Lily Brown's Paintings

by Angela Johnson

Questions for Philosophical Discussion
by Maya Dean
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Philosopical topic: The Nature of Reality

But when Lily Brown paints, her world starts to change.

  1. What kinds of things change about Lily's world when she begins painting?
  2. Can you name a couple of the strange things that happen?
  3. Have you ever seen any of those things happen?  Do you think that it is possible that any of those things happen in real life?
  4. Do you think that what she is experiencing is real?  Why or why not?
  5. What makes an experience real? 

 


Philosopical topic: The Nature of Imagination

In Lily Brown's paintings, people walk upside down, and the buildings on streets dance with ariplanes flying above. And it's another world.

  1. If you experience something all by yourself, and no one else saw what you saw, does that mean that what you experienced was a figment of your imagination?  Or could it have been real? How could you tell?
  2. When Lily Brown paints and lives in her own world, is she dreaming or using her imagination?
  3. What makes something a dream or imagination?
  4. Why do people create imaginary worlds?

 

Philosopical topic: The Purpose of Art

Lily paints all that she sees and feels her own way. She puts her world of color and light on anything she can find. It's magical.

  1. The things Lily puts in her paintings, no one else has ever seen happen.  Wh do you think Lily paints such things?
  2. What other kinds of things can you do when you paint or draw pictures?
  3. Can creating art be a way to use your imagination?

 


In Lily Brown's paintings, the colors of people, places and things change with her heart.

  1. Why do you think that the colors of everyone and everything in Lily's paintings change when her heart changes?
  2. Can painting or creating art be used as a way to express your feelings?
  3. If you were angry, and you drew a painting, how would it look?  What colors might you decide to use?  What types of things would be in your paintings?
  4. If you were very happy, and you drew a pinting, how would the painting look?  What colors might you decide to use?  What types of things would be in your paintings?

 

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