Art is wonderful way to stay in touch with your human side. It connects you with humanity like no other.
Civil war acrylic paintings are such a medium where you can see the artist's interpretation of what happened during this war period. Bad and good things happened so it is good to get a picture of both to appreciate its affects on man.
You may want to research this time period so you have a good understanding of it before you look at artwork about it. You could read books or magazine articles about it. A lot of magazines are dedicated to this whole time period. Many people are fascinated by it. Go to the library or bookstore to read more. You could find more than you realized.
The time period of the Civil War had a lot going on. It was very divisive in the United States and slavery was the crux of the division. An artist may paint or draw slaves or their masters and if you understand what happened between people such as this, you can grow a lot of appreciation for what the artist is trying to do.
You may have a liking for acrylics, but you could also see if oils resonate wit you. Oils will have a more glossy, wet look while acrylics are more dry and the colors seems to stand out a little bit more. Collect work from each medium so you have variety in your home.
Pencil drawings are a whole different ballgame. They are grey with no color. They may more flexible in the sense that a pencil can do more because it does not have to be dipped in the paint over and over. It can have a whole different feel and look to it. View work on oils, acrylics, and pencils to see which one fits with you the most.
Art can be a very powerful medium like music is. It can speak to you in very dark moments and help you see things in a whole new light which can help you get out of depression, sadness, grief, or stress. A lot of negativity is not good for a person to endure over time. Having a coping mechanism really can help.
Look into various websites online that can show you what is available in the way of galleries that display artwork or museums where you can view exhibits on what artists are thinking of. You may really enjoy an activity such as this. It can help you get out of yourself and help you cope with only seeing grey in the world. You could now see colors if you would like.
Look in your local area for a museum. You could look online or check your local directory. Find out times they are open and what the charge is to get in. They may have a daily pass or a monthly pass which may be cheaper. It could become a regular outing for you with you and your family.