How to Truly Experience Joy Through Art.

The Secret to Feeling More Through Art

Some of life’s greatest treasures aren’t found in things — they’re found in experiences that move us: a breathtaking view, a heartfelt connection, a song that stops us in our tracks.

Words like joy, awe, elation, adventure, and euphoria come close, but even they feel a little small for the sheer magic of those moments.

At its heart, art exists to ignite these experiences.
And when it’s great?
It doesn’t just make you feel good — it can launch you straight into that rare, shimmering place where you lose yourself completely...and find yourself at the same time.

"Joy is not in things; it is in us."
— Richard Wagner

Why Art Can Be Your Portal to Awe

Art doesn’t just decorate walls — it awakens souls.
It connects all your senses, inviting you into a moment of wonder so pure, it can feel almost like time itself presses pause.

And that feeling of awe?
It’s not just poetic — it's scientific. Studies show awe connects us to something bigger, making us more joyful, compassionate, and grateful.

"I was giddy like a child when I first learned to truly feel joy."
— Peter Ashworth

The tricky part?
Modern life is a master of distraction.
Our brains juggle a hundred things — deadlines, grocery lists, existential crises about whether we left the stove on — and it takes intention to get into the deep, joy-filled state where art can work its magic.

Good news: you're about to learn exactly how.

"A painting is not a picture of an experience, but is the experience."
— Mark Rothko

7 Ways to Fully Experience the Joy of Art

1. Be Fully Present

Art doesn’t ask much.
It just asks you to show up — like, really show up.

Not halfway-checking your phone.
Not mentally writing your to-do list.
Just you...and the art.

Think of it like a first date with wonder. Give it your full attention. Breathe. Let the world spin without you for a moment.

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift."
— Albert Einstein

2. Look Beyond the Surface

Sure, you could glance at a painting and say, “Nice colors.”
Or you could dive in.

Ask yourself:

• What emotions stir when you look deeper?
• What stories whisper beneath the brushstrokes?
• How does this piece bump up against your own memories and dreams?

Art isn’t just about what you see.
It’s about what you feel.

3. Engage All Your Senses

Art isn’t a passive thing.
It’s a multi-sensory love letter, and you're meant to read it with your whole body.

Notice the brushstrokes. Feel the textures.
Imagine the hum of color vibrating under your skin.
(Lick the paintings only if you're at home. Otherwise... maybe just imagine.)

If you're listening to music, don’t just hear it. Feel it ripple through your ribs.
Let art be a full-body experience.

4. Allow Yourself to Feel

Art isn’t just for galleries — it’s for your heart.
Let it crack you open a little.

If you feel wonder, nostalgia, happiness — or even something bittersweet — you’re doing it right.
If you feel nothing?
Maybe your grown-up brain needs a time-out.

Try seeing the art through the eyes of your younger self — the one who gasped at fireworks and cried over a crayon masterpiece.
That kid’s still in there. Trust them.

"Find the joy in everything you choose to do."
— Chuck Palahniuk

5. Ask Deeper Questions

Curiosity is your backstage pass to real connection.

Ask yourself:

• Why does this painting make me feel lighter?
• Why does this sculpture remind me of my grandmother’s kitchen?
• Why does this abstract piece somehow explain my entire love life?

There are no wrong answers. Only richer experiences.

6. Reflect on Your Experience

Let the art linger.
You don’t have to sprint to the next thing.

Sit with what you felt. Write about it.
Or just stare into space for a while, smiling like you know a secret the rest of the world forgot.
Because you do.

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are."
— Marianne Williamson

7. Embrace New Experiences

Art is like travel for your soul — and it’s way cheaper than a plane ticket.

Explore different genres. Chase down new artists. Go to off-the-path little galleries and giant exhibitions. Scroll through online collections (start with peterashworth.art, if I may or my Instagram @peterashworthart).

Ask people what they love (and what they don’t).
Remember: liking art isn’t a consensus vote.
Your joy is yours alone.

How to Feel Joy When Looking at Art

Joy doesn’t always announce itself with fireworks.
Sometimes it sneaks in — a soft warmth, a lifting of the heart.

Here’s how to make space for it:

• Find Art That Feels Like Home
  Explore until something stops you. Trust the pull.
• Focus on the Good Stuff
  Notice the colors that sing. The shapes that dance. The textures that breathe.
• Engage on a Personal Level
  Let the art connect to your own memories, dreams, adventures.
• Zoom Into the Details
  Magic often hides in the small places.
• Understand the Story
  Learn about the artist, the history, the "why" behind the work.
  Context deepens everything.

The Neuroscience of Feeling Joy

Here’s a nerdy truth that artists and scientists agree on:
Joy isn’t random. It’s chemistry, physics, and soul all tangled together.

When you experience joy, parts of your brain light up like Times Square:

• Prefrontal Cortex: Focus + positive emotions
• Basal Ganglia: Motivation + reward
• Amygdala: Emotion processor (not just fear — joy too!)
• Hippocampus: Memory maker, especially for positive moments
• Ventral Tegmental Area (VTA): Dopamine fireworks
• Nucleus Accumbens: The brain’s "pleasure center"
• Insula: Emotional self-awareness

Joy isn’t a luxury.
It’s hardwired into who we are — if we give it room to breathe.

In Conclusion: Art is Your Invitation to Joy

Slow down.
Be present.
Feel the brushstrokes inside your chest.
Smile at a sculpture.
Let a melody melt your walls.

Let art reintroduce you to the wonder you forgot you missed.

Because joy isn’t something we have to chase.
It’s already waiting for us — sometimes just a heartbeat away, behind a canvas, a color, a song.

About Peter Ashworth

Peter Ashworth is a Southern California impact artist whose mission is to awaken creativity, spark imagination, and inspire people to live their most joyful, adventurous lives.

Through bold color, iconic storytelling, and immersive design, Peter’s art invites viewers to feel more alive — to remember what it’s like to see the world with open eyes and an open heart.

He works across six powerful collections, each crafted to create transformational life-moments in homes, businesses, and personal spaces worldwide.

Peter is available for bespoke art commissions — for those who want more than just a painting...they want an experience.

Visit peterashworth.art | #peterashworthart | #greatbiglife