What people are saying about Touching The Art!

San Francisco Book Review (December 2011)
5 out of 5 stars

Has it ever occurred to you that you might not be making the most of your museum visits? Oftentimes, 
visitors find themselves aimlessly shuffling from one wing to the next, staring at numerous works, reading the attached informational plaques, then moving on. You’re seeing the art but not experiencing it. You might 
as well be staring a postcard of the work for all the good this visit is doing you. 

Thankfully, Luc Travers has a solution to your quandary in Touching the Art, his guidebook for igniting (or re-igniting) your interest in our artistic treasures. His handbook hopes to marry a critical eye and observational skills with a resurgent passion for interacting with great art, and his enthusiasm for the subject is obvious. 

Some of the exercises are quite similar to those from a composition course I took in college, and I found them just as effective here. Travers encourages the reader to not just look at the art, but to study it, to put oneself in the place of the artist or the characters, and to really delve into the purpose of the piece. What was it about this particular scene, this person, this location, that the artist deemed so necessary to express? 

Travers’ advice is well supported by the high-quality reproductions of example works in the book -- the photo paper offers wonderful depth and liveliness of color -- which allow the reader to practice the author’s techniques and suggestions as they read. Touching the Art is a testament to how important our artistic past is, and how we can better share in its gifts. What a marvelous read. (Note: The author is not responsible for any art actually touched during the exploration of your burgeoning sense of artistic appreciation. So don’t try to 
blame it on him.)

Reviewed by Glenn Dallas

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Praise for the book:

"If the ideas of this book took hold in the culture like they took hold in me, this book would not just change my life--it would change the world." (Read the entire review!) –Lisa VanDamme

"I cannot recommend highly enough Luc Travers's book Touching The Art. For 15 years I've puzzled over the question: What are you supposed to *do* with your mind, in order to powerfully experience and truly appreciate great art? Finally someone provides the answers!" –Rob Tarr

"Following your method has allowed me to gain a new appreciation for visual art that I never had before.  I am a classical musican and have always appreciated and had extremely strong emotional reactions to music.  However, visual art had always just been "nice" or "good," but never "transcendent" or "emotionaly stirring." I absolutely feel as if a new world has opened up to me in using your methods." –Beth L.

"This book is both emotionally moving and deeply conceptual; intelligently written, concise, easily absorbed in an afternoon's read, yet affecting so many aspects of art and life that it will take years to fully apply. Wonderful for anyone who wants to enjoy art more or who seeks ways to motivate others to do so. The artworks discussed, all of which were unfamiliar to me, not only suit the purposes of the text but are moving, realistic romantic works that I am glad to know. Thank you, Mr. Travers!" –Molly J.

"This book is amazing! I will never look at a painting or sculpture the same way. I had no idea that a work of art could be experienced in such a moving and personal way." –Jason M.

"I just want to say again how much I enjoyed it all - I've learned a great deal from your approach to art appreciation and I've been enjoying visual art my whole life as it was." –Ifat Glassman

"I just finished reading your book during a much-needed packing break. It was wonderful—I loved it!! Your methods make so much sense, and I liked the “voice” you wrote it in—it’s very natural and unpretentious, making it a very enjoyable, accessible read." –Linda McWilliams

"This is a short book that provides a powerful and personal way for adults and students to experience art. Teachers will find it a useful approach for introducing more art into their lessons and students will enjoy the process. It is not necessary to go to the museum either." –Ashley K.

"The book gave me a new motivation for seeking out artworks." –Henry S.

"It was wonderful!! I really loved how you explained everything so well.  I can't wait to visit another museum." –Cathy Peyton

"Too often, I've had the experience of going to a museum only to be bored out of my mind for several hours. It got to the point where I was no longer even interested in the chance to see beautiful art, I just didn't care. After reading Mr. Travers's book, I was able to actually experience an artwork. I realized that in the past I'd been bored because I wasn't able to put myself into the world of the artwork. I would never try to go to a movie only to look at it for a few minutes and ignore the dialogue. Mr. Travers's book helps equip you with the tools needed to experience visual arts with the same reality that you get from seeing a play, or reading a great book." –Alex Hrin

"I enjoyed reading your book, and I enjoyed considering how I would become an active and engaged viewer as you suggest.  What your book made me realize is that active viewing (taking the position of not only the mind, but the body, of a character) is a way of entering the artistic universe. You put your whole heart and mind and body into it! –Shoshana Milgram, Ph.D., Literature Professor at Virginia Tech

Praise for the tours:

"I feel like I just came out of a movie theatre; like I just finished watching Braveheart." –Eric Khrom  (right after a tour)

 “I've enjoyed many lectures on painting and sculpture, but none of these inspired me as much as your 2007 high-speed tour of the MFA. For me (and I'm over 50), that tour made art visceral for the first time.” –Eric Kalin

"Touching the Art was one of the most enlightening things I've ever done. I recommend it highly." –Joseph Zoch

"I came home with three distinct stories that day - three stories that I vividly remember and feel - instead of a mishmash of contextless images.  It was a great experience, and I am definitely going to use these new tools to improve my enjoyment of art!" –Jessica Stone

"The tour was very enjoyable. I especially appreciated the fact that the discussions centered on subjects, themes and emotions, etc., rather than minutia about artistic technique or the biographies of the artists." –David Maltby

"The reading of the artwork, as you present it, helps to make the transition from the initial emotional response to a piece of work to the understanding of why that response was elicited. I really enjoyed that!" –Farhana Bandukwala

Your presentation taught me a method that will allow me to obtain more spiritual motivation from painting and sculpture. Up until your presentation, I thought I could only obtain this kind of fuel from music and fiction.  I will likely visit the museum more frequently, probably in the place of going out to the movies. –Dean Kriegel