Okay, right off the bat, I’ll be very clear – there is no SINGLE way of enjoying a painting. However, if you are one of those who roam around aimlessly at an art fair or gallery, not knowing what to do, this post might help you get started.
Let Me Tell You A Story
When I first painted, I used to hone my craft in the living room of our apartment. My late grandfather, who likes to do his afternoon walking exercise, will often pass by our window and observe one of my paintings.
In one instance, he commented that part of my painting, based on how I interpreted it, is inaccurate. And that I should correct them. At first, I gladly smiled and mostly ignored it.
Then this idea marinated inside my head, and then it hit me –
“Most People Have No Idea How To Enjoy A Painting”
The Issue – A Painting Is Not A Photograph
One of the reasons why people often miss the point of paintings is that they treat them like a photograph. However, this is NOT the case (except perhaps for artists who are going for hyperrealism).
You see, when you look at a painting and treat it like a photograph, your first instinct is to scour the painting looking for inaccuracies. By doing so, you are WIDELY missing the point of a painting. As the expression goes, “You missed it by a mile, “. Yes, that’s the gravity of the mistake, and that’s not an exaggeration.
A Painting Is NOT A Photograph!
Hence, you should not judge it like a photograph.
Photographs are recording devices (not all, but mostly). They basically record a scene. I want to emphasize the word “RECORDING” because it’s a far cry from what a painter does, which is not recording but expressing his or her interpretation.
RECORDING vs INTERPRETATION
This is a small difference that is easy to make at the surface level, but drastically affects how you view the medium.
You see, when you judge a recording, your instinct is to look for inaccuracies to ensure you are getting maximum fidelity.
On the other hand, if you are judging an interpretation, you shift your focus to “did I enjoy it, or not?”.
So, it’s a matter of “looking for inaccuracies” vs “did I enjoy it or not”. This is what I mean by shifting your perception between recording vs interpretation, it will alter how you approach the medium.
How To Enjoy A Painting
So now that we learned how NOT to view a painting, here’s my suggestion of how you might enjoy it. Again, a disclaimer – this is not the only way to enjoy a painting.
To keep it simple, good paintings evoke an EMOTION in you.
So if a good painting is trying to move you emotionally, the key to enjoying it is to facilitate and allow the process.
So here’s a quick step on how you might do that.
Step 1 – Clear your head and be as emotionally flat as possible.
Step 2 – Stand at the proper distance (most paintings have a proper viewing distance). Usually, it’s at a distance where you can still clearly see the painting, but you can’t see the small brushstrokes. If you see the colors starting to optically blend, then you’re in the proper distance.
Step 3 – Observe your inner self, try to find that emotion within the noise, and then focus on it to amplify it.
The emotion that the artist may be going for might also be different from what you’re feeling. It doesn’t matter. In the end, it’s the relationship between you and the painting that is all there is at that specific moment in time.
Keep in mind that not all paintings will evoke an emotion within you, and that’s fine. Everyone is different, and everyone will respond to paintings differently. Some paintings will make it easier to trigger an emotion within you. So, don’t feel bad if some paintings are just “flat” for you; it’s perfectly fine.
But I can guarantee you that if you follow the steps and allow the painting to do its job, at least one will stir you emotionally. Congratulations! You have now officially learned how to enjoy a painting.