Hi all! Lizajane and I have come to a difficult decision. We purchased this painting nearly three years ago and it has been in our living room ever since. It was done in oil by a local high school student that had a class with my sister. The school has an art show a couple of times a year where you can bit on pieces.

We have decided that even though we like it very much, it is not something that reflects God's presence in our home. So, it is now in our upstairs hall where only we can see it.

Do you like the painting? If so, as Christians, would you hang it in your home?

Well, first... from the artistic point of view I don't personally like it. It has too much stuff going on especially with those bright red strokes and stuff. Also, I can't figure out where the eyes are. Do you know what the drawing is supposed to be of?

Secondly, I know that some will say that it is just a way to express art, but I never believed in the "nude" art stuff. I don't think that showing women's nakedness was ever a way to show artistic ability or glorify God. Another thing is the painting looks very dark and sad, which is another reason I wouldn't have it. I usually like the paintings of the ocean or a nice sunset.. such a romanticizer (sp).

adam stated it well, every thing he stated would come from my mouth too.

Ditto

I guess that's the Picasso influence.

It is a young naked lady walking in a blazing backdrop of fire. She has an unusually prominent forehead, which to me suggests she might be Klingon. It can also mean great intelligence or just the opposite - depending on the intent of the artist - a heavy brow most often found among Neanderthals. Assuming it is the latter, then this rendition is a fairly thoughtful study of primitivism. The simplified lines and shapes, heavy brushstrokes, colours both vibrant and deep are characteristics certainly found in art from the Romantic period. The primitive themes - heavy, Neanderthal-like forehead, nakedness, fire (rather than electrical lighting, for instance) - are all aspects of a period in art we still occupy. Even the emotions - what I gather to be passion, comfort and desire (or perhaps lust although I do not sense its presence here) - are simple. Consequently, from a purely artistic standpoint I consider this a nice piece of work especially since it is in oil and might last several lifetimes. I do not detect an unnatural focus on any particular aspect of the feminine form. This oil painting does not strike me as "dirty".

Nakedness does not trouble me especially since, in high school, for one thing I was required to draw naked models. The high school brought real people for us to draw. (I particularly enjoyed drawing wrinkled people due to the interesting shapes and textures.) I don't find passion troubling since some aspect of it is needed for humans to propagate. What I look for in terms of my screening is unnatural, convoluted emotions that seem to promote harm and death.

Now, whether you want to display this in the livingroom is a separate issue, Corr. Because taken out of context it is just a naked woman in a pretty far-out background. It could be a Klingon woman somehow stranded naked on the Planet Vulcan, which is volcanic. See, that's totally out of context. It is certainly interesting to read what others think of the painting. There is nothing inherently Christian or non-Christian about it, mind you. But since Christianity has adopted a palor of restraint, it certainly does little to promote a Christian perspective.

So, I like it. I would keep it. But not in the livingroom. If you have a gallery, library or even a study, this would be where to keep the painting.

Thanks for your in depth assessment Don! I feel the same way.

To me, the girl has a very serene look on her face... the head is definitely the focus, not the body. The painting is not sexual at all. I think of a native African woman happy to be where she is, even thought it's a scorcher of a day .

Incidentally, the artist named all of his paintings after phrases his teachers would use. This one is called Now Your Cooking With Gas.

I think I would hang it in my bedroom, or some other part of my house...not the living room...I don't think there is anything inherantly unchristian about it...but as some people might be bothered by it, I wouldn't display it prominantly.

I thought she looked sad...but the painting didn't look dark to me...

It isn't my favorite style...but it looks well done.

yeah, definitly klingon... lol,

um. as far as art goes, i think it is good art. i have always liked abstract art, and this painting is abstract-reaslist, which is my favorite kind.

as far as her being naked... well, it is not showing her COMPLETELY naked.. and in many cultures being topless is not naked at all or sexual. Im not just talking about africa or island tribes either... i have heard that in europe (especially spain) people go nude or semi-nude at the beach and sauna/baths ALL the time, and that no one thinks twice about it.

of course, we are not in europe (well, im not you might be) and in our culture, topless is kinda suggestive and possibly sexual, so it would be advizable to put the painting somewhere other than the living room, 'cause if its there in plain view it might be a stumbling block to your guests.

the painting seems sad to me... actually very painful with all the reds and stuff, i cant tell but from the picture on the web here it looks like she has cuts and is bleeding. its hard to tell though because its abstract AND its been compressed into a small little computer file.

Not my taste, sorry. (I prefer paintings of nature scenes.)

Except for the fact that this one is interesting and eye-catching, I would definitely not want to look into it every single day.

I tend to agree with Adam's comment in a way.

Hmmm, it is not my taste either, she does look really sad, and looks like she is bleeding .....and yeah i tend to go for what adam said,got any other art work like that, like i mean big paintings , if ya have show it, i love bright art works and some bright kind of abstracts, and i like scenery paintings to or rather pics

Ummm.......yuck...........

uuummmm.....yeah....sorry guys.....yucko! Think I'd invest in some fig leaves for her...lots of them....in fact I'd forget about the painting and just hang on to the fig leaves! Yeah, that's what I'd do for sure!

You guys, I think the picture is UPSIDE DOWN.

Back-to-front me thinks!! ROFL!!

hmm...well, its not offensive to me...nor does it look especially dark or sad.....however its not really my kinda thing...its just too bright....reds and oranges and stuff...oi.

but anyway, if it were me i would probably keep it up cause i just dont care about offending people but if you really dont want to offend i would probably move it to where people wont see it cause it is pretty obvious that she doesnt have a shirt on.

Thanks everyone for your brutally honest opinions! LoL Annointed!

Here's a pic of it when it was in the livngroom... not as bright.

It matches the wall color nicely, I'd have to say! I love yellow!

Cute dog, too...

Yup...definately fig leaves! ...they'd match the rest of the foliage too!! Love plants in a room AND fish tanks...they bring a place to life!

Oh, and cute muppy...what's his/her name?

Her name is Bailey. She's 6.

WOW! I loooooove the fish tank! Are those Tiger Barbs I spy? If so they are the coolest little fish! Siamese Fighting Fish are another HUGE favourite of mine - I don't have an aquarium at the moment - would you believe my tank was stolen from my garage where I was storing it, oh well - but just wait 'til I leave Uni and get a job - it's right up there on my list! Yours looks so lush Corr - I'm hugely impressed!

Oh and I have to add that Bailey is a really cute name for your cute muppy!

So tell me - how did you go with the fig leaves?!

Yup, they're Tiger Barbs. I love the regular ones and lizajane loves the green ones so we have some of each. We have 2 other aquariums too.

Your tank was stolen!!?? What kind of fish did you keep? Be sure to post pics when you get one running again!

Just some minor adjustments.

HAHA Good job Sim!! She looks like the 'good' sister!

Heh, love the tie-dye shirt.

Yeah, interesting smudging effect. I actually had to move her eyes up to a reasonable location.

I had gave her a smile, too.

hmmmmm, well that is ummmmmm lovely , is her hair kind of green or did she run out of tissues and had to use her hair, oh and her shirt to by the look of it

OH my!!

nice eyes

I don't really like the painting. Not that I know anything about art, because I do not. hehe. But it looks so rash and harsh and mean!!! Maybe that's the point, but it wouldn't seem exactly welcoming in the 'premier' room of the house. ... maybe in the bathroom, hehe.

Thanks for your opinion, Laura Lynn. I don't believe in "specialists" in art. Either it appeals to you or it doesn't. Everyone sees something different.

BTW, it is now hanging in the upstairs hall where only we can see it. Maybe at the next show we can find something more appropriate to hang over the sofa. We have a window mirror I made there now.

I really like the colors of the room... great sense about it.

Everything works together nicely.

When I look at a piece of art, I look at it in two ways...

1. Do I like it....does it appeal to me personally...

2. Is it a good piece of art...is it well done, creative, etc....

I don't like everything that is good art...I really don't like Picasso much, or Van Gogh...but they were good artists...and I enjoy looking at their stuff in museums, just for the art's sake.

Another thing, sometimes, I will like something, but not want it in my house...like this one:



It is Edvard Munch's "Despair" He also did that famouse one "The Scream" that looks similar to this one...but I like this one better...

But I wouldn't want it in my house...

Wow... that image took forever to load on my computer. AE you can upload it to the server if you want.... not sure if it's just me or if it's slow for everyone in the US.

Oh yeah, cool painting. It kind of reminds me of the "Scream" painting... not sure if that's the name, but you probably know what I mean.

you know what is wierd?
an art teacher once told a friend of mine that her artwork was 'wrong'. HOW CAN ART BE WRONG? lol. Personal opinion, but isn't art all about being creative? How could be expressing ourselves on paper be considered wrong if a line isn't straight. What if it wasn't MEANT to be straight?
Understandably someone could say 'that's not good' if someone was supposed to do a drawing of something life-like and it ended up looking like a cartoon. But otherwise ... ???
The 'scream' painting resembled the 'despair' one so much! before reading what you wrote, I could tell immediately. They're both beautiful. in a scary way, hehe.

Well, there are certain techniques and stuff that can be done correctly or incorrectly...once you learn the techniques, well, then you can use them in anyway you want...but you have to learn the techniques first...but I don't think I would use the term "wrong" if I were an art teacher...

Oh, Adam...I had notice it's resembalance to the scream...

it loads slow cause it's a bitmap...ugh...I love that site, but I wish they wouldn't use bitmaps....

Ugh,............bitmaps..........

seems to have loaded quickly for me.

It loaded fast the second time for me, not the first... I gave up. Mmmmm, cookies...

Oh that is too funny CORR, whenever I have been at your house I automatically look up at that picture and always wondered "Why"? ha ha

I laughed out loud at Sim's adjusted pic! too funny!

I LOVE the mirror there, sigh I need to get over more!!!

I take it you are friends in person

Personally I don't like it but hey, everyone has their own tastes and it is your home and I say you put it where you'd like! I, personally, just can't stand "Funky" art...I am sort of an artist but I believe in what I guess you'd call "old-fashioned" paintings. You know, where you look at it and you know exactly what it is...there isn't some hidden meaning or abstract art which anyone can do just by throwing paint at the canvas. I guess I take pride in my work because it actually takes talent. But I'm probably voicing my opinion too much here and I don't want to upset anyone. Everyone truly has their own personal tastes and it's all just up to the individual.

Yeah, Sher doesn't come over much anymore. She got a job!!

Corr, you guys ever watch Trading Places? I think it's on TLC. It's about different couples switching homes and redoing the interior design. There are professional decorators directing most of the changes and a carpenter that does custom furniture.

It's really totally nuts what some of the designers end up doing. One guy made a bedroom resemble a train coach. My mom's favourite designer is a guy named Yip - I think. He surrounded a bed with tiny crystal icicles hanging from rails. He has a really good eye for complimentary texture and colour combinations.

Our show is Oz is called Changing Rooms & I love watching it....specially when the designers clash with the couples.........love it!!!!

They do come up with some weird & wacky ideas...........most I would hate to see in my home...........& there are a few I love. I'd love to have our lounge/dining/kitchen done.........with the key colour being.......ummmmm..........purple me thinks.......yeah!!!!

LoL! Actually, we just watched that show yesterday! We haven't watched designer shows for a long time. When we were in the process of buying this house, that's all we would watch. We had the full cable line-up then so TLC or Home and Garden network was a good place to go.

It's funny, the show yesterday was a bedroom and a family room. The family room makeover was looking very tacky and I couldn't believe some of the stuff these people were doing to this poor woman's house! The bedroom on the other hand was looking very nice and I couldn't wait to see it finished so I could visualize some of the things used in our own house. Ironically, at the end of the show, I actually liked the family room better! I guess it just shows you how one thing may look tacky but in combination with others, it's great. However, there was a fireplace screen, that they made, that I wouldn't allow within a hundred yards of my house.

Hmmm, I think the show we watched yesterday was on CBC. We don't get TLC now so it must have been a different program.