Giant Moose 1995

This vibrant painting of a Giant Moose, probably made with acrylics, is by Norval Morrisseau. Look at the way he fearlessly wields flat, bold colors. It's like he's not trying to trick us into seeing reality, but showing us a different way of seeing, thinking, and feeling through the painting process. Check out the moose itself – this huge orange form with those thin, wiry legs, and then that circle on its side, bursting with colorful fish. It’s like looking into the moose's very soul! The paint is laid down thick and flat, and the marks are direct and confident. Morrisseau isn't hiding anything. Morrisseau’s paintings remind me a bit of work by Bill Traylor. There’s that same kind of directness and honesty. Both artists are showing us that art isn't about perfection, it's about vision, and that art can be a conversation, where ambiguity and multiple meanings are part of the fun.