Teresa Cochran | Artist to Artist, In the Know, Reflection & Growth | January 15, 2020
How and Why to Build Your Art Thinking Muscles, Part 1 of 4 Building your capacity for “art thinking” is generally a lot of fun. It can be transformational. And it’s not just for artists. Anyone who wants to enjoy the arts more or understand them better benefits, and it can become a lifelong source of joy. There are four basic things you need to do to build up the part of your brain that understands the arts. In this post, we cover the first two: (1) experiencing a LOT of different kinds of art and (2) talking about and learning about it. 1. Experience a LOT of art. If you’re an artist, you’ll want to experience what other people in all areas of your art form are creating. But don’t limit yourself to your art form or even to art you think you will like. If you experience enough art, you’re sure to come across a technique, thought, or element you would like to explore in your own creative work. Whether you’re an artist or not, keep an open mind as you expand your arts horizon—you could discover a new passion . . . or a grudging appreciation. Here are some ways to experience a LOT of art. Feel free to add to the list! Go Places (with Friends, if possible): Experience Art on the Internet “The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live. Be a man before being an artist! “ 2. Talk with different people about the art you experience. Learn from people who know more than you. By talking about art, you’ll learn more about what you actually think about the artwork you’re seeing. Learning to articulate your thoughts helps to clarify your thinking process. Talking with different (and different types of) people diversifies the opinions you’ll be exposed to, which deepens your learning, even when you don’t agree. A few links for your consideration: 10-Free courses to help you understand and appreciate art 3 great websites learn art history Your local library may have books, audiobooks, and online resources. “Great art transcends its culture and touches on that which is eternal.” Check out How and Why to Build Your Art Thinking Muscles, Part 2 to keep learning about this topic. This blog post was drawn from Engage Art’s free Choose Your Own Art-venture eCourse and Workbook.
~ August Rodin
~ Madeleine L’Engle