Outside the Box

Art & The Everyday

When we think of the word Art the words that usually come to mind first are painting, museum, sculpture and maybe a famous artist we admire, but what if we considered art in broader terms!?

We live in a very visual environment, our days are filled with messages delivered via images of all kinds. From the advertising billboards we see on our commute to the packaging design on products we buy. From Instagram posts to your treasured art collection at home.  When we see art in the everyday like this we are instinctively and sometimes almost subconsciously responding to them.

But what has all this got to do with me and art? , I hear you asking. Great question!

I very often meet people who, when we talk about my job, almost immediately say ‘I don’t know anything about art’. A statement I am quick to correct. The most important thing to know about an artwork is whether you like it or not and everyone knows that! The secret to understanding what and why we are attracted to one artwork over another is getting more familiar with that inner voice and what it’s saying,

One way to do this is by tapping into our reactions to the images that we see around us every day. This helps us to be more aware and comfortable with our feelings on art and fine art.

Here’s an exercise to try the next time you are looking to pass the time when sitting in traffic or scrolling through Instagram. Take note of the adverts or images that you react to, either negatively or positively. Ask yourself what your overriding feeling is. Does a beautiful photo of a sunset make you take a deep breath and think about chilling out on holidays or do the Coca Cola Christmas train of trucks bring back all the nostalgia of the festive season? Do the Budweiser Clydesdale horses in the snow just make you reach for the car’s heating button

By learning what images or elements of things you see every day that inspire you or make you feel good will help you to apply the same principles to your art buying choices as well as the works you see at exhibitions on museums and municipal galleries.

Don’t’ forget, it’s o.k not to like an artwork that everyone else seems to love or vice versa. It’s always best to appreciate  the works you love and leave the rest. That’s one of the best things about art. It’s so subjective it gives us total freedom to express our individuality

Are you heading to Art Source in the RDS this weekend? Be sure to download the 2020 Art Buying Guide before you go to make sure you get the most from your art shopping experience!