Chasing Fireflies

Even the seemingly tiniest of details can contain an infinite world

of depth. (Source: http://photos8.org)

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Sometimes, people claim that analysis of certain works becomes “too deep,” that the author does not intend the work to have so much content derived from it, and that the viewer shouldn't either. I disagree.
As I explained in my "Drops of Jupiter" post, if you find a meaning that resonates in you, that's important. As an illustrator myself, I understand that art is an extremely personal matter. The artist creates the work from his or her own emotions and intellectual expertise but, in my opinion, the work doesn't “live” until the moment it is experienced by someone's senses.
Every person who looks at the work brings it alive, like a magic carpet slowly lifting its soft corners into the air. You breathe life into it. Keep in mind that you are a work of art that is being sculpted by your new experiences. Every person has a thousand important concepts in his or her mind that collide with this work. Fireworks explode!
David Bowie (yes, you heard me right), the famous avant garde rocker, has many quotes on the depth process which clarify my thoughts for you in this post:

"It's the union between the user and the art that creates and finishes the art."

The magic carpet lifts you up and away.

Okay, time for some of my cute personal stories. If you don't know, I'm a huge, huge, huge Sherlock BBC fan! (As in, I've watched every episode too many times and I like anonymously scouting Tumblr for pretty gifsets; basically, standard fan obsession, haha.) Anyway, some of my favorite YouTube phenomena are well-crafted fanmade videos, or FMVs, as they're called. (The artist splices clips from the show with music that suits the mood he or she is trying to portray. They're amateur music videos.) They have the potential to be witty and very, very pretty.
A while ago, I found a Sherlock FMV that was professionally edited and evocative. The placement of visual action mixed with audio bits was perfect; the emotional highs and lows of the song were so well brought out. So, I decided to venture onto the wild, harsh terrain of the world of YouTube comments. (Normally, I avoid this like the plague, but as you can tell, I was very inspired!)
I explained my conceptual understanding of the work. The creator thanked me but modestly claimed that I was finding unintentional depth like an English teacher! I was a bit surprised. I had been absolutely sure that the artist had been aware of the details in her creative choices.
This got me thinking. I know I can interpret emotions well. I had no doubt in my critical opinion of the work and I knew I could easily articulate my thoughts. I realized that perhaps this was the essence of the issue... Many artists create with their intuition and physical senses mostly: they “feel” their way through a piece. David Bowie spoke well on this subject:

“There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It's always been my way of expressing what for me is inexpressible by any other means.”

I've had the pleasure of gazing upon some beautiful works the past few years, but I often witness the creators having difficulties explaining the meaning. That certainly doesn't mean the depth isn't there. It means the words are evading the mouth, but they're flittering somewhere in the subconscious.
I now know I have a talent for capturing these elusive verbal fireflies. It made art history so fun! When I look at a piece, I experience the feelings of the characters as if I were them. (Appreciating art is a fundamentally empathic process, you see.) When I paint, I can break down my work flow into several different themes, combining intuitive, sensing, and theoretical. Being a painter, I have a hands-on approach in the creative process that helps me understand art theory and criticism through personal experience.
I believe that art history class and art interpretation shouldn't be a chore. Each artist was an emotional individual with a voice, just like you. When I look at an artist's portfolio, I synthesize the emotional information. Over time, I begin to understand the person's strengths, weaknesses, interests, etc. Some might demean my passion by calling it "hippie psychology," but I have worked on my intuitive skills and techniques for years already. I have found success in interpreting the artistic actions and tastes of people as reflections of their deeper character. I am not a self-proclaimed Magic Cleo, advertising a phony pay-per-call psychic hotline. I am simply reaping the multiple benefits of artistic and psychological analysis.
Whether you're an art buff or just browsing through this site, I believe that grasping these stories incites a domino effect. Art does not end when you finish looking at it. It lives on, in your actions. Again, Bowie's words:

"I wanted to prove the sustaining power of music."

If you become passionate about a work of art, it reflects you. It is not just a magic carpet that takes you on thrill rides. It becomes a mirror.