Gallery hoppers on an art walk don’t need to know all of the art world jargon and buzzwords, but it is easy for newbies to try out a few of them. It’s hip to talk about artworks, especially the dreaded abstract paintings. And, asking for someone’s opinion is a great way to meet people at museums, art galleries, or while strolling through a statue garden.
Art Styles
Any newbie can baffle a less well-read neophyte, though the newbie should try to be cool about abstract art and never say, “What is this?” Also, though it’s normal (especially for guys) to try to find an object like a tree, a dog, or a naked lady in abstract art, don’t utter any of these observations out loud.
Here are some definitions:
- Abstract: “The artist either exaggerates or simplifies the form of the subject to attach emotion or meaning to it,” according to Mike"Birdman"Sexton. Total abstraction bears no trace of any reference to anything recognizable.
- Realist / Realism: The artist tries to make the subject look realistic. Once the camera had been invented, painters were free to explore abstractions and many abandoned realism.
- Impressionist / Impressionism: In the late 19th century, painters altered their brushstrokes to show how various outdoor lighting (early morning, overcast, shadows at noon) changed the look of the subject in a painting.
- Pop Art: Pop art makes a statement about modern culture by using everyday objects, like Andy Warhol's soup cans. Calling a painting “pop art” is usually a sneering putdown, unless one is referring to an actual Warhol.
- Surrealist / Surrealism: A surrealist makes objects look or act unnaturally, as in a dreamlike manner.
- Installation Art: Installations are three dimensional works designed to transform the perception of space. (It's usually a lot of big things in a room.)
Meet People at Museums or Galleries: Use Elements of Art to Talk About the Work
Composition: Composition is the arrangement of elements in a work of art. A good composition can make something more important (the focal point) than other parts of a painting. "I love how the whole composition brings your eye right to the dagger stabbing Saint Somebody in the heart."