Do you want to know how to be a great artist? It’s often said that to be a great writer, you must first be a great reader. Well the same can be said of artists. But it’s not enough to simply look, it’s important to really see.
Let’s consider a couple of ways that we should get into the habit of seeing. First, seeing the work of other artists, and viewing as much as you can. That really means seeing real paintings wherever you can. The impact of seeing a real work, at its original scale can be truly emotional.
It’s like the difference between listening to music on a device, and hearing live singers and musicians perform.
Spanish delights
I remember at the end of a business trip to Madrid having best part of a day before my flight home, so I went to that wonderful corner where three amazing galleries are within a few metres of each other. The Reina Sofia – dedicated to modern artwork, it’s huge and packed with wonders by Picasso, Dali and others.
But what stops everyone in their tracks is Picasso’s ‘Guernica’. Now, we’ve all seen pictures in books and magazines, but to stand in front of the original you appreciate how important the scale becomes.
It is a huge work – which is impressive in itself, but lifesize, you can see the brush-work and evidence of the artist’s hand. It brings the act of creativity to life.
Close by is the Prado, packed with Spanish and international masterpieces. A real delight – check out the online collection. There is of course another stunning painting which also delivers a sudden and emotional punch, ‘Third of May 1808’ by Francisco Goya.
Standing and seeing amazing paintings really helps us to understand what the artists were striving to communicate emotionally – just with paints and brushes.
Okay, the paintings I’ve quoted express powerful and perhaps violent emotions. But also the artists’ conviction that their art could convey the tragedy in a truly human way.
However, there are also countless examples of works in both galleries communication the whole range of human emotions.
Exploring any gallery you experience connections that printed or online versions of artists’ work can rarely achieve.
Plenty of great art close to home too.
I was fortunate to have that time in Madrid, but you don’t have to visit famous galleries, there are wonderful gems everywhere. The more we see, we absorb imagery, design, colour and structure.
As we look at artworks, it’s like living in a new country. The longer you spend there you find yourself picking up the language, dialect and customs. Without effort you realise that you have become fluent.
Seeing the world
But there is far more to becoming fluent and enjoying the art of seeing – beyond absorbing other artists’ creations.
There is the skill and delight of honing our own observations. Learning to see in detail the world around us – the world that provides our own experience and fuels our imagination.
But that’s a whole subject for another article.