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 ...
See full summary »
Check out our gallery of the 2021 Golden Globe nominees in the leading and supporting acting categories, as the characters they so brilliantly played and in real life
User Lists
Related lists from IMDb users
Share this Rating
Title: My Name Is Alan, and I Paint Pictures (2007)
Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below.
3 wins.
See more awards »
Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
 |
Alan Russell-Cowan | ... | Self |
|
|
Monika Russell-Cowan | ... | Self |
|
|
Richard Russell-Cowan | ... | Self |
|
|
Raymond Bell | ... | Self |
|
|
Bill Coffeill | ... | Self |
|
|
Tats Cru | ... | Themselves |
|
|
Bizz DeCrenza | ... | Self |
|
|
David Dvorak | ... | Self |
|
|
Randy Hannah | ... | Self |
|
|
Stephen Hirsch | ... | Self (as Dr. Stephen Hirsch) |
|
|
Nancy Hoffman | ... | Self |
|
|
Shedrick Jackson | ... | Self |
|
|
Oliver Kamm | ... | Self |
|
|
John Kasper | ... | Self |
|
|
Tristan Koch | ... | Self |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (7) »
Storyline
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 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 auditory hallucinations. My Name is Alan and I Paint Pictures examines Cowan's life, the role art and painting play in it, and how mental illness intertwines with artistic creation and perception. For Alan, painting becomes a cure for his symptoms, the means of his release - yet for us his painting means much more. It is an alternative perspective on art and life, a world of mental illness visually reconstructed for viewers who never experience this themselves Through Alan's life and work, we can examine the wider art world, questioning the means and rationale behind contemporary critical judgment of art. Written by Johnny Boston
Plot Keywords:
painting | artist | mental illness | schizophrenia | paranoid schizophrenia |Genres:
DocumentaryCertificate:
Not RatedParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Quotes
Alan Russell-Cowan: I had a few friend's where I lived, and we were just bored and just get drunk and sniff glue.See more »
Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
Edit
Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
19 September 2007 (USA) See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$750,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
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.