My Name Is Alan, and I Paint Pictures

IMDb RATING

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My Name Is Alan, and I Paint Pictures (2007)

What makes an artist? What drives someone to create a painting, a composition or write a novel? While many academic categories of art exist, not every artist easily fits into prescribed mean... Read allWhat makes an artist? What drives someone to create a painting, a composition or write a novel? While many academic categories of art exist, not every artist easily fits into prescribed meanings. Alan Russell-Cowan is one such artist. Afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia, we wat... Read allWhat makes an artist? What drives someone to create a painting, a composition or write a novel? While many academic categories of art exist, not every artist easily fits into prescribed meanings. Alan Russell-Cowan is one such artist. Afflicted with paranoid schizophrenia, we watch Cowan struggle with the desire to be a great painter, while battling delusions and audi... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.0/10

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 3 wins total

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User reviews3

7.046

Featured reviews

9stotlebotl

Compelling documentary tells the real story of a struggling Artist

I saw an early screener of this documentary and I really enjoyed it. Johnny Boston captures the heart and soul of a little understood street artist named Alan who suffers bouts of mental illness. Alan has been struggling to survive in NYC and paint abstract pictures that have been sold to art collectors around the world. The film follows his life over a twenty year period, and traces the roots of his strengths and weaknesses from early childhood. I found the story very compelling, the editing was brisk, the illustrations and animations that were in the scenes also beautifully melded with Alan's life. I was haunted by some of the imagery long after the film ended.

I don't know when the public will be able to see this film, but it is really worth watching!

8mrdef

Wonderful documentary about the life of a struggling schizophrenic Artist.

In this documentary Johnny Boston takes us into the world of Alan Russell-Cowan a paranoid schizophrenic Artist who is struggling with battling his disease and making it in NYC. After watching this film I felt like I knew who Alan was personally. This all had to do with the way Johnny Boston captured the feelings, emotions, and hurdles that are in Alan's life. The selections of Alan's work that was shown during the film were also a great example of his ups and downs. Some were deep dark and straight up scary while others were full of life and happiness. Overall the film really showed the struggles of a schizophrenic Artist who copes with his disease through painting day in and day out. I would recommend watching this film, really makes you appreciate street Artists!

8akarpe1

Interesting...

Very interesting, compelling story about a man whose life which consists of being schizophrenic, that does not let that disease take control. He expresses his inner demons and emotions through his very creative paintings. It is definitely very interesting because I'm sure there are plenty of other people out there on the streets that deal with the same ideas as what Alan is going through. Going through the journey with Alan is definitely very interesting and touching because you see what someone like himself with this problems can go through. Johnny Boston does an excellent job in portraying this journey and keeps it very creative in its structure.