More than paint on canvas
The other day I stood in my studio looking at a freshly finished painting. The oil was still wet, the room smelled of linseed and turpentine, and I wondered: when someone hangs this in their living room, will they sense what went into it? The hesitation of the first brushstroke, the moment the canvas suddenly started breathing, the three layers I painted over because they weren’t quite right.
Art is more than a decorative object. Every painting carries the story of its making — and that story changes the way you experience it.
Authenticity as the defining art trend of 2026
The art world this year revolves around what’s real. According to trend reports from Artsy and Saatchi Art, collectors are drawn to work where the artist’s hand is visible — textures you want to touch, layers you can count, imperfections that tell you a human being was at work.
It’s a direct response to the rise of AI-generated imagery. Now that virtually anything can be created digitally, the hunger for authenticity has intensified. For vulnerable brushstrokes, for paint applied thickly and deliberately, for a canvas you can feel someone wrestled with for hours.
That process — from first sketch to final layer — is what gives a painting its soul.
Choosing art with your heart
How do you choose art for your home? My advice: let the story matter. Ask the artist about the process. What inspired this piece? What choices were made along the way? Those answers give you something no interior designer can provide: a personal connection.
An abstract painting that reminds you of a summer evening by the coast becomes more than decoration. It becomes an anchor in your space, a conversation starter, a daily encounter with beauty that words cannot capture.
In my own practice, I often start without a plan. I choose colours by instinct, build up layers, sand back, begin again. Sometimes it takes three sessions before a canvas lands — and that search is exactly what you later see in the texture and depth of the finished work.
How stories enrich your interior
The interior trend of 2026 is personalisation. No more showroom perfection — instead, spaces that reflect who you truly are. Art with a narrative fits that vision perfectly. It’s the difference between a mass-produced print and an original work by an artist whose journey you’ve witnessed.
More and more people place a small card beside their artwork with the backstory. Others follow their favourite artists on social media to watch the creative process unfold in real time. That engagement makes the art in your home alive. You look at it differently when you know what’s behind it.
Seek the story
Next time you consider a piece of art, ask yourself: does it move me? And why? Take a moment to discover the story. Talk to the artist, read about the process, pause and really look at the layers.
Because the most beautiful art isn’t the most impressive — it’s the art that awakens something within you.
Curious about the stories behind my work? Explore the collection or get in touch — I’d love to share what’s hidden behind each canvas.
