The Great Cheetah 1987

Here we have Howard Finster’s "The Great Cheetah," made with paint, and probably house paint, on what looks like a found piece of wood or panel. I love the cheetah's orange body. Finster’s cheetah isn't hyper-realistic; it's more about feeling than accurate representation. The way those spots are applied, each one a little different, tells you so much about the rhythm of the painting process, the hand moving across the surface. Look at the cheetah’s feet, for instance, each marked with what looks like little patterned socks. This is a way of bringing a sense of humanity to this wild creature. You can see how someone like Red Grooms, with his cartoonish figures and bright colors, shares a similar joy in capturing the simple pleasures of life. Finster's work reminds us that art doesn't always need to be serious or complicated. It can be about joy, spirit, and the simple act of making.