Georgia O’Keeffe intention was for viewers to see flowers in a new way. She explained, “When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else… Nobody really sees a flower – really – it is so small – we haven’t time – and to see takes time… So I said to myself – I’ll paint what I see – what the flower is to me but I’ll paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it.”
Mark Rothko, who painted transcendent color fields, stated, “The fact that people break down and cry when confronted with my pictures shows that I can communicate those basic human emotions… the people who weep before my pictures are having the same religious experience I had when painting them.”
These statements sparked my curiosity about how artists may want viewers to respond to their art. I posted a question to our subscribers, “What kind of reaction would you like to get when a viewer first sees your artwork? What do you strive to communicate to others through your art?” I asked them to send me an email with their comment in 50 words or less.
Please visit the artists’ websites to learn more about them.
“It is said by experts that most people are looking at paintings for about 7/8 seconds. So I decided to work like a fisherman. I catch the viewer’s eye then I start pulling them in by giving more and more details to hold their attention, so they can read the whole story standing close. It is so exciting and rewarding to see people standing for several minutes before my paintings.” ~ Yvonne Welman yvonne-welman.com
“Art is channeled energy. Using paint, color, gestural brushstrokes and personal calligraphy, I strive to balance that energy as a spiritual practice. Ultimately, I hope my paintings create a pause for the viewer to connect with their own soul, reflect on the mysteries of life – and energetically re-calibrate and reboot.” ~ Eugenie Diserio eugeniediserioart.com
“My paintings receive totally different responses. My soulful girls paintings encourage a feeling of days gone by as a hopeful and yet insecure teen. Landscapes I create get a totally different response. People love the vibrancy and claiming my work creates happiness as do my sometimes confusing abstracts.” ~ Carol Stanley carol-stanley.html
“I want my art to evoke a sense of safety, nourishment, beauty, and soulfulness. It gives me great satisfaction to receive that kind of feedback and to know that my creativity has supported healing of body, mind and spirit.” ~ Helena Cooper helenacooperart.com
“I hope to entice the viewer to take a closer look at my art, to see and feel the beauty of New Mexico’s high desert as I see it. I love when a painting speaks to a viewer and they form a personal connection to a particular piece.” ~ Mary Mirabal marymirabalart.com
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My work is my connection to life. We live in such a hurry, there is no time to see or even feel life surrounding us. If I was moved by something or someone, it usually goes around in circles in my head till I get to express that moment, hence my work of art
How beautifully stated Edna!
Thank you for writing and sharing this article. It encouraged me to think deep, and write my own.
Your website has great content!
Hi Fariba, Thank you very much for your comment. I’m very happy to know this article inspired you to take positive action!
Thanks for including me in your article!
Really enjoyed reading the myriad of answers to your question. Thanks for asking it!
Watching people stop and gaze at my art, moving closer to see color, texture, shapes whether landscapes or abstracts, fascinate me. They devour light changing as they move, and I want them to take this slice of nature home, to contemplate their excitement anew each day.