Hi Dwayne,
I was blessed with a great school experience and encouragement from the art teacher and then made it my mission to visit every museum I can get access to and see as much work as I can and try to engage myself in the work. So my viewing is not at all passive. Each time I go after a small book that tends to be printed with the exhibit and that's been a major source of my knowledge. In addition I read a lot on the development of ideas of beauty and of art itself and how it might function. I've travelled extensively, so everywhere there are museums and eventually one re-meets works that one has studied or seen in a visiting exhibit and it's like seeing old friends.
The other part of the story is that I'm, by background, an academic a scientist and a physician. So I'm interested in the nature of things and why they have life and power for us. I approach art that way. If it's effective and gets my attention for more than a fleeting moment, I want to know why and try if I can to recognize likely significant elements that might also apply to the experience of other folk when they are faced with the same work of art.
Asher
