My Personal Aesthetic

and why i care about it

You have probably heard the word “aesthetic” multiple times from different industries. Commonly, it is a branch of philosophy concerned with nature and appreciation of art, beauty, and good taste. Some believe aesthetics is a form of art philosophy, which is the study of the nature of art. In my world, I see aesthetics as the pleasure we feel or how our brains interrupt something beautiful to us. This is referred to as aesthetic judgment. This practice of sensory contemplation or appreciation of an object can be for any object, of any subject, not just art. For example, maybe you have a pair of earrings that you wear everyday because when you first saw them you were enamored by their design and beauty. Something about them “sparked that joy” inside and you wear them as a way to visually express yourself and your style. We all have our own aesthetics and judgments that determine the clothes we wear, the items we display in our homes, and the everyday objects we buy. I see individual aesthetics as a form of self-expression. I believe having our own aesthetics is important; it allows us to engage with objects that bring pleasure into our lives and keeps others from telling us what we need to like or buy to be happy.

lets get personal

I have spent some time shaping and understanding my own personal aesthetic. I mostly apply it to my way of life (for example fashion, design, household objects, products I buy, etc.), but I also use it to guide my work. It lets me define for someone what is unique about my work, my voice, and why I value it. However, I am learning to not let my aesthetics define my artwork too much. I have been challenging myself to push the boundaries of my creativity, but I do see it slip into my process from time to time.

Like our tastes and preferences, our aesthetics can change and evolve over time. For my purposes I narrowed down my aesthetic to three words that I use as my guidelines. My personal aesthetics go much deeper than these words, but I myself am still exploring those depths. So for now, I will share with you my three words and what they mean to me.

Natural

I think we as humans forget how important nature is to us. The fact is that we are a part of nature, and we feel better when we surround ourselves with things that relate to nature. I love nature as much as I can without being too outdoorsy. You won’t find me spending my free time camping and sleeping on the ground in the middle of the forest. But I am definitely a green space dweller; meandering through parks, maintaining my garden, and admiring landscapes and trees. It is proven that spending time with Nature boosts your mood, reduces stress, and even improves your self esteem and confidence; all things I need in my life. I am mindful of how I can bring more nature into my life to have those benefits. Through everyday products and art, nature can and should be everywhere.

Modern

The word “Modern” is used interchangeably. It is both a term used to define something of present time, and is an era of a design movement, specifically 1930-1970s in America. I use them both! I tend to be interested in designs and things happening now. Not to say I am trendy or don’t use the past for inspiration, but I like to stay in the moment of now. At the same time, I am also influenced by the Modern Design movement. I personally love Art Deco, California Modernism, and Mid Century. While studying abroad in Copenhagen, I became captivated by Modern Danish Design, specifically the work of Hans Wagner, Arne Jacobson, and Finn Juhl. What draws me to this particular era is the emphasis on function and simplicity in all things design. I believe that all design should have a purpose and function, it is a basic characteristic which makes it timeless.

Simple

“Less is more” is a popular motto adopted by a Modern architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, that he used to define his aesthetic. While fashion icon Iris Apfel, whom I also love, may roll her eyes at this motto and put on more jewelry to protest, I tend to agree with Ludwig. I prefer simple. Simple fashion, simple objects, simple design, simple life, and simple foods (to an extent). I tend to not wear a lot of jewelry, I tend to buy clothes of similar hues with very simple patterns or none at all, and I prefer furniture and objects with less decoration. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy the extravagant from time to time, but when it comes to my life and what I surround myself with I go simple. I feel when something is well made and simple, you have something special. Simplicity allows me to enjoy some of the pure things in life. But where I lack in embellishment, I splurge on quality. My favorite example is that I tell people I have a “vanilla” personality, which some may see as unexciting or safe. But to me, I would much rather have a single scoop cone of the best vanilla ice cream made of the finest ingredients around than whatever crazy seasonal concoction they are serving at Salt and Straw (unless there is chocolate involved!).

thanks for sticking around this far!

I hope by sharing my aesthetic, you have a better understanding of me and my work. Like I mentioned previously, aesthetics are personal. Your aesthetics may not match mine, and that is fine! We don’t all want the same things in life. But I do hope that by sharing mine, it has given you a chance to reflect on values and principles that make up your own personal aesthetic so you can create a life filled with things that bring you happiness.