I spent today’s afternoon happily strolling in Tacoma, Washington, USA. I have long fallen in love with Dale Chihuly’s sculpture in Downtown Vancouver when I was in high school, and didn’t know anything about this international glass artist.

Last year when I saw his stunning installation at Bellagio, Las Vegas, my jaw dropped to the floor. My favourite photograph of that ceiling installation has been my desktop wallpaper ever since. I also had an evening portrait session with the sculpture earlier this year.

When I was in the Tacoma Art Museum, I stepped into a delightful exhibition “The Secret Language of Animals.” Being an animal lover and an artist who constantly employ animals in her artworks, I was interested immediately. Little did I know that I would fall head over heel in love with a painting.

Richard Hart’s wall-size painting The Poetic Truth of High School Journal Keeper, 2009, hit me with such an impact that I was speechless. The elephant’s awkward and vulnerable position and enigmatic expressions were almost like black magic on me. I could not move my eyes away.

This intimate and powerful experience with another piece of art reminded me of the importance of seeing a piece of good art in person. I was able to devour the delicate brushstrokes and decipher the collage of the background. (Yes, those posters on the wall are collage.) If you enjoy art, don’t just sit in front of your computer and browse. It’s never the same when you encounter a piece of good art in person.

This isn’t even close to justifying the work. At least you know what I am referring to:  artthrob