The Power of Emotion
By Christine Obers
Before beginning a painting, I consider the feeling. What is the emotion I want to convey?
For over three decades, my days were spent creating visual art to sell products. Two seconds is all you have in a world full of distractions. My visual had to capture a person’s attention and convey a message that stirred an emotional response. This response prompted a desire, (or a “want”), then an action to purchase.
Our society loves fulfilling our “wants”. We are fortunate enough to have most of our basic “needs” already met. There’s a big difference between “Want” and “Need”. “Want” has a strong emotional pull – it’s irrational. “Need” does not have the same pull – it’s logical. The crazy thing is when faced with a decision, most people are inclined to favor a “want” over a “need”. That’s the power of emotion.
While it’s been some time since I was in advertising, there are aspects that apply to my artwork today. I want my artwork to stand out. How can I portray something familiar in an unexpected way? Is there a compelling message or a story I can tell? The beauty of art is how it can connect, in a timeless way to others.
The works of master artists have an emotional pull. They go straight to the core of who we are. A joyful feeling of surprise and delight is felt in Wayne Thiebaud’s cakes and pastries. Banksy’s murals have a shocking, uncomfortable feeling. “The Potato Eaters” by Van Gogh have a raw feeling of gloom, and hopelessness. Vermeer’s work “The Letter” has a sense of mystery that sparks our curiosity.
Pastel is a wonderful medium for portraying subtleties. Whether it’s a portrait, a landscape or still life, I want to freeze the moment and give it an emotional pull that connects with the viewer.
“The experiential test of whether this art is great or good, or minor or abysmal is the effect it has on your own sense of the world and of yourself. Great art changes you.”-Sister Wendy Beckett
To see more of my art and sign up for my newsletter, click here.
Christine Obers has won numerous international awards including the Master Circle, Gold Medal from the International Association of Pastel Societies and Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. She is also a Distinguished Pastelist in the Pastel Society of the West Coast, Arizona Pastel Artists Association and Master Pastelist in the Pastel Artists of Canada Association. She has been featured in major art publications, including the Pastel Journal, Southwest Art and American Art Collector. Ober’s artwork can be found in private collections throughout Canada and the US.
Hope, The Rescue Horse, 13.5×11, pastel
Hope appears from the darkness. She was very close to death when she was found. She looks at viewer with the strength of a survivor.
Tudor, 11×14”, pastel
Tudor is the beloved horse of a friend that passed away. Like fading memories, he is slipping away. This portrait won second place in the Pastel 100, 2025
The Mirror, 16×10”, pastel
This is a self-portrait of a time when I was going through a huge life change.
Silver Lining, 5×12”, pastel
Even in the darkest hours there is hope.