(enchanting music)
- [Aelita] Sometimes they say,
"Oh, a kid did it, it's not worth anything."
Lots of people say that 12 year olds
are such an annoying age.
Critics say that I'm like Jackson Pollock.
And they say it as a compliment,
but I want to be known for my own style,
not being compared to someone else.
- [Narrator] This Great Big Story was made possible by Lego,
play her way.
(upbeat string music)
My name is Aelita Andre. I'm an abstract painter.
And I'm from Melbourne, Australia.
- [Narrator] At only 12 years old,
Aelita has been in the industry for over a decade.
- [Aelita] I started painting when I was nine months old.
My dad put a canvas down on the floor
because he used to paint a little bit.
I just started crawling on the canvas
and started painting before him (laughs).
That's how everything started, that was my first painting.
(charming music)
My first show was at the age of two years old.
- [Narrator] Without telling the gallery owner her age,
her mother presented the work
and Aelita was booked for her first show.
Since then, she has taken her art across the globe
and has sold paintings for around $35,000 U.S. dollars.
I've been to London, Russia, Japan, New York,
Italy, China, mom, where else?
- [Mom] Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, but-- Four times.
Four times (laughs).
I paint every few days, but mainly when I'm inspired.
When I paint, I usually think about the universe,
I think about animals,
pretty much everything that has to do with nature.
With the violins on the canvas,
I want to show that the whole universe is singing.
- [Narrator] Although Aelita's young,
she understands the harsh critics in the art world.
- [Aelita] When people question my talent,
usually I don't mind because I think
that everyone should have their own opinion.
- [Narrator] But there is one critic
whose opinion does matter.
So Fluffy is our little pet art critic.
He usually starts biting me
or biting the painting if he doesn't like it.
But it will be great.
- [Aelita] My mom and dad encouraged my art
and I'm so happy.
(Aelita and dad laughing)
So I definitely think that I'm going to
be doing painting for the rest of my life.
It's something that I love so much.
(electronic chiming)