art appreciation

The Art Lover and the Self-Expressing Artist

by Deborah E on March 28, 2012

The following is an article by Deborah E, ScatNStyle.com, published on Dangerous Lee.

Deborah E is a smooth and sultry summer night on Bourbon Street… Classy with a dash of sass… Proof that the jazz greats have not been sacrificed to processed pop. ladyD.info. For more information, including other blogs, visit her main site at deborah.info.

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♥ Why I Love Art ♥

by Deborah E on October 26, 2011

Well, really I don’t necessarily know why I love art. I mean, that would be like trying to explain why we love a person, why we love the sunshine, why we love chocolate (for some of us). What I do know, is that as time goes, I love art more and more. So much so, that I want to take it in more frequently and for longer periods of time.

The More We Know
I think the more that we know something or someone, the more opportunity there is to love. That would also mean that there is more opportunity not to love. Someone can like something immediately and then dislike it as it becomes more clear to them that that is not “their thing.” But, the more we know, the more opportunity we have to know, and to love, if that is the seed that is within us.

The More We Experience
When I was young, I was around people that did not really “know” art. I heard snap comments about Picasso’s art, the abstract art, etc. It was not a matter of fault, per se, it was simply a lack of knowledge and lack of exposure to art on their part. While this did not permanently embed within me, it did affect my short-term pursuit of art. Enter LACMA and Park West Gallery. By having a membership to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, attending guided tours, openings, exhibits, and experiencing the Park West Gallery art exhibits, auctions, and training sessions on cruise lines, I was able to learn and experience art in a new, and unprecedented way.

There is a certain soothing aspect of art, especially when we allow ourselves to feel the vulnerabilities of our human frailty. Art has the ability to reach in and touch those vulnerabilities and give us wings. It is an expression of the artist, one that we can feel within ourselves, if we give it a chance. Art evokes a response.

The More We Feel
There is a certain soothing aspect of art, especially when we allow ourselves to feel the vulnerabilities of our human frailty. Art has the ability to reach in and touch those vulnerabilities and give us wings. It is an expression of the artist, one that we can feel within ourselves, if we give it a chance. Art evokes a response. It does not have to be a happy response, it can be an angry response, but it touches my humanity… if I let it.

So there you have it. Is it the reason? No, because I don’t think that love of art can be reduced to one simple reason, but it is my philosophical summary of the journey to know and love art more and more each day. How ’bout you?

Deborah E

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What Language Does Art Speak?

by Deborah E on July 20, 2011

Good morning,

My question for you today, is, “What language does art speak?” Or, maybe the question should be, “Does art speak at all?”

There is no right or wrong answer to this question or question(s).

I believe art speaks, if it speaks, speaks the language of the heart, possibly the language of the brain. If a person is drawn to the art there is something within that art that appeals to him or her and it may say one thing to one person and something entirely different to another person.

Now, these are simple designs, that may or may not speak to anyone but me. Well, they must have said something to my instructor since I received a good grade. LOL. But, they don't need to speak. They can be passed by, or they can be admired. Some people like the art of Thomas Kinkade representing something beautiful remembered, experienced, or the experience of the art itself. Some people prefer the abstract cubism art of Picasso.

I took a class on “Communications in Design” recently. I thought it was going to be more of a communications theory, interpreting what we read in different designs. However, it was an all out graphic design class, in and of itself, turning me into the student artist. Most of you have seen my artwork (see an example, here). So, this was an exciting, and growing, experience.

We were given assignments to create a design, using only basic shapes (i.e. no stars, rainbows, smiley faces, etc.) and textures to create an artistic representation of the feeling or contrast represented by the assigned word or words. In some cases we were allowed to use color and in some cases we were only allowed grayscale.

Here are the results, my designs:


Hard / Calm	Vibrant / Thoughtful

Happy	Soft / Dynamic

Whimsical

Now, these are simple designs, that may or may not speak to anyone but me. Well, they must have said something to my instructor since I received a good grade. LOL. But, they don’t need to speak. They can be passed by, or they can be admired. Some people like the art of Thomas Kinkade representing something beautiful remembered, experienced, or the experience of the art itself. Some people prefer the abstract cubism art of Picasso.

How about this concept –> Remember that YOU are a work of art. The language is your language and the appreciation or the lack of appreciation is the language that art speaks (or doesn’t speak). My assignment to you for today is to give yourself a hug, and enjoy the work of art that is called YOU.

Deborah E