“Your work makes me think there are rewards for looking longer.” Months ago I received this compliment from a viewer at Waterstone Gallery. It has stuck with me, and I think it ties travel and viewing art together. Since I’ve recently returned from a painting trip to San Miguel de Allende, please indulge me with a few photos and notes.

One reason this comment has stuck with me is that I’ve recently read articles from the New York Times and the Tate Modern gallery about ‘slow looking’ or extended attention. I’ve taken the challenge to view artworks for an extended time period, and found it challenging and illuminating. Find the challenges here and here.

DeleteGallery sitting also gives me a new perspective on art. When people walk in to the gallery, their demeanor often changes. Their movements slow, their gaze is constant and often hones in on one or two artworks. It’s hard to predict what might draw their eyes, but one thing is certain: a gallery is a space where it’s not rude to stare!

In our fast-paced and capitalistic society viewers often ask “How long does it take to make a typical work?” While there isn’t a consistent answer, I might counter with the question “How long would you spend looking at a piece like this?” I think most artists feel slighted when their work is reduced to the hours it took to create. It’s impossible to calculate how long a piece took, because years of prior experience are also at play.

How to ease a cluttered mind Deleted:

Looking longer at artwork can have the same effect on a cluttered mind as creating the work. The mind processes visual imagery 60,000 times faster than we process words. Why do we spend so much time enjoying and consuming artwork?

When we take our time an extend our viewing we may find a deeper appreciation for an artwork. We might find more details and subtleties that wren’t apparent at first glance.

Our emotions might awaken, we might start to sense symbolism, connections, interpretations and technical prowess that wasn’t our first consideration when viewing the piece. The work might inspire relaxation, calm or self-reflection

 DeletedSlow travel is looking longer

In a similar way, slow travel can help us appreciate another culture more deeply. On our recent trip to San Miguel, my class spent each morning exploring different facets of the city; from murals to botanical gardens, cathedrals to wineries.

On most of our excursions we did not paint – but simply sketched and photographed, looking for color inspiration wherever we went. And boy, did we find it!

The place is alive with culture, beautiful food, textiles, flowers and art. Trying to synthesize all we saw and capture the experience in paint really made us slow down and appreciate everything we encountered. Staying in one city for the entire 10-day trip really helped us get a better picture of the place and absorb all the inspiration available.

Please enjoy the photos and click to enlarge. If you’ve never been to this part of Mexico, you’ll see it’s a world unto its own. I had a hard time limiting myself to this small gallery.

Leave me a comment. What’s your favorite thing about slow looking or looking longer? Do you prefer fast-paced travel, or deep immersion? What kind of art inspires you to view for longer periods?