Words and Artwork by katherine sandoz
You can grow to understand the pearl of any piece of art (or music, or literature, or a meal, or anything, really) if you follow these three steps.
describe: the colors, textures, the shapes, etc. (physical attributes)
analyze: of what does this make you think, remind you (ideas)
judge: now instead of saying “bad” or “good”, you say
“Because of #2, this work successfully….”
“Because of #1, #2, this work fails to…”
“Because of #1, #2, I realize the artist tells a (insert adjective) story about…”
After practicing this a few times, you will begin to have strong, even powerful ideas of how the work could be improved. You will be confident and well-informed because you’ve not skipped ahead to “judgment”. You will possess steely resolve even in the fact of the most difficult, eclectic, conceptual works.
You’ve got to peel back some layers – even cry a little – to truly understand art (even if you don’t like it). And sometimes there are layers and layers and…an actual onion!
“cloudless summer sky”, 8.5″ x 11″, acrylic on somerset velvet, 2008.
Original artwork for Salted and Styled by katherine sandoz available HERE.
