Usually, when people talk about art they might tell you that taking in a work of art is no different form gazing upon a beautiful flower.
But is that really it? Is art only about looking at the surface of something? It you think so, trust me you are missing a lot in art in the name of gazing.
Art is beyond limitation. It is an expression of emotions which carries oodles of feelings and ideas of the artists.
In art, there are tons of things to inspect, aspects to weigh, artistic skills to suss out and savor. It’s somehow knowing the inner beauty of everything around you.
Unlocking the meaning behind a work of art is one of the many joys of viewing and collecting emotions. But it totally depends on how you interpret it.
Believe it or not if you start appreciating art you will get overwhelmed all the time. You will feel dazed especially, if you encounter people who insist art to be limited stories and themes to be found.
Here are few things to look for that will help you appreciate art if you truly have interest in art.
Look at the art and ask yourself what you see
Viewing an art seems like an obvious first step of appreciating an art. But, it is more than just a quick glancing and gazing an art and drawing any conclusion.
Before jumping into any conclusion regarding the art, take a moment to identify the artwork’s basic qualities.
After you are done with that, ask yourself question regarding what you see in the painting or sculpture. Trust me it works like magic in creating a specific emotional reaction inside you.
It’s obvious that everyone comes with a different background and way of looking at the world. So, the way you see the art and way others see it might be different.
This is the first step to know your inner self and the way you look at things. This is how you will start to appreciate art and the artists.
Think about the meaning of that particular art
Use what you observed in the first step to think about meanings and narratives the art could have.
The title of the art is a good starting point to go further in process of appreciating the art.
Consider what the subjects or symbols meant to the artist when they created the painting or sculpture.
Try to find what do the colors say about the artist and how do they apply to the subjects in the art.
Yet, every interpretation might not be exactly same as you think, but will help you finding different clues.
Identify the artist
Sometimes studying the history of how and why a work of art was created in a certain way can give you a better overall impression.
It works especially if you haven’t developed an initial emotional reaction to the piece of painting or sculpture.
In all cases, learning something about the art and the artist undeniably adds to appreciate the art.
Explore information about the artist
If you are really interested in art and the piece of art you appreciate, there is no harm in studying the story behind the piece of work.
Try to examining the life of the artists who created the piece of art who can give you a different perspective on the work and life itself.
It doesn’t mean that you have to follow their way completely, but get the gest of how and why they created their concept of art.
Identify your taste of art
Applying these appreciation method to every work of art you come across may seem little daunting.
So, just keep in mind that you do not have to look and appreciate every art you go through your life.
The idea of appreciating every art and artist in a gallery is like going to a restaurant and eating every dish in one sitting.
If you keep on doing so, you will probably leave your feeling overstuffed and your mind empty.
Instead, find what type of painting or sculpture you like and enjoy it. Know that if you want to try the piece of art by yourself, you can.
For instance, if you love photo realism but dislike abstract art, skip the abstract. It’s not like to have to follow every step of the art or artists you appreciate.
You just have to take a concept and do everything on yourself because it’s your emotions and feeling you are portraying no them.
Take a course in art appreciation
It is a way step forward to the methods if you want to go beyond and appreciate art and artists.
Taking an art appreciation course can help quell any insecurities you have when it comes to appreciating art.
You can learn to trust your own judgment when it comes to looking at an art and the artist from your own perspective.
Learning to appreciate art and artists can be intimidating, especially if you don’t have art background.
However, there are things you can do in order to facilitate the process of learning to enjoy them.
It definitely doesn’t take any special skills beyond what you already possess. It’s just making a tiny effort for achieving what you want.
So, the nest time you are admiring a work of art or the artist, keep these ways in mind and its meaning may unfold before your eyes.
