Life of a Sportsman

Roy de Forest, Life of a Sporstman. Acrylic on canvas mounted to wood. Gift of the Persis Corporation, 2002.44

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KID:
Okay, Theo, there’s a lot going on here. What do you see?

TEEN:
I see a lot of faces? And is that a bird?

KID:
Yeah, I guess so! There’s so many colors, it feels like someone is having a party.

TEEN:
Yeah, that would explain a lot. Whoa, wait, I just noticed another face! Look, there’s a small head with polka dots and a beard maybe? Do you see that?

KID:
Theo, there are so many heads and so many polka dots!

TEEN:
Okay okay, upper right, sticking out of the black zig zag.

KID:
Oh! Okay I think I see it! Hey you know what this reminds me of, Theo? I had this crazy dream once and my neighbor’s dog — do you remember Felix? —

TEEN:
Oh, yeah, I remember you telling me about that one. Your dreams are wild, you have to start writing them down. You know, this painting feels a little like a crazy dream.

KID:
Yeah, where you create this whole world all inside your head.

TEEN:
Hey, look at that guy on the side, with the orange mitten and the paintbrushes coming out of his head.

KID:
Who is that?

TEEN:
I don’t know. Maybe he’s the artist. It kind of feels like he’s inviting us into this world with him, doesn’t it?

KID:
That’s cool. It’s kinda like inviting someone into your dream. So they can go on an adventure with you.

TEEN:
I wonder if this painting came from a crazy dream the artist had...

KID:
Yeah, what do you think that dream was about?

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Produced by Acoustiguide © Seattle Art Museum
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