A Checklist for Looking at Art

Art education at the Terrain Gallery in New York City (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most of this is from art educator David Perkins

·      Work to overcome the given passivity toward viewing engendered by television and videos.

·      Engage in active viewing and a lot of it.

·      Understand that viewing art is its own reward.

·      Accept that viewing art is a complex, challenging proposition.

·      Use questioning as the primary strategy. (I would say, “Don’t be afraid to express your uncertainty.”)

·       Look for the things in the work that carry the “kick” or the “oomph.” Move toward the "inner relations" of aesthetic experiences rather than the "outer relations" of art history.

·      Look for motion (or stillness), mood, personality, and surprise to hook into the aesthetic effects

·      Invest “looking time,” at least 3-5 minutes.

·      Find a good distance, where the work becomes a whole.

·      Let your eyes work for you. Remember to have a "hungry eye."

·      Make looking deep and clear. Let what you know inform your looking.

·      Let questions emerge. When the flow stops, look away for a few seconds, then look back. This refreshes the eyes.

·      Make looking organized. Tell yourself when you notice interesting features.

·      Label the features in words to yourself.

·      Juxtapose paintings, etc. to promote seeing.

·      Always look for the "point of entry," the emotional/intellectual hook that challenges the viewer to engage with the work.

Perkins, David N. "The Intelligent Eye: Learning to Think by Looking at Art." The Getty Center for Education in the Arts. 1994

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