Great Escape: Art Appreciation 101

A few weekends ago I had the honor of helping my friend Liza promote her art at the Altanta Baby and Child Expo.  In addition to children’s murals, she plaster casts a pregnant mom’s belly and then adds texture and custom painting to create a piece of art that is totally unique. 

What I discovered as I helped promote her craft, is that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.  Meaning, moms either saw the beauty in a one-of-a-kind art piece or simply did not.  But beheld or not, what they all appreciated was the splendid detail and emotion in the art.

Honestly, I admit I did not fully understand her art until that day.  I had not taken the time to feel the intricate textures, read the messages or learn about why the moms chose different themes.  During motherhood, my friend had found a new way to express her art and emotions and I was mistakenly too busy to appreciate it.

As moms, our trips out without kids often include the grocery store, Target, maybe Kohl’s or HomeGoods.  When was the last time we chose to go to an art gallery?  I would venture to say that when we decided that art galleries no longer fit into our busy schedules, so did our acknowledgement of some of our own personal talents.  And perhaps even worse, creative ways to express our emotions.

Take an art  break and maybe get a creative jump start from these local galleries: Cobble Creek Studios (Snellville), Framing Artistry (Lilburn), Roberts Lowe Studios (Lawrenceville), Hudgens Art Center (Duluth), The Seen Gallery (Decatur), and of course The High Museum in Atlanta.

I hope you rediscover art. Beyond simply looking at new art (like I once did), you may just find that you are not only impressed, but inspired.  To check out Liza's belly art, click here.