How do you look at art?

Just a passing glance or a deep slow study? Or somewhere in-between?

Do you get tired at museums because there is just too much to see?

Do art gallery openings excite, inspire or make you groan?

Can you spend hours devouring art online or do you prefer your art diet IRL one-at-a-time?

We all have our tolerance, preferences and approach for looking at art, but I like to remember the quote that inspired this piece above.

Lesley Riley, an artist from Maryland, is a delightful woman, generous and gifted teacher, and author. One of her projects is a book of quotations about art and she invited different artists to participate by illustrating a quotation. I was assigned a quote of her words, "When you look at art, you are looking for yourself." The art quilt above and a second version below show my take on the quote.

The black line image in this piece was copied from a Miro print that I photographed at the Fundacio Jean Miro in Barcelona, a wonderful museum and gallery founded by Miro to support emerging artists and preserve his legacy. Miro is one of my favorite artists and I have learned a lot about shape, line and composition by studying his work.

Knowing how and when you like to consume art is an important skill, it's part of your creative process (whatever your medium of creativity). Reflecting upon the art you prefer, that interests you intellectually or emotionally is one of the gifts of life. 

Here's an article that explains how looking at art benefits your brain. "Beyond the brain's skill at making sense of what we're seeing, the brain actually goes through changes when we look at a beautiful art piece. In fact, according to The Telegraph, looking at a gorgeous painting, sculpture, or other artwork increases blood flow to the brain by as much as 10% -- the equivalent of looking at someone you love."

Whatever your viewing style, know that looking at art is far from frivolous.