You cannot do justice to artwork by viewing a picture of it –whether online or in print. Viewing a piece of art needs to be an experience. You need to take in the texture, the strokes, and the color palette that went into making the art piece what it is. Art gallery receptions are a perfect place to look at art in person.
Details demonstrate the work that went into a piece- and there are many individuals out there that exclaim they can replicate the piece of art if they had a brush and some paint- but can they? Viewing an artwork up close shows you the real challenges and intricacies of what a painting is- the same goes for other artistic methods regardless of style or medium. It also reveals the artist’s individual approach –meaning it shows you how it sets a particular artist apart from the rest of the artists you are looking at.
Noting details, such as the way they handle skin color, light and shadow, line, texture, and shape will immerse you in the artwork that much more.
You can see how lights and shadows aren’t simply made by adding more black or white paint. The examples shown in the post demonstrate how color is used to create light, shadow, contrast and other effects you wouldn’t normally think of.
In some ways, getting a look at an artwork’s details is like getting to see how the piece of art is made, at least partially. You can see the way the artist worked to get the effect you see in the completed artwork.
Looking at artwork up close can be an inspirational experience for both an artist and an artlover. Details are compelling reasons why an artwork should be taken home- it creates a creative relationship between you , the artwork and the artist. Artworks draw you in with their eye-catching overall look, but details draw you in further and they will inform you as to why you love the artwork. It’s kind of like finding out a secret.