In a world full of mass production, buying original art might seem like a luxury. But the truth is: it's one of the most meaningful ways to enrich your life, your home, and even your sense of self.

Original art isn’t just something you hang on a wall — it’s something you connect with. It invites emotion, memory, and energy into your space. It lifts the atmosphere and tells a story. Your story.

Let’s explore what makes original art so worth it.

🌱 It’s Alive With Meaning

Each brushstroke, each layer of paint carries intention. When I create a piece, I’m painting from my experiences — the scent of the bush after rain, the rhythm of wind across water, the quiet of early morning light. There's memory, movement, and feeling in every canvas.

Mass-produced prints can’t replicate that. Original art hums with life. And that hum finds its way into your home.

🧭 It Becomes Part of Your Story

One of the most beautiful parts of being an artist is witnessing the moment someone connects with a piece. Sometimes it’s instant — “That’s the one.” Other times it sneaks up slowly, quietly weaving its way into a collector’s life.

When you take a painting home, it stops being my story and starts being yours. You live with it. You greet it every morning. Your guests ask about it, and you smile — because now there’s a story to tell. It may remind you of a holiday, a feeling, a turning point in your life.

Art doesn’t just fill a space. It becomes part of your inner world.

🖼 What We Value, We Make Room For

Recently, in 2024 the Gosford RSL Club completed a $50 million renovation. The top floor, dubbed "The Gallery Level," was designed for private functions and beautifully branded — the name appeared in elevator signage and on staff uniforms.

But there was no budget for actual art.

Instead, they invited local artists (Central Coast Art Society) to exhibit their work temporarily. I was fortunate to have two large paintings selected. But when I visited, they were hung far too high, without proper lighting. Labels were inconsistent, and the space lacked the warmth and reverence that art deserves.

In a later round of applications, the club requested works be framed in a specific style — again, without any compensation to the artists.

It made me pause.

How is it that a venue can spend millions on floors, lights, and furnishings — but overlook the soulfulness that art brings? And this isn’t just one club. It’s a wider issue.

📊 The Bigger Picture

We’re spending over $12 billion per quarter n (2023) on home renovations in Australia alone.

Yet 75% of people have never purchased an original artwork.

There’s a huge opportunity here — not just to beautify spaces, but to enrich lives. I see it all the time in my studio. When I teach, I’m always amazed at how deeply people love being in the flow of creativity. Even those who don’t think of themselves as “artistic” come alive in the presence of paint, movement, and visual expression.

Imagine if we could shift just a little of that renovation spend — a little of that longing for beauty — into supporting local artists and bringing meaningful pieces into our homes.

🌟 Living a More Artful Life

Buying art is more than a transaction. It’s a relationship.

You’re not just buying paint on canvas. You’re supporting a lifetime of creative exploration. You’re saying yes to beauty, yes to emotion, yes to the handmade.

It’s cool.
It may appreciate in value.
It never goes out of fashion.
It’s good for your mental health.
And it becomes a part of your legacy — something you can pass on.

Let’s live more artfully. Let’s value the human touch. Let’s make space in our lives, our homes, and our culture for original art that speaks to the soul.

People always ask me how I paint. They want to know how I choose what to paint and how I begin.

Some of our best creations come from finding a parked or forgotten idea. Our new experiences provide a new context, shedding new light on a parked idea.

Because of Art I am someone who laughs at her mistakes and pushes through the challenges of writing a book.