02/09/2026
Speaking of things that bring value and richness to your life = Thinking. Reading. Looking at Fine Art, especially representational paintings. Why? Because these things require active participation of one’s intellect.
Spending time reading something written intelligently, fosters growth. Spending time looking at a great painting fosters curiosity, it sparks ideas about place, people, the creative process, the texture and phases of life.
Noticing over time how a work changes as the light in your home varies throughout the day, is a metaphor for life. We are all changing moment to moment, aware or not. Looking at art, and being alone and peaceful with your thoughts adds a richness to your life you can get no other way.
Giving yourself the ‘luxury’ of fine art if you spend time with it, is one of the greatest gifts you can give your precious self.
Get lost in that painting, let your mind first wander, then wonder = Wonderful experience. You emerge from that with something more. Art is the gift that keeps on giving.
Abstract vs representational painting.
Abstract is great in it’s freedom, freedom of expression and idea of the artist, and freedom of interpretation of the viewer. This makes it fun and very accessible to nearly anyone, regardless of education or understanding of craft.
Representational is a larger challenge for both the artist and the viewer.
For the artist, there are skills that must be studied and practiced to a high level, skills like:
Drawing - A skill no one is born with, and one that rusts quickly for lack of use even after learning the basics, requiring lifelong commitment to practice.
Value control - which helps in creating a believable sense of depth and atmosphere.
Color harmony - colors that can exists under the same light source at the same time and from the same direction, for example.
Paint application - which has a huge effect on the overall feeling and mood, even atmospheric effect on the painting. It often reveals the confident or tentative nature of the artist as well.
Composition - simplifying and rearranging the larger masses for effect according to the artists idea or interpretation of the subject which, actually exists in reality, and therefor can and likely will be judged against such.
Symbolism - With time and maturity of practice each accomplished artist begins to find their own ‘shorthand’ in the paint. Their signature strokes and abbreviations that represent reality.
Representational painting requires the difficult task of creating a three dimensional illusion on a two dimensional surface.
For the viewer, representational requires both the subjective and objective assessment. Subjective response will vary and that’s legit.
Objectively, does the viewer have the understanding to differentiate between poorly drawn and well drawn? Good perspective, proportion, placement of key elements in composition? Unlikely unless they’ve studied art for a time. This is why beginner artists often sell as well as masters at certain venues, because the public is largely not well enough informed to know the difference.
Abstract art suffers none of these restrictions and requires few of these skills on the part of artist or viewer.
It has the added benefit of a flexible narrative, which can be crafted in the moment by a savvy sales person to fit the need or desire of the prospective buyer. I think this explains much of the decline in appreciation of representational painting these days.
Abstract is not immune however.
Buyers remorse is real, and as the narrative wears off, and friends make comments like, my 5 year old did something similar with her spaghetti yesterday, the stratospheric prices of modern art may have piqued. We’re seeing major gallery closures and downsizing around the world. Which brings us to the question about what has real value in art for the collector.
There will always be the ‘art as commodity’ crowd among the super rich, art as a status symbol.
But for most mere mortals, I would argue representational challenges both artist and viewer to reach higher.
I'm not dismissing abstract or modern art. I find some of it thrilling and incredibly creative and inspiring. I'm just pointing out that in general, representational is under-appreciated by the public at large.
