On February 9th, Kim Kardashian took to Instagram stories to highlight her daughter’s (North West) painting abilities. Alyssa Bailey for Elle.com reported that Kim captioned the picture on her Instagram story of North’s painting “My little artist North.” She then received immediate backlash; her intention of sharing her daughter’s work quickly turned into a controversy. Did North really paint the painting herself? It seemed too good to be true. 

According to Gianna Nocera for Screenrant.com, fans assumed the painting was a paint-by-number painting and not North’s own work. The notion that the painting was fake was quickly shut down by art experts and the media. Nocera explained that fans began to see that they were not doubting North’s abilities, but Kim. The Kardashian’s reputation, mainly established by their show Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s, has tied them to traits such as liars and deceivers. The family has had multiple incidents where they have stretched the truth, leading fans to jump to conclusions (Screenrant.com). It was also revealed that North had been working on this painting for a long time with a teacher, who was guiding her through the process step by step. Vice.com got Geoff Barns, a former painting instructor at Savannah College of Art and Design to look at North’s painting and identify its authenticity. Barnes told Vice that “‘The first thing I thought when I looked at the painting was oh, Bob Ross,” he said. “It’s impossible to know what’s going on creatively in this child based on one painting, but a 7-year-old could totally absorb the process, follow the process, and come to this kind of result.’” With guidance from a professional along with talent, it is probable that North did paint that painting. 

Despite backlash from the media and fans who refuse to believe she has some talent, all evidence suggests that seven-year-old North is creatively gifted.