Art: Become Confident Fast

by Aron Kuehnemann

This book is for people who appreciate art but aren’t part of the “art world,” who sense that art is closely tied with humankind’s uniqueness, and yet still might find themselves bored, impatient, or feeling like they can get more from museums, galleries and other art experiences. Becoming confident fast means two 1. Establishing your own view about the big What is art? Why does art matter? Why do artists address the topics they choose? 2. Having a practical method to quickly diagnose even the most obscure medieval or contemporary artworks. For three years, Aron Kuehnemann has shared original artworks with members of a San Francisco art network, The Art Circuit. Early on, he realized that most people, himself certainly included, felt less comfortable with visual art than other cultural pursuits, such as music, TV, movies, or books. He was puzzled by the large gap between the ease of looking at everyday images and the struggle of interpreting art images. He found books that addressed art history or formal theory, but nothing meant to quickly survey the key topics in visual art and help people better enjoy those moments. This book is an attempt to start those conversations.

300 pages, Paperback

Published September 14, 2017

Reviews

[Kat Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever stood before a work of art at a museum and wondered how it got there? Why are blocks of color on a canvas separated by heavy dark lines important? How is it that squiggly lines on a large canvas is considered art? What makes Andy Warhol’s Campbell’s soup cans art? Do you, as is the average, spend 13 seconds looking at famous works of art? Or even less? Do you feel uncomfortable in museums because you’re not really sure how to view art or what you should be viewing? It’s a fair guess that most of us at times have felt this way. This is a book that attempts to give the average person the tools needed to develop an understanding of art through its history and important themes so that its viewing becomes more enjoyable and its meaning more attainable.

This isn’t your average art appreciation book. Kuehnemann delves into many aspects of art — social, philosophical, material to name a few. It is well-written and easy to comprehend. I found it immensely enlightening. Obviously, this is a book based on his own love of art, but also his intense desire to share what he has learned about the sheer joy of truly appreciating a work of art. If you’ve ever wished you knew more about the art world, this book will be a tremendous resource. If you’ve ever felt at a loss in an art museum, he has valuable suggestions about how to view art in a meaningful way. His premise is simple, to appreciate art more fully, one should have knowledge of what they are viewing. Something to look for as they’re viewing, so as to focus the mind in order to get the best experience possible. One of my favorite concepts was the idea of flow. “When we combine focus, presence, and intrinsic motivation, our lives improve.” He goes on to discuss the philosophy behind this as it pertains to art, but basically, just as athletes get into a “flow” and perform well, it is after hours of practice where their muscles are trained. So must we reach a foundational understanding of art to reach a flow while viewing it. To lose ourselves in front of a work of art so that we lose touch with all abstractions and for a length of time get lost in the flow of that work. That is just my simplification of one of the many jewels in this book.

If you’re looking for a great resource for art history and real, practical suggestions of how to better appreciate art, this is a great choice. I found myself re-reading sections and highlighting many for future reference. There’s good information about contemporary movements and explanations of art movements through history. Definitely a worthwhile resource book for anyone interested in art, or just wanting increase the enjoyment of their next visit to a museum.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aron Kuehnemann’s “Art: Become Confident Fast” is an informed, yet accessible, book for those who are art lovers but not necessarily creators themselves. It speeds through many different schools of thought in order to provide the reader with the tools to engage with art with more confidence, working to facilitate a deeper appreciation for even the most abstract of pieces, and sharing the author’s obvious passion for art appreciation.

On of the biggest strengths in this book is the way that the author’s enthusiasm shines through in his writing. He does delve into rather lofty and complex subjects, at times drawing in ideas from philosophy, psychology, and biology, but his writing voice makes it easier to understand and appreciate. It is obvious that the author has thought about the questions of art - why we want it, what influences our appreciation, how do we engage - for a long time, building an understanding of the field by drawing information from a wide range of sources. His ruminations leave the reader feeling more informed and definitely made me feel like I needed to visit a museum soon!

The only slight issue I had with this text was the structure. Kuehnemann does explain some of his reasons for ordering the book the way he does and, whilst I may have expected the more familiar art history section to appear earlier, I can appreciate the overall order of the sections. There were moments, however, within a number of sections where it would describe a subject in some depth, then move to a vaguely linked train of thought that felt like a new section, before reverting back to delve deeper into the original subject. Though I can see how these different subjects interlink, it did mean that there were a number of moments where I felt lost and confused in a book that otherwise makes the artworld a more accessible place. Also, if I was nitpicking, I would say that there is an element of eurocentrism to the text but Kuehnemann does somewhat work to incorporate a more global perspective.

Art is inherently subjective but Kuehnemann’s book, “Art: Become Confident Fast”, works to provide the reader with tools to fuel their appreciation for the sculptures they may see in museums, the pictures they may have in their homes, or even the graffiti they may see on the streets. Definitely a good book for anyone with an interest in art.

[Tricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is informative, however I think only to a point. The author explains things a bit too simply, as if for someone in middle school, or for someone who has never taken any sort of art/history class in high school or college, although perhaps those are the type of people who would buy this book. For all its simplicity though, the author tries to cram too much information into the book without selecting a subject to focus on. He goes on about history, philosophy, and art, and even science all crammed together in one book. The author would have done better to siphon off the different topics and create a series of books, with volumes on art history, philosophy, and neuroscience, as well the role of art in today’s society etc. I do like that he included some history, incorporating some facts that I didn’t know, dispelling some myths about Napoleon, as well as some new info about Hitler, that I wasn’t aware of, but some of it seems a bit obvious, unless maybe you have never taken any sort of art class ever, including spending way too much time on different art materials, and paints, even talking about cotton and linen. There are some nice color pictures/illustrations, but many of the charts and graphs peppered throughout the volume seem a bit too simplistic, even though this book seems like it could double as a textbook for some sort of class, though I’m not sure which one, given how obvious much of this info is, although quotes from well-known personalities are used to great effect. Although the author has a light-hearted tone, he rather sucks all the fun and instinctual feeling one could cultivate about art, rather reminding me of Robin Williams’ first English class in the movie Dead Poets Society, where he has the students rip out their textbook’s introduction, which suggests analyzing poems using a graph. As simplistic as this book is, reading it might give you pause to consider the art in a museum or public space in a new way (for example he makes points about toilets as art/modern art, that had not occurred to me before), and even ask different questions about what you see.

[Anita Lock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art is one of those creative entities that is problematic to define and often misunderstood. In the last three years, author Aron Kuehnemann has been feverishly attempting to change this crippling art mindset through his San-Francisco-based network The Art Circuit. His claim, stressing the importance of art in our lives, is merely this: “Without art, we’d struggle to forge common understandings of historical and moral concepts, and we’d lack tools to evaluate our lives.” Whether or not people consciously contemplate the effects of art, the fact remains that since we are always surrounded by art in one form or other, it has and continues to influence every one of us in many poignant ways.

Kuehnemann takes the bull by its horns to provide readers—most specifically those not involved in the art world—well-researched primer in defense of the visual arts and its critical place in the world. Kuehnemann divides his engaging philosophical yet down-to-earth narrative into three sections, which addresses a host of questions—the why, what, how, where, when, and who—about art. Through this questioning process, Kuehnemann takes his audience on a captivating journey to discover intentional ways for people to explore art. His methodology begins, first and foremost, by closing chapter sections with thought-provoking questions. Amid their pondering, Kuehnemann’s audience is then lead to detailed aspects of art and how to expertly apply these features when viewing various works of art. At the book’s closure, readers will be grounded with the tools to efficiently and expeditiously enjoy visual arts in ways they never dreamed possible.

[Heather McNamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems almost a given that when people go to art museums or art shows, they find themselves hopelessly lost, completely unable to make heads or tails of the works of art in front of them. Yet countless newbies would love to be able to truly understand and discuss what makes a piece of art great. In this book, author Aron Kuehnemann proposes to help would-be art lovers do just that. Kuehnemann pulls from a grab bag of sources as diverse as art history, philosophy, and neuroscience to help readers learn to pull apart an artwork, analyze it from top to bottom, and which questions to ask in order to truly know how to discuss art. With sophisticated writing, detailed research, and an enthusiasm that seeps through the page, Kuehnemann gently guides readers towards increased assurance in their ability to interpret art and defend their opinions. Although it is aimed at a general audience, art history professors might find it beneficial to assign this book to their students as part of their reading. This book is not designed to be read in a single sitting, but taken section by section, it will arm readers with the knowledge they need to become confident in their appreciation of great art.

[Mark Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aron Kuehnemann’s Art: Become Confident Fast is a great book for those looking to move from the intermediate to mastery level. For those who are just starting out, well, you’ll easily get intimidated by the book. The book’s title is a little misleading. It screams “learn art confidently,” but the book isn’t for beginners. Novice artists may purchase the book thinking they can brush up on their skills. They can, but it will be difficult.

Just because the book isn’t for novices doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. Kuehnemann requires readers to dig deeper and learn the true meaning of their art. He brings philosophy and psychology into the creative arts. He poses questions throughout the book that asks readers to look beyond their creations and take a closer look at themselves.

I recommend this book for those who are looking to add a bit of themselves to their art. Don’t be fooled by the title; beginners should stick to in-class experiences and hone their skills before diving into the philosophy and psychology of art.

[Yvonne Glasgow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like an art history and art philosophy course all jammed into one book, 'Art: Become Confident Fast' isn't a book for beginners. If you don't have some knowledge of art history and the purpose of art you might get lost in the pages. That's not to say that this isn't a great guide into the world of art though. In fact, it's crammed full of tons of info.

What I liked most about this collection of all the things people with a passion for art might want to know are the questions posed throughout. They are questions meant to help you think about art and learn your own feelings about this way of creativity. These questions are probably the most important part of this text; they get you thinking about art and what it is to you. Want to be an art expert or art critic? This book will help you. Just want to see art differently? It can help with that too.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art: Become Confident Fast is a terrific guide to understanding art of many kinds, from political, historical, and social perspectives. A basic level of understanding and interest would be very beneficial to begin with before picking up this book, as one or two of its finer points might be lost on the average museum-goer.

The only frustration that I had with the book is that it feels, at times, as though the author may be trying to impose too strict a system of appreciation on pieces of art that are ,by nature, subjective, and the book often plays down elements of personal response, which can be crucial to inspiring interest and appreciation. However, it is a very useful tool overall for learning a little about how best to appreciate pieces of art, and why they deserve to be appreciated - going far beyond simply their aesthetic value.

[Michael Lesniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who wants to get confident about art. It achieved its promise resoundingly. You will find you are more knowledgeable than you imagined, and Aron’s book will help you thread those pieces of information together into a perspective on Art. Although I always tried to be the person at the museum contemplating works far longer than a few seconds, after reading this I am prepared with a more coherent understanding of art and confidence to reflect and discuss my experience. I am eagerly anticipating my next visit to the museum. I would give this 5 stars, but I prefer to save the last star for the next edition.

[Donna Milley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a writer my connection to art should be obvious, but what I like about this book is that it is honest about how Americans today want to be considered an enthusiast without the knowledge or time spent studying it. This book discusses why art is important and how the art in a society depicts its morals as well as the different ways we define what it actually is.

[Gomesh Karnchanapayap · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

This book is a very fun and informative read suitable for artists, art collectors, curators, and those interested in Art.