Give Yourself the Gift of Seeing Original Art

Seeing This painting, by Jack Whitten at MoMA, took my breath away

Do you visit museums and galleries?

Have you thought about the difference between seeing a painting, a sculpture or other work of art on your phone or laptop, or in a printed book, and what you see and feel when you are in the presence of a work of original art?

I am fortunate to live in Boston, where there are many wonderful museums and outstanding galleries.

I often go to a museum for just an hour, to see the work of an artist in a special exhibition, or to wander and make unexpected discoveries. I love seeing sculptures in natural settings. And I enjoy popping into galleries to see new art.

(Happily, galleries are free to visit, and many museums are open without charge on particular evenings and weekend days.)

What happens when you see art

Being in the presence of something that has been created by an artist can be thrilling. It may make your heart flutter, peak your curiosity, surprise you, make you feel awe, or disturb you.

Whether you feel delight, confusion, or decide you don’t like what you see, you are stimulated in significant ways.

And that stimulation — that can vary from moment to moment as you walk through a gallery — has a bigger impact than you may imagine.

Physically and neurologically, studies have shown that dopamine is released (that makes you feel calm and provides sensations of pleasure), bloodflow to the brain increases (that can make you feel loving), and stress hormones decrease (less stress is always a plus!).

And with frequent exposure to art (in all forms), depression, anxiety and even pain are reduced. Your view of the world is positively impacted. Emotions are heightened, and empathy, tolerance and critical thinking skills all tend to increase.

Why seeing original art matters

As good as a reproduction may be — and most often, reproductions fall short of being accurate to the color of an original work — there is a lot that is missed when leafing through a printed catalogue, or clicking though a museum website.

Because the color you see in reproductions is bound to be duller, or brighter, or more garish than what you see standing in front of an original work. Thus you feel something very different compared to the response you’ll have seeing the original art.

You also miss relating to the scale of the work.

Standing before a tiny canvas or a huge one, or in the presence of a towering assembled sculpture or a smooth marble bust sitting atop a pedestal at eye level, impacts what you see and how you feel.

You also get to take in the surface of a painting. It may be smooth and flat, or the paint may be thick. The strokes may feel powerful and energetic (think of Vincent Van Gogh's vigorous paintings of landscapes and sunflowers). Observing these differences can impact your emotional response to the work.

Much as it can be great to listen to a good recording of music, if you have had the opportunity to be at a live concert to hear that same orchestra or singer, you know that what you felt was different in ways that elevated and expanded your experience.

Give yourself the gift of small art dates

I invite you to seek out experiences to engage with original art from time to time.

Being in the presence of human creative expression is amazingly powerful.

Whether you visit a museum or sculpture park or gallery alone, invite close friends to join you, or take kids in your life with you, you are bound to leave feeling renewed and inspired.

You are likely to feel happier, find yourself considering new perspectives, and you may even see the world around you through new eyes.

Your creative power will certainly be boosted!

And, if your experiences are anything like mine have been, the joy you’ll feel when you engage with art will linger for a delightfully long time.