Patou Artist Blog

What makes an abstract painting so special? This is a question that people have been asking for a long time, just as we search for the meaning of life or the end of the rainbow. We do not have an answer for you today, nor will we next week. Abstract art is what it means to you and how it makes you feel, and it is special for each person in a different way.

Patou likens abstract painting to music without lyrics or a beautiful daydream—there is no anchor point in reality. Lyrical music tells you what to think, while a melody tells your heart to feel the music in all its emotional power. Everyday life often dictates that we follow linear trains of thought, while a daydream is free flowing and limitless, guided only by the imagination.

To either create or appreciate abstract art, you must let go of the reality around you and sink into yourself, focusing only on your feelings and the freedom you’re opening the door to. Disregard the image, because there is no image. Let in colors, lights and textures, and let them all mix together. You must feel with your heart, not think with your mind.

Patou says she likes to paint beauty with a capital B, and to always convey a message. The message is not political or religious, personal or philosophical—just simple: “Let go of everything and enjoy the moment.”

Try it. It’s easier than you think.

Last week we discussed spontaneous investments in art and art furnishings and the importance of trusting your instincts. On the other hand, we realize that for some of you, spontaneity is a word you may not be very comfortable with. We want you to know that’s OK; we have not forgotten you.

There are other ways to feel confident about purchasing art and art furnishings, so we’ve thought about our favorite and tidied it up into a mental checklist you can reference in any gallery or showroom. For every piece of art and art furnishing that piques your interest, try this:

1. Describe the very first impression the piece has on you. What words come to mind? There’s no right or wrong here -- just let the thoughts flow.
2. Describe the imagery of the piece. What exactly do you see? For example, to one person, a certain scene in a painting may look like a sunset, but to you, it may appear to be fire. Remember that you can often see emotions in art, just as you can hear them in music. Look for these, too.
3. Now, you can analyze. Break the piece down into elements and analyze them separately. Consider color -- do the colors in this work symbolize something? Consider forms -- are they life-like or abstract? Commonplace or fantastical? Consider balance, contrast, movement and rhythm -- how do these qualities stand alone? How do they influence each other or work together?
4. It’s time to interpret the piece. Based on your experiences and personality, what does this piece mean to you? What was the artist aiming to express? Why did they create this piece at all? The better you know an artist’s work and his or her “story,” the better you can understand and appreciate the meaning of each work.
5. Decision time! Think back briefly on your responses at each step: What’s your judgment?  Should you buy it? Will you?

With that, Patou sends you out into the artistic world to test out this checklist. You surely won’t buy every piece that catches your eye, but we trust you’ll truly love the one you do.

What happened to spontaneity? Lately, it seems that everyone is shouting the mantra “Think before you buy!” Sure, this method works if you’re buying a plasma television or a car. But, when purchasing art, you aren’t looking at printouts of technical specifications; there is something else at play that drives this investment.

Art is about feelings and emotions. When you lay eyes on that perfect painting or furnishing piece, something comes over you like a wave washing over the sand. It may be tranquility, contentment, passion or excitement. Art can even evoke our strongest feelings of love. Walk away, and the feeling recedes like the wave.

What if you don’t walk away? When you make that spontaneous purchase based solely on the feeling a piece evokes deep within you, you are bringing that emotion into your home forever. With every passing day that feeling grows stronger, more embedded in your lifestyle and more interlocked with the physical piece. Soon this piece of art becomes the emotion, and thus becomes a part of you. Even just one perfect piece expresses the real you for all to see.

In many families, artwork and art furnishings are passed down through generations, increasing their value but also strengthening the emotional ties attached to each piece. When you pass a piece down to your children or grandchildren, offer them a window to the feelings that make you you.

Patou wants you to remember that sometimes a little spontaneity is good for the soul. Your first instincts are most often right—trust them.

As a child, do you remember finger painting in the bathtub, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk or making little sculptures out of Play Dough? More importantly, do you remember how these small and simple acts made you feel? Most likely, you felt happy and relaxed and experienced a sense of freedom – the freedom of getting lost in your imagination. So, as an adult, what’s stopping you from reclaiming these feelings every day, particularly in these challenging and highly stressful times?

 

Through art, whether it’s sketching on your lunch hour, taking photographs at any given moment or writing a story, you will discover many benefits to your overall well-being. Not only will the regular practice of art enable you to express your creative side, it will also help you find the outlets that work for you to reduce stress, get in touch with your feelings, think clearer, and overall, establish balance in your life. And now, more than ever, it’s critical to implement positive, daily activities to overcome personal difficulties.

From soothing tension to discovering a new talent, art can offer the optimum escape, joy and self-awareness. Moreover, the process of creation can take you out of one state of mind and put you in a better one -- one that helps you manage your behavior, so you can find insight and focus and take on any challenge that presents itself.

Patou encourages you to take the time to find your creative form of expression, even if it’s as simple as looking at an art book, visiting a gallery or starting a new music collection.