Autumn de Forest

“Hi, my name is Autumn de Forest. I just turned ten years old, and I am a professional artist.” So begins this program that is part demonstration of technique and part meet the artist. Presented entirely by Autumn, she begins by demonstrating her original technique of creating ground and sky on her signature large canvas by pouring lines of varying shades of blue and green, then dragging a thin strip of metal back and forth through the paint to blend it. Her constant patter takes viewers through the process. As she progresses through the painting, there are cutaway clips of the young artist discussing how she got her start, her favorite artists, and why art is important to her. The sophistication of her presentation is well beyond her years. Numerous examples of her paintings show her innate understanding of line, form, color, and composition, and leave no doubt that she is a prodigy. The genius of this film is in the way it captures the artist that is inside all of us. Autumn’s apparent joy in exploration with materials and technique make it look like fun, and viewers come away believing that they can do it, too. A welcome addition to the art curriculum across grade levels.–Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA