How to identify your artistic taste
The best way to recognize your artistic taste is simply paying attention to your responses to different types of art. Although you can do this in many formats, it’s great in a museum where you can see lots of examples in person within a relatively short period of time. It doesn’t happen instantly, though, so don’t expect to fully discover your taste within a single visit.
Start becoming aware of what art appeals to and attracts you – which works are your favorites, which you enjoy the most or find particularly memorable. Which are you generally most eager to see during a museum visit?
Look for similarities and trends within this group you’ve identified. At first, you might think about this in purely visual terms (color, line, etc.). I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that certain formal qualities, like bright colors, bold lines, or soft brushwork, might appeal to us especially strongly. You can also think about subject matter, mood, theme, and even external associations. For example, you might find yourself drawn to cheerful artworks, romantic artworks, art that seems exotic to you, or even the kinds of artworks you remember seeing when you were a kid.
If you’ve gotten this far, you’ve already achieved something great! Any ideas you can gather about the qualities you enjoy in artworks will make it much easier to find additional works you’ll likely love.
Going a little deeper
Once some patterns emerge, think about what qualities within them resonate with you. Notice how art affects you psychologically and emotionally. Try to identify the things that draw you in and the emotions you derive from them. However, I think that most people have more than one aesthetic they enjoy. Your taste doesn’t have to fit neatly into a single box, and it can definitely include contradictions. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers here. You can also think about what separates the artworks you prefer from those you’d rather skip. Are there any recurring themes?
Then, of course, you can start to ask yourself why all of that might be. This is where the self-discovery part comes in. It’s really subjective, so I encourage you to take it lightly. How does your taste in art relate to your personality, interests, or taste in things like books or movies? For example, if you are a cheerful person, is your favorite art also really sunny, or do you have a taste for something a little bit dark and mysterious? Perhaps you have a preference for art from countries you’ve visited or historical periods you find particularly interesting. Does your taste seem to vary based on your mood or other factors? (I think we all gravitate to different art when we feel troubled versus when we feel serene, for example.) On the other hand, don’t worry if you can’t draw clear parallels between your artistic preferences and other aspects of your life.
If you need some help connecting with the art you’re exploring, these posts can help:
Food for thought
- Which artworks would you consider your favorites? Which types of art do you most look forward to seeing or think the most about afterwards?
- What aesthetics or other qualities do your favorite artworks typically have in common?
- Does your taste in art have anything in common with your taste in things books, movies, TV, fashion, and design?
Featured image: Bartolomeo Vivarini, A Saint (Mark?) Reading (detail), c. 1470. Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Leave a Reply