I GET asked a lot about art appreciation. Maybe because I was an Art History Major in college. Maybe because I have often talked about how I love going to museums and that I unabashedly cry over works of art that move me. I would rather spend my time looking at art than shop, unless I was shopping for art supplies. I shop for art stuff whenever I could and of late, it has become the highlight of my trips maybe because I paint too, although, I have only been doing it for about five years.
So, how does one appreciate art? Do you need to be an art lover to do so? I would say that it would be easier if you were naturally interested in art but in case you really aren’t, at least keep an open mind.
I firmly believe that appreciating art is a subjective experience. To me, it is a personal thing that no other person can judge as wrong or ridiculous. It is you own take on any given work of art and whatever encounter you have should be respected at all cost.
How do I appreciate art? I always try to find a connection of any given artwork to me. It may be as simple as liking (or not) the artist’s color palette, liking (or not liking) the theme and composition of the masterpiece or being inexplicably moved (or not) by its presence. I know it is weird but it is true. Whether you gravitate towards a certain art piece or not, you can learn to appreciate it for what it is.
It’s actually easier when you like a painting outright but it can get tricky when you don’t. After all, why would you want to appreciate something you don’t like at all? Well, I say it would not hurt to try just for the sake of trying. You never know what you can learn by doing so.
When I don’t like a work of art, I ask myself why I don’t like it. Is it the color, the style, theme, or the artist? When I get to the bottom of my whys, I reflect on it and try to figure out what in my life experiences can explain it. I don’t really like classical art because it is too formal and exact. I like modern and freer forms. But when I consider what classical art is and how it would probably be too difficult for me to paint the way they do, I am filled which much awe and admiration for what they have achieved. In essence, I learned to appreciate them.
Just like in life, we don’t always like the experiences we’re given but we do what we can to accept them, learn from them and in the process, appreciate it for what it is. The same concept applies to art appreciation, you just need to keep an open mind.
Happy Sunday Everyone!