HOW TO LOOK AT ART

Admit it: You never go into an art gallery, do you? Almost no one does, and that’s hard to figure. Grayson County is home to a colony of artists producing wonderful art. The galleries on Main Street display their work and also show some amazing artists from outside this area. The art is on display for your viewing pleasure; it’s interesting, it’s exciting, and—Most Important: Looking is free. What’s not to like about that?

One of the most common reasons for the no-shows I hear is "I don’t know anything about art". No longer an excuse—I’ve put together this quick and easy primer on How to Look at Art. My qualifications? None, Zero, Zip. I’ve been a construction worker all my life. I can’t paint or draw, and I’ve never studied art in school. But don’t let that worry you—I can still tell you everything you need to know…hey, it’s art--it’s not rocket science.

1. The art is on display; you’re not. Don’t be self-conscious. Don’t worry about how you look, or whether you’ll understand what you’re seeing. Wear whatever makes you comfortable. People who work in galleries have witnessed every fashion faux pas imaginable and could care less—they just desperately want the work to be seen. You’re not going to be judged and you’re not going to be tested. The only thing that will happen to you is that you will be entertained. Open the door and walk in like you own the place.
2. Empty Vessel. If Albertson’s announced they were giving away free groceries, you wouldn’t rush over there with a bag already crammed full of stuff, would you? No, you’d take the biggest empty sack you’ve got. Same thing with looking at art: Make your mind an empty vessel. Don’t think about that that bad report card your kid brought home. Don’t think about where you’re going Friday night. And (here’s the hard one) don’t think about what you’re going to have for dinner tonight. Don’t think about anything. Remember…Empty Vessel.
3. Allow the Eyes to Roam. Most of the time our eyes are slaves of the mind, who treats them the way those ugly stepsisters treated Cinderella. "Find me a parking space! Who is that person?" and on and on…The mind’s demands upon the eyes are unceasing. So for a just a few minutes, turn the tables and tell the mind to "Butt out!" Turn your eyes loose and let them go wherever their fancy takes them. Keep your eyes unfettered by the mind, and follow them wherever they lead you.
4. The Judgement Day is coming… but not today. While you’re looking at the art, don’t question whether it’s good or not. Don’t think about which ones you like or don’t like. And don’t be considering whether or not to buy anything. (You won’t today.) These thoughts only clutter the mind and impede the eyes.
5. Two components. While you are looking, be aware there are two components to the artwork: The Visual, and The Narrative. The Visual is what you see, the eye candy; immerse yourself in it. Some art also has a Narrative--it portrays or suggests a story. Don’t spend too much time thinking about what the artist attempted to convey. The much more interesting narrative is the one you begin to create as you view the piece. After all, who can tell a story better than you? Nobody, that’s who.

Through looking? Then quit thinking about the art for now and start worrying about what’s for dinner.

1. Was It Good for You? When you first wake up the next morning, or later while you drive to work, do you find yourself thinking about one of the artworks? Most of what you viewed has been shuffled off to the mind’s subconscious. But if the work is good, and if it dovetails with your senses, then it will force its way out of the subconscious and into your conscious mind. If this happens, then you have been fortunate to have been a participant in the magic of art. Maybe you should go have another look.
2. Should I Buy It? If you have to ask yourself this question, then the answer is "No". If this is a work you want to share your home with, you’ll absolutely know it. It may take a month or more, but that desire will make itself known. And you will be just as certain of that desire as you are certain that the sun will rise tomorrow in the east and that 2+2=4.
3. Warning. Buying original art is addictive. The more you buy, the more you want to buy. There’s a reason for that. It is one of life’s greatest pleasures to spend time contemplating a piece of original art that you own. Maybe you do it while you have that first cup of coffee in the morning, or maybe with the first drink when you come home at night. Every time you look at the work, it will take you someplace different; and every time, it will be exactly where you want to go.
4. The Price is Right. With something as subjective as art, who’s to say what’s a fair price? Most likely the artist who produced it has an accurate idea of what it’s worth. So if you want it, just buy it—don’t worry about the price. Don’t have the cash? What about that money you’ve been putting into the children’s college fund? Use that. It’s one of those urban myths that kids need an education. Landscaping will be the wave of the future. Buy your son a shovel and buy yourself that sculpture.

To be serious, some things that we want, we just don’t have the money. Art is frequently compared to a beautiful woman, and in this case the comparison is apt. Because for those artworks (and women) that we just can’t afford, "it is a far better thing to have loved and lost, than to never to have loved at all."

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I started out writing this in an attempt to give the reader a useful tool for looking at art, but this has gone on way too long. Nobody’s going to read all this, much less remember it. So if you’ve made it this far, forget everything written above—here’s How to Look at Art, in only ten words:

Empty your mind; Indulge your eyes.
Live large--Buy art.