Adding Deeper Meaning to Your Art: A Guide for Artists

Adding Deeper Meaning to Your Art: A Guide for Artists

'Art is not about art. Art is about life, and that sums it up.'—Louise Bourgeois

Art can convey emotions, recount stories and inspire questions. For many artists, creating art provides an opportunity to share a personal statement or meaning. In this blog post, we'll highlight some techniques artists use to add depth and significance to their work and some questions artists can consider to help articulate the meaning behind their work.

1. Using Colour to Evoke Emotion

Colour can evoke emotions, set the tone, and communicate ideas. Consider your colour palette, do the colours have a symbolic meaning? How do the shades you've selected can help your audience feel a certain way, or enforce an idea. Think about using contrast to create atmosphere, drama and tension. Read more about colour theory on The Vault Zine. Below, Anguish by August Friedrich Albrecht Schenck.

2. Incorporating Symbolism into Art

Incorporating symbolism can add layers of meaning to your work and invite viewers to engage more deeply. Consider whether you prefer subtly using symbolism and creating a piece that is open to interpretation or employing an obvious example in your composition. Visit The Vault Zine to learn about many types of symbolism - from contemporary tattoos to historical still life paintings and animal and plant motifs. Below, Vanitas Still-Life by Harmen Steenwijck. 

3. Using Lighting and Perspective to Evoke Emotions

Lighting and perspective are powerful tools that can significantly influence the mood and emotional impact of your artwork, for example, a close-up perspective can intensify emotions, while a distant or panoramic view may evoke a sense of contemplation or awe. Read more about perspective on The Vault Zine! Below, Worn Out by H. A. Brendekilde.

4. The Personal and the Universal in Art

The quote, "Art is taking the personal and turning it around in such a way so that it reveals the universal," by Australian artist Lynette Wallworth, suggests that artists can use their personal experiences, emotions, and stories and transform them into works that resonate with a broader audience. Art that explores personal experiences and feelings can resonate with viewers who can relate which makes them feel understood. While art may originate from a personal place, it can speak to universal themes like love, loss, identity, and the human condition, allowing it to transcend individual experiences. Creating deeply personal art requires vulnerability, but it can lead to more authentic and emotionally resonant work that connects with people on a profound level. Below, La Mélancolie by Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée.

How Can An Artist Add Meaning to Their Work?

Here's a series of thought-provoking questions that artists can ask themselves when considering the meaning behind their work. They are intended to help you articulate your intention and guide you to create work that engages the viewer visually and resonates with them on a more emotional level.

• What Emotion or Mood do you want to Evoke?

Consider the primary emotion or mood you aim to evoke in the viewer How can elements, like the colour, symbols, perspective and focal point of your work contribute to this feeling? 

• Sharing your Motivation; is there a Narrative in the Artwork?

Art often tells a story or suggests one. Reflect on the experiences, thoughts, or beliefs that inspired this artwork. Is there a narrative unfolding in your composition, and can you enhance it?

• Cultural or Historical References

Consider if your work references specific cultural or historical contexts. How do these references enrich the viewer's understanding and connection to the piece?

• Creating with Emotional Intent

Think about the emotional journey you went through during the creation process. How did your emotions influence the choices you made in your composition?

• Identify the Message or Statement you want to Convey

Summarise the main message or statement you want your artwork to communicate. Writing this down can help you refine the idea; it may evolve as you create the piece. 

Isle of Death by Arnold Böcklin

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