The Power of Art: Building Your Visual Vocabulary and Understanding of the World (why looking at art is essential for personal growth)
Have you ever thought about conflicts over symbolism based on opposing political, social, or religious views and ideologies? Have you ever paused in front of a mesmerizing painting like Monet’s Water Lilies series or thought of Mona Lisa’s smile and thought about how the artist had painted it? As a visual artist with a BFA in painting, I have always been intrigued by the profound impact of art on our perception of the world as it serves both as a mirror and a catalyst for cultural change.
In this blog, I will embark on the journey to explore the transformative power of art making paintings help construct our visual vocabularies – which is essential for personal growth. There is always a great and wide range of meaning in art making. Some art has a deep meaning attached to every single element, image, or colour. Other art is purely intuitive and abstract in meaning. Meaning gives the grounding knowledge while pure intention gives the freshness of forward exploration and experimentation to play.
To be more precise with an example, when we learn any foreign language, it expands our cognitive abilities beyond borders. Likewise, observing different art forms, and mediums not only elevates our appreciation skills but also pushes our critical thinking in terms of style, forms, and subject matter. All these thoughts remind me of the rise of Art movements throughout history which brings light on challenging established conventions. Each different paradigm asks different questions, sets unique challenges, defines different purposes, and changes the rules of the game for the artistic medium.
Renaissance is a French word that means Rebirth. Renaissance art is marked by a gradual shift from the abstract forms of the medieval period to the representational forms of the 15th century. Following the Renaissance, the Romanticism movement emerged which is driven by unrestricted imagination, artistic freedom, and emotion and rejected realism. The onset of modernism shattered traditional boundaries and ushered into a bold era of experimentation. This movement embraced the unconventional and avant-garde which resulted in a shift in artistic expression. With the advent of Postmodernism came skepticism. Rather than presenting straightforward messages, they opted for complexity, encouraging spectators to think independently and arrive at conclusions autonomously.
As we know art is an emotive tool, it is also a way to communicate ideas and messages. So the whole point of knowing the art historical context is that it enriches your experience as a viewer or critic by providing a deeper understanding of the complexities and nuances inherent in artistic expression through history. Although there is no end to the number of visual elements we can use to represent the meaning and concepts we want to express. But a great way to begin is to look back at and study how those famous art masters and artists have used their elements and built up their visual vocabulary which at the same time was expressive and universally understandable.
In short, budding artists can delve more into technical aspects of their work and refine their craft, which enables them to explain their art in a meaningful and impactful way. By immersing themselves in visual vocabulary through art historical movements and terminology can enrich their creative process, deepen their understanding of art’s evolution, and enhance their ability to communicate their ideas through their artwork effectively.