Keiran Massey Babbitt: Painting Analysis

The theme of a certain piece of art can be the gateway to learning what the artist’s intent on creating the piece was. Keiran Massey Babbitt use of a dog playing fetch shows a dog’s love to its owner by the use of opaque colors, light, and scale. The theme of this art piece would depict the playfulness of a dog and how that correlates to the owner. The title of this piece would be Playful because of the depiction of a dog about to catch a ball. The way Babbitt makes the piece come to life with the use of such rich colors enhances the painting to look realistic. Also, the use of light towards the front of the dog, makes it seem as if the sun is facing towards the dog and the owner is on the opposite side. Lastly, the scale of the dog and the ball (the ball being the size of
the dog’s nose) makes the painting seem like a shot in time. Color, light, and scale are among the many aspects of this painting that make it come to life.
The two main colors in use are red (ball) and brown (dog), very realistic colors when it comes to a dog playing fetch with its owner. It is a characteristic in many dogs to be playful and this painting is no different. The way Babbitt uses color and light to showcase the dog about to catch the ball really emphasises on the relationship of a dog and its owner. The use of light facing towards the dog makes the viewer think there is someone else in this picture, not being shown. This is the owner. The front of the dog in lighter, especially when compared to the left ear, and this light tells the viewer it is daytime. The playfulness of a dog that appears at daytime is what really helps the owner bond with the animal. In this painting, one can tell the dog is about to catch the ball that its owner threw. Also, because of the ball’s size being much smaller than the dog’s, the painting is much more realistic in the depiction of an owner and their pet. The size of the ball, scale wise is approximately what it would be in real life, and this makes the painting seem like a picture taken at the perfect
moment. In conclusion, the painting by Kerian Massey Babbitt uses color, light, and scale to depict the relationship of a dog and its owner highlighting the characteristic of a dog to be playful. The use of these elements makes the piece come to life, as if the audience were watching the owner and the dog play fetch. The emotion seen in the dog’s eyes and physical features like its tongue sticking out shows how the dog is enjoying this game. The title Playful brings all these aspects to the audience’s attention and allows Babbitt to display this dog catching a ball its owner threw.