A sea change into something rich and strange

September 20, 2024 3:17 PM

Ten children drew their favourite sea creatures. Then Australia’s leading artists responded. Ken Done, Jonathan Zawada, Blak Douglas and others created companion pieces to children’s works celebrating sharks and rays. They’re now on display at the Australian Museum.
posted by goo (10 comments total)

This is cool- though in many cases I liked the kid's artwork better!
posted by oneirodynia at 4:09 PM on September 20 [8 favorites]

Agreed, that longnose skate is better than anything I could do today, let alone at age 9!
posted by lock robster at 4:14 PM on September 20 [1 favorite]

Yeah I agree "Australia's Leading Artists" are kinda getting shown up here
posted by aubilenon at 4:28 PM on September 20 [4 favorites]

I especially enjoyed the whitefin swellshark by Inara Wilson (4!) and the response by Jennifer Turpin.
posted by dsword at 5:09 PM on September 20 [1 favorite]

Really proves Picasso's point that, "It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child."
posted by brookeb at 5:28 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]

I usually love it when grown ups interpret kids art and take it seriously and upgrade it with technical skills but I have to agree that in probably half of these, the original seemed at least as technically proficient if not better.
posted by jacquilynne at 7:13 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]

Yeah, it's no Axe Cop.
posted by aubilenon at 7:16 PM on September 20 [1 favorite]

And to be clear, not knocking the post itself. The kids' lantern shark and Maugean skate, in particular, were both well worth the click all on their own.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:00 PM on September 20 [2 favorites]

I'm always overawed when I realize I can't draw like that now, and it's 8 year old doing better than me. Just great stuff.
posted by Carillon at 9:30 PM on September 20

Wow these are lovely. Both the kids and the adults' artworks. I especially like the translations that went quite far away from the original.
posted by Zumbador at 10:28 PM on September 20