Marla Olmstead | FairyMap

[luckymarla23]

her painting is very unique, is she still painting, she reminds me of me i love art and love to see a child so passionate about painting i hope she stikes with it for herself and no one else painting is my release my passion my love i hope it is for her to

[theplushfatty01]

If you had watched the documentary then you would know that she actually did paint them on her own

[AnnaGoesToThePark]

I really love these paintings, I just don't understand why people care about whether or not she painted them, I like the painting because it is interesting and just appeals to me and my taste on a whole, regardless of the artist. Even if her father had painted them, I wouldn't care, I still love the paintings.

Art is art, focus on the content, not the origin.

[LIGHTRONIX]

@AnnaGoesToThePark the origin is actually quite important as art is more than the physical. There's a story behind artwork that moves you. Not to mention that this is horrible for this girl to be raised into this shit with the most unbelievably dishonest parents.

[LemonsAndSalt]

There is no such thing as a born genius -- there are only those who are willing to work hard, train, study and develop skills, and there are those who are not. This film is chuck-full of those who are unwilling to work hard at anything, except self-delusion and finding any way to stay in front of the camera. All in all, this was a pretty good scam/gimmick, one that generated millions of dollars in bad-art sales, not bad for a group of the most dull people you are every likely to encounter.

[fasteddiejs]

I agree with your disagreement. I think we're on a different page here; it's difficult to get your view across in this rather limiting format. Scribblings without purpose are exactly that; but the fact that this kid can get so much publicity and be compared to the likes of Mozart by adoring fans says much about modern art (or some followers of modern art).

[0scJohnson0]

The truth will come out one way or another. If she painted them all on her own without any input or nudging, then fine...but I am highly skeptical of that. Let's see what Marla is doing 8 years from now. And what is her father doing? Did he quit painting altogether? If so, why? I do wonder...........

And TerrinBlaze, no it isn't a bad thing that the girl enjoys painting, if that is the case, but it is horrid that her parents have chosen to exploit her for their own notoriety and financial gain.

[Morpheus0000]

How anyone having watched the documentary could believe that the initial paintings were done by Marla is beyond me. The brush strokes, combination of hues, colour mixing and separation are fundamentally different to the stuff she produced which was verifiably hers. It's nonsense to say that her knowledge of her being filmed could explain such vast degradations in style and content.

[spiralisedcat]

I dont care who does them i just love the end product

[MJWatsongirl]

I think this girl is fabulous! I think it's perfectly obvious that she does all the work herself. I look forward to the day when she is older (and not having to be so protected) so that she can actually post videos talking us through what she's thinking as she paints!!!

[fasteddiejs]

@MJWatsongirl You must be joking?! Whether she painted the paintings or not, it's a kid playing with paint and creating a mess. The art world needs to take a long hard look at itself.

[0scJohnson0]

@fasteddiejs

As such I don't understand your last statement. Why does the art world need to take a long hard look at itself? As an artist I can say that the problem does not lie with us, it lies with the outsiders..those who don't create, but accumulate. You may have a point but I am failing to see what is it with such a vague statement, what exactly do we need to be looking at? Ignorance is found outside the realm of artists as well.

[fasteddiejs]

@0scJohnson0 It was a throw away comment that I made, so of course it's going to appear vague and possibly, perhaps, look a little ignorant. When I spoke of the art world I was alluding to those that create as well as accumulate. Like in any other industry those who control it's output will be heavily influenced by the prevailing trends and fashions and vice verca.

[fasteddiejs]

@0scJohnson0 This is an interesting case study because it encapsulates the very essence of the "modern art" phenomena for me. Hype, hype, hype and hype again. The art of makng money.

[0scJohnson0]

@fasteddiejs

I disagree. This girl does not know what she is doing, if in fact she is the creator. I wonder what your knowledge of art is because modern art was not about hype. How can this kid be said to be a modern artist when she doesn't understand the meaning of that? Scribblings done by a child without purpose are just that. They may look nice or interesting to a viewer but without knowledge of why and where and purpose (not describing practical purpose when I use the word) then it is void

[fasteddiejs]

@0scJohnson0 The irony is that if these paintings were created by a talented individual with purpose, they would not receive the same attention or hysteria that has accompanied some of this kids work, if indeed it is actually hers. And that is exactly what the problem is with art and ppls appreciation of it.

[fasteddiejs]

@0scJohnson0 But I must confess I know very little about the art world, though I have always taken an interest in it.

[fasteddiejs]

@0scJohnson0 I agree with your disagreement. I think we're on a different page here; it's difficult to get your view across in this rather limiting format. Scribblings without purpose are exactly that; but the fact that this kid can get so much publicity and be compared to the likes of Mozart by adoring fans says much about modern art (or some followers of modern art).

[adhinarayana]

Marla is a wonderful painter, i only wish there were more of her paintings posted here on youtube. The documentary video "my child could paint that" delves into the questionable subject of wether or not her father is actually a conniving manipulator who has fronted his daughter as a painter while he paints behind our backs. I think though it is clear that marla has ample artistic inclination.

[NiteAngel]

I saw the DVD and cant stand her father he got this phony smile and make distorted facial expression, but he has a good looking wife, this tells one something, you can be a revolting guy and still get a good looking women,

[orgasmosis]

i think she painted some completely and others her dad added touches but i think she painted every painting mostly herself.

even if she did get help on some of the art, the art community is full of such douchebag elitists, i think it's poetic justice. and abstract art is such a joke anyway. a complete con in itself generally.

[dionysianlevelofbore]

boring painting. I wonder what if these paintings would be so well recieved had she painted in poster paints on crappy paper, rather than proffessional stretched canvas on a gallery scale. I doubt it. Only in america would parents exploit their children in this way. Grotesque.

[artworldpirate]

Who cares? If the father helped her and the art is celebrated, then the father should receive the accolades as well. They compare the art to DeKooning? If so, then the father is a genius as well, no? After all, Jeff Koons collaborates with younger artists and we don't care.

[aerialmari]

The art she does on camera is SO different than the stuff she does off-camera.

Plus, it irritates me that the dad always said he NEVER influenced her when there is video of him snapping at her to "Paint the red! Paint the red! You're driving me crazy!"

If he had just said from the beginning, "Yes, I help her when she gets stuck" it would have been fine. But he vehemently denied ANY assistance until he came under total fire.

I mean, WHY LIE about that when you're gonna come clean eventually??

[adhinarayana]

Its true that the off camera paintings are very different than on camera - yet it is also generally acknoledged that a person, and in a sense children particuarly can be heavily influenced by the knowledge, sense, or instinct that they are being watched - personally i beleive that marla is a painter, and probably created all the pictures herself with very little imput from her father. simply for that fact that she does infact pick up paint and brush on a canvas untill its done as viewd here.

[lovethediscogirls]

As an artist, I can't yeah or nay, but I like them nevertheless. However, we have in my town a festival that has a children's catagory in a photo contest and to me, some of the photos seem to have been "helped' by their parents. I mean the world isn't full of 'prodigies". I guess the parents want their kids to win no matter what. I wonder how much of the sales money actually is in Marla's college "fund" ????? Is there a new Mercedes in the driveway????

[monkeytongue]

If she painted them it's good to see a kid who is interested in art and hopefully she will develop some skill as she gets older.

If her dad painted them it's a very sad exploitation.

They are horrible paintings in the context of the professional art world.

[KimMessengerOfRap]

Plus in my many years as a pre-school teacher, I know that children will tell the truth even when you wish they would keep it to themselves!

[KimMessengerOfRap]

This child is so verbally expressive and outspoken that I honestly believe she would tell the truth if her father helped her.

[grai]

@KimMessengerOfRap but she did! She handed him the paint brush while they were filming and said "ok dad your turn" and the father nearly died of embarrassment

[KimMessengerOfRap]

@grai hahahaha, then there you have it! Kids are brutally honest.

[grai]

@KimMessengerOfRap lol - and adults...hmmm...not so much...!

[TerrinBlaze]

Fairy Maps shows strength and Polish seen in previous works....

There was never any proof that her father worked on the art.

I have no doubt he coached her.

but to say the works aren't hers?

I think that does a dis service to this little girl.

I think the family regrets letting media in their life.

and I don't blame them...

The one thing that is for certain. is that this little girl loves to paint.

and Is that really such a bad thing?

[LIGHTRONIX]

@TerrinBlaze does she really like to paint though?? the footage of her doing it seems forced, like the one where she asked daddy to paint a face.

[MonkeyMotordrome]

Please don't perpetuate this fraud any longer. The father did the majority of the work. Painfully obvious to any with a pair of eyes and half a brain.

[maggieb94]

just enjoy the art! who cares?