Knowing
the difference between good and bad art can be difficult. You can't always
trust the art experts; many times it's hard to even understand them. Since I
believe that it's important to make up your own mind about art, I decided to
write this article to help each and every one of you judge art for yourself.
(It's
a little longer than the other articles so far, so feed the dog or put the kids
to bed, and don't say I didn't warn you!)
I've
come up with five characteristics that you can use to determine the quality of
art, ranging from the paintings in your local gallery to the strange
contemporary sculpture your boss added right outside your office.
The
characteristics I found were beauty, skill, inherent meaning, uniqueness, and fulfilled intent. I'll
explain each of these throughout the article.
I'm
convinced that anyone can use their own fundamental knowledge to compare
artwork based on these five inherent properties. Even if other people have a
different opinion than you do about a particular work of art, this article
should help you explain how you came to your conclusion.
All
right, so on the basis that all art is not created equal, let's get to the
nitty-gritty and break down these five characteristics of art.
Beauty
is, and always will be, in the "eye of the beholder." Your decision about the
beauty or lack of beauty in a particular work of art is instinctive and
natural. In fact, you probably won't even have to make that decision,
you'll just either be captivated by a piece of art or you won't.
People
within the same social context often agree on what is beautiful, so you'll
probably find others close by who will like the same things as you do. Some
aspects of art that are generally appealing to people are:
1.
Repeating shapes, patterns, and symmetry.
2. Colors, especially colors that complement or enhance each other.
3. Textures, both visual and physical (like thick, impasto paint).
4. Crops
and compositions that focus the eye and keep the viewers'
attention.
5. Movement or flow to guide viewers through the art.
6. Correct or appealing proportions of figures and objects.
7. Presentation
and framing.
You
won't need to take a checklist into the galleries for this since your eye will
naturally be drawn to the art you prefer. Like I mentioned before, this is the
easy one. All you have to do is answer the question, "Do I like this?" Of
course, if you decide to ask why
you like it, then the list above might come in handy.
Technical
skill is the most comparable and measurable aspect of art. As you look at a
painting (or any other work of art) you probably will be able to determine how skillfully
it was created simply by comparison with other works.
First,
compare the works to other art you've seen in that medium before - if it is a
painting, for example, decide whether this artist is more talented than others
you've seen. It might be difficult if you're just starting out, and in that
case, don't let it worry you. It will only take a short amount of time for you
to see the differences between a skillful painting and one that's poorly done.
Second,
look at all the artwork on display by the artist. You might find that some are
more impressive than others, or appear better made, and you'll certainly have
an idea of one or two that are the best out of the entire group.
Third,
look at each work of art itself. Are they individually consistent? Are there
places that you can see odd markings compared to another area within the same
piece? Sometimes art may look rushed or strange, but if it is created in a
similar fashion throughout the entire piece then the effect is most likely
intentional. If not, then that work may not be as good as some others that are
more internally cohesive.
Judging
the level of skill in a work of art is probably the most difficult thing I'm
suggesting to do in this article. Over time and with more exposure to art you
will eventually come to a greater understanding of different mediums. Plus, if
you're lucky enough to be an artist yourself you'll probably find out that you
instinctively have a better grasp of other mediums already.
Art
is powerful, not just for its beauty or the talent needed for its creation, but
because it can cause emotion, make political statements, or challenge
preconceived ideas. Of course not all works of art are intended to be so
thought-provoking. A still life of oranges and apples, for example, usually
won't have a deeper meaning. If it does, I think the artist deserves more
credit than for a traditional still life.
Here
are five levels of meaning in art, which I've listed in order of increasing
importance.
1.
Purely representational art - Made simply for visual appeal, with no deeper
intent.
2.
Art that references other art - It "tips its hat" to some other work, possibly
providing a fresh perspective or continuing a conversation that another artist
began.
3.
Art that tells a story or evokes a specific emotion - This is art that begins
to affect you. It might cause you to understand, empathize or feel what's being
depicted.
4.
Art that makes a statement - Here the artist is clearly speaking through the
work, actively promoting a cause or perhaps bringing attention to an issue
that's important to him or her.
5.
Art that is an allegory or metaphor - This is art that contains more than one
meaning, and possibly several. It use symbolic imagery or deal with more
intangible human issues, and yet the artwork should still work as a visually
appealing creation.
Look
for these when you look at art. Finding meaning or emotion in art opens up a
whole new realm of enjoyment and will deepen your appreciation of artists who
incorporate it into their work.
This
is the aspect of art which relates to not only what the artist is depicting but
also how the artist is depicting it.
Good
art either explores new subjects, or old subjects in a way that hasn't been
done before. When you look at art, ask yourself what (if anything) is different
in the work from all the other art you've seen. Sometimes it will jump out at
you, sometimes it won't. If you do notice something different, decide for
yourself whether that unique quality distracts from or enhances the piece.
There's
a happy medium, I believe, in finding art that stands out from the crowd but
doesn't use gimmicks or cause distractions.
What
is the artist trying to say? I hear this question a lot, and for the most part
there's a simple way to find out. If you're at a gallery, read the artist
statement. Many artists just want to accurately portray a subject, or to
express an emotion. The important thing is for the artist to be in control of
the art. If the intent is one thing, the art shouldn't say something else. The
artist statement should deepen and strengthen the viewers' understanding of the
art.
I'd
suggest that when you go to a solo show, briefly scan all of the works being
displayed so you can get an idea of the artist's style and note any constant
themes, emotions, or ideas.
Then
go through each piece of art again, but more slowly, to really study them. Take
your time and determine what you think of each one according to the five
characteristics mentioned in this article. After that, check out the artist's
statement.
Compare
the artist's intent with what you had previously understood the intent to be,
and then armed with that knowledge (trust me, sometimes it'll blow your mind)
make one last round of the gallery to see how your opinions have changed.
If
you experienced the artist's intent before reading the statement, excellent. If
you only got it after reading the artist's statement, that's OK too, just not
quite as good.
This
method keeps the art from being overshadowed immediately by what the artist is
saying about his or her work. It lets the art speak for itself, yet the artist
still gets a chance to clarify what is meant in case you miss the point on your
own.
Of
course, if you can't even understand what the artist is saying in the artist
statement, then just try to enjoy the art for its visual impact and don't worry
about it. The intent probably wasn't very clear for that artist either.
Good
art should appeal to you. It will be skillfully made, most likely by an artist
who has created other works in a similar fashion.
The
best art has meaning beyond just an image; perhaps it will bring you to tears,
make you laugh, or remind you of something you'd almost forgotten. It also
stands out in a crowd and dares to be different.
Most
importantly (in my opinion) good art is understandable, although it may make
you think in ways you never expected to.
I
hope you found this article helpful; I know that in writing it I've solidified
some of my own views about art. Feel free to send me your own comments or feedback as well.
*All
images in this post are details from still life paintings by Cezanne.
Dan (emptyeasel.com)