@azircon'da, the reason I always say I understand art but not painting is because the artform I understand, namely cinema, I have a moderate understanding of the form and underlying principles about what makes them great.
My perception in cinema do enables me to feel other art forms, like literature and music and sometimes painting too— as all artforms are related to one another. But each artform does have its innate rules and regulations and I have no concrete knowledge about these, only the perceptions of them formed in me. Perhaps, that is enough, no more is needed. An artwork is complete when it is felt. But I've always felt a sense of incompleteness if I stop there. I have a tendency of trying to make sense of things logically.
and I will insist that you do understand paintings :)
did you enjoy the winter display by Dave?