Spotted Leopard 1988

William Hawkins painted *Spotted Leopard* and signed it with his name and birthday. Look at how those spots were dabbed on, one by one! I can imagine Hawkins being so deeply focused, moving slowly around the canvas, spot by spot, until that leopard started to emerge. The tail is so interesting. It arches, like a question mark. Did he change his mind about it, or was he simply having a little fun? Hawkins reminds me of Henri Rousseau, another visionary who taught himself to paint. There’s such a beautiful, awkward naivety in the way he paints. Like outsider art, it doesn't quite follow the rules, but it's so full of heart. Ultimately, painting is an act of love. Artists are in an ongoing conversation, inspiring each other across time. There's an ambiguity here that allows for multiple interpretations, so just go with your intuition and see what the leopard tells you.