I still remember when I was first invited to an art gallery by my
friends and my instinctive reaction was a feeling of apprehension. It
was a strange feeling as I have always loved art especially paintings,
so why the anxiety. It dawned on me that I was not worried about
experiencing the paintings but how to react to them, what to say and how
to converse about them so as to not look like a complete moron to my
friends.
This very unusual problem led me to explore and find a
simple and down-to-earth approach to art appreciation. The idea is to
demystify the process and make it easy to enjoy art. Here are some steps
that I came up with to make it an easy learning experience
Tip No. 1 Make it a habit to observe and appreciate art
In
order to understand your own specific interests and inclinations in
art, develop a habit of observing seriously any art object that you come
across be it a painting or a sculpture. We often overlook art objects
sitting right in front of us. How many of us honestly take some of the
free minutes in our office to look at the paintings on our office walls.
If
we spend sometime in observing and appreciating art that we are exposed
to in everyday life, we will learn a great deal about what things
attract and appeal to us the most and also what are the things that you
dislike. In a nutshell you will understand more clearly your likes and
dislikes in art
Tip No. 2 Develop your own unique art sense
Once
you have spent some time in examining your own preferences in art, you
can move towards understanding the forms of visual art that connect with
you most. For some it is the lifelike representations in sculpture and
for others it is the ability of a painter to depict a memory in vivid
colors. To many of us all art forms are a treat for the senses and a
tribute to the efforts of the artist
As you organize your own
reactions to different forms of art, you will learn to recognize small
differences and minor variations of colors and shapes that make a
painting likeable or not so appealing to you
Tip No. 3 Research the pieces that you like
Now
that you have an understanding of the colors, shapes and styles that
interest you the most you should research these further to see if they
represent a specific art style or a particular form of art, for example
in paintings it could be abstracts, figurative or a combination of
colors and theme that represent a definite pattern and style of painting
As
you progress further, this research will help you to find more and more
distinctively the artists and the media that you like the most. Many a
times the styles and colors that appeal to us have a special meaning for
us and may originate from a specific region of the world or maybe an
art form that we were exposed to early in life and has left a
significant impression on us. Sometimes it is the art that you
experienced on a great vacation that left great memories and gave you a
strong liking for it for life, the reasons for liking some art form are
endless some thought to it may give you some clues
Tip No. 4 Refine your art sense
You
have already explored and created your own art personality and are
equipped with the knowledge of the styles of art that appeal to you the
most. Your research has provided you with enough information to feel
confidant to give reactions to different styles and also decide what
appeals to you in different paintings whether it is the artist's attempt
to express his feelings or the emotions the painting evokes in you.
A
very important tool that can help to refine your art sense is to keep
an art journal. Before you get put off by this seemingly complex work
let me quickly point out that it is the simplest form of keeping a
dairy. It is a log of the art pieces that you see and your reactions to
each piece, this log can be an important means in refining and enriching
your unique art sense. Another important benefit of this art journal is
that it can serve as a very effective way of relieving stress. No
kidding...keeping an art journal is one of the key activities in art
therapy which is a form of therapy that uses creativity and art in the
healing process
Tip No. 5 Open up to new experiences in art
The
last and most significant tip in the art appreciation process is to
keep your mind open and receptive to new art experiences. One of the
disadvantages of having developed a definite pattern of likes and
dislikes in your art personality is to get trapped in this pattern. Do
not cage yourself in this citadel of your own creation but remain open
to new and totally different creations and art forms.
The whole
purpose of art appreciation is to open your subconscious mind to be
receptive to new experiences and creations. You will be amazed when you
read your own art log as time passes to see your tastes change over time
to different themes and styles. Always remember that the objective of
art appreciation is to recognize and understand your own love of art and
artistry.
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