How to Look at Art (and why it matters)
- 7 days ago
- 1 min read
Most people think they’re supposed to understand art right away.
They stand in front of a piece and try to figure out what it means.What the artist was thinking.What they’re supposed to feel.
But that’s not really how it works.
I came across an article recently by Aimee Dawson about how viewing art actually affects us—reducing stress, slowing things down, even helping with anxiety. What stood out was this: there’s no “correct” way to look at a piece.
You start with what you see.Then what you feel.
That’s it.
The meaning comes later, if it comes at all.
That lines up pretty closely with how I work.
Most of my pieces start with color—no plan. I put paint down, move it around with a roller, and let something begin to take shape. From there I respond to it. Add line, ink, collage. Adjust. Pull back. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
When it does work, there’s usually a balance to it. Movement on the surface, but something quieter underneath holding it together.
That same balance is what people respond to when they live with a piece over time.
And that’s the other part the article touched on—your experience with art changes. Different day, different mood, different reaction. What didn’t land before might hit later.
That’s why living with art matters more than just seeing it once.
If something pulls you in, even a little, that’s enough.
You don’t have to solve it.
Available work is up on the site if you want to spend more time with it.
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