Stop Explaining Your Art, Start Connecting

I've been contemplating the profound ways abstract art bridges the gap between individuals. It's not just about paint on canvas; it's about shared experiences, unspoken dialogues, and the beautiful vulnerability of expressing the inexpressible.

I want to share three simple yet powerful ways to build connection through your abstract work. By the way, these tips can be used in social media posts, artist talks, on your web site, and in show booklets.

1.Story of the art:

Share your creative journey, not just the finished piece. Reveal the emotions, inspirations, and challenges that shaped your work, inviting viewers to connect with the real you. Reveal the why behind your abstract choices.

Try this: For your next post, write a little bit about how creating your art makes you feel. Use words that paint a picture, and go beyond the obvious. It it makes you happy, tell how & why... Creating art is play, a joyful escape back to childhood.

2. Invitation to interpret:

Embrace abstract art's open nature. Instead of dictating meaning, invite audience interpretations with open-ended questions like, What feelings does this evoke? or What story do you see? Encourage dialogue in comments, galleries, and newsletters.

Try this: Post a new piece with a question in the caption that invites connection on a personal level, such as, If this painting were a memory, what would it be?

3. Color with Feeling:

Create a 'color emotion guide' for your artwork, showing swatches of color and their associated feelings. Post it alongside your art.

Try this: Invite your audience to share their interpretations: I chose grays for contemplation and pinks for tenderness. What emotions do you see in these colors?

If you take away one thing, it’s this…

Connection isn't about creating universally understood images. It's about creating a space for authentic expression and shared experience. Through the stories we tell, the collaborations we foster, and the interpretations we invite, we can build bridges between hearts and minds.

Let your art be a catalyst for meaningful conversations.

Let's connect,

Beverly Todd

P.S. What the most surprising interpretation someone has had of your art? Click Let's Talk and share.

P.P.S. I'm excited to see what you come up with! Tag me in your posts so I don't miss a thing! @BToddArts