures like that, on my fridge from my 6 yr old G-force

I tend to like anything thing that has been created with much relish and enjoyment.

I'd like to bet that she didn't come up with those titles herself either, she should have been allowed to make her own. The title often influences the eye of the beholder.

The pictures have something; a four year old? That reversed "r" on the linked page is, at best, cutesy. But, as has been said, there's a capacity to create an abstract image in a contained space here, from someone.

So, no manipulation of a 4-year-old by the parents, or an attempt to cash in on anything, going on here, then?

Anyone see that docu about the 11-year-old body builder the other day?

RF

defnitely the galleries are cashing in but isn't that what they do?
more appealing than anything by Damien Hirst anyway

Hmm, I think the galleries would need the active connivance of the parents first...

RF

yes, but that doesn't mean the parents are deliberately manipulating the child for monetary gain, just possibly they hope she is a child prodigy (just like all those parents of child maths prodigies who go to university at 14)
theres nothing in the article to indicate they are unfairly pressurising her although I will admit some parents do do that to their children
maybe she is the next Picasso
child prodigies who mature into brilliant adults do occur from time to time

I remember when I was about 5 I drew a picture of a dog that my father thought was so good that he didn't believe I drew it.

No he wasn't pretending in fun he actually went and asked every adult I had come into contact with and asked them.

After that he actively encouraged me by helping me to find things and people to draw and paint and went to a lot of trouble to get art materials for me(we were in the depths of Nigerian wilderness at the time).

So I give a thumbs up to this child's parents for encouraging her interests because early encouragement is important.Otherwise I would never have kept up my interest.

Incog.Art teacher.

That's great to hear. What a pity though, if this child's natural talent & interest gets 'worn out' through the pressure of publicity & commercialism.

I wonder how many children do show a talent/interest that is sustained into adulthood? And how many of the top performers (in any field) showed promise at an early age?

Call me a philistine if you like, but I could never see anything appealing about splodges of paint on a canvas, from a child or an adult. I am definitely in the pre-Raphaelite camp when it comes to painting.

Donald

I don't think it is possible to ruin what is natural to a child.It is only feasable if the 'talent' is not necessarily a natural one,ie learning to play the piano because your parents have paid for lessons and not really having a love for it and the child gets to a certain level before rebelling.

I loved drawing and all art forms as a child,I still love drawing and I'm interested in all aspects of the subject from 3D to just sketching to art appreciation even though I've spent a long time trying to encourage the talent in others.I think that IF the child no longer finds it fun will be when the child will decide.Continued pressure will not have any affect as artistic endeavour CANNOT be forced.Any writer wil attest to that one.A true artist can be persuaded but never forced.We are an independent bunch when it comes to our work and tend to go our own way.