Home is where the art is..

Welcome to the first of my blog series! With these writings I will discuss many different elements relating to my art, as well as interesting topics surrounding framing, choosing art, and anything else I can think of!

I want to start this blog however, with a bit of an exploration to what our homes mean to us. When we choose a piece of art, we bring a piece of ourselves into our homes. Art resonates for so many different reasons and by choosing to bring it into our houses and onto our walls, there’s always an important reason behind that. Maybe a piece resonates with you on a personal level reminding you of a memory or person, and giving deeper meaning to the simple image that’s been depicted.

Our homes are our haven, and within them our secret selves live. It’s a place where we can truly let our guards down, feel relaxed and sit comfortably with ourselves and family. We invite people in, and really, we are letting those visitors into an insight of who we are on a soul level. The choice of decoration, furniture, the pets we live with and even the people we live with are all a reflection of who we are as individuals.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs expresses a need for shelter, food, water and rest at its most basic level. However, the further up the pyramid you go, the more intrinsic those things are linked to our personalities and our psyche. Our homes create such an essential space for us to explore our true selves – to find safety and security, belonging and to have somewhere to meet needs of connection. We love to show off anything new within our homes – new sofas, curtains or painted walls often finds their way into social media, and you only have to look at Instagram to see the amount of aspirational pages there are which focus on the home and how to decorate them.

 (Maslow’s hierarchy of needs)

So where does art link into this?

People buy art for many different reasons, but primarily as a positive choice to bring an item into their homes to enhance that home. Art can help the viewer connect with their emotions (both positive and nostalgic) and act as an anchor to memories of times gone by. A painting of a landscape for example, could evoke memories of places visited or even the people associated with that place.

Others see investment in art as an investment in their own self worth – by purchasing, they are taking a view that their homes (and therefore themselves) are worth having ‘nice things’ for. A tangible piece of original art is proof of a dedication to the self, and the surroundings a person lives in.

Of course, art can also be bought as a gift, and this is also an extension of positivity and love. Choosing art for someone else is deeply personal and by seeing the recipient ‘in the art’ we are evoking the same sense of care and ‘worth’ towards that person.

Overall, buying a piece of art is allowing authenticity into your space. You can see the brushstrokes, see the pencil marks, feel the texture on a canvas. Art can spark a conversation or be used to enhance an atmosphere. A piece of art may just be a depiction of a tree (see Tree of Life) but once you look longer, more and more meanings emerge.