With so much incredible art out there, it can be difficult to differentiate between art you like and art you love. Taste is such a personal thing, developed through individual lives and experiences. So, how do you cultivate your taste in art? Really, it’s up to you.
The good news is that there isn’t a right or wrong answer to this question. What constitutes good art and bad art is mostly subjective. Don’t worry if everyone around you is raving about an artwork, but you don’t connect with it in the same way they do. There isn’t a particular piece of art or an artist or even a style that you’re supposed to like.
When you’re developing your taste in art, you should always listen to yourself instead of other people–if you’re only engaging with art because the crowd is saying you should, you won’t have nearly as much fun as you will if you engage with art because you like it.
Cyclic Paradise by occulted on SuperRare
Think about it: what do you already like, and how do you know that you like it? If an artwork catches your eye, makes you pause and want to sit with it for a moment, you should listen to your intuition. Time is an important factor; take the time to experience the art and allow yourself to accept whatever feelings it evokes in you. If you like what is happening, you probably like that piece of art. Really, that’s all you need to start.
Over time, try to take it deeper. What are the elements you like about the artworks you feel drawn to? They don’t need to be connected to art history or academic studies of art–they just need to be things that you enjoy or appreciate. Are they tied to your interests, your life experiences, or just traits that produce specific feelings or sensations? When you identify these things, it will make it easier for you to seek out art, and you’ll be able to notice these elements in pieces of art that you may never have expected to enjoy.
Superpositions of Truth by Zak Krevitt on SuperRare
You don’t need to collect every artwork you like, and one of the revolutions that blockchain has enabled for art is that anyone can view an artwork at any time, even if they don’t own it. That said, collecting art is a great way to show the artist that you appreciate them and their work, and it allows them to continue to create by paying them for the time and labor they spend.
When it comes to buying art, always consider what is financially viable to you and whether or not you think you’d still be happy to own something far out into the future.