Choosing and Displaying Original Paintings with Confidence
A blank wall asks a quiet question: what do you want to feel when you walk into this room? For me the answer has never changed. I paint the natural world at its stillest, the quiet moments I witness and want to hand to someone else, so that a piece on the wall can give back a little of the calm that modern life takes away.
So, if you are standing in front of a painting, online or in person, wondering whether it is the right one, you are already asking the right question. Choosing an original comes down to one feeling and three practical checks. The feeling is simple: does it move you. The checks are scale, placement and light. Get those right and you will live with a piece you love for years, not one you settled for.
I am a self taught artist, and everything I know about oil on canvas I taught myself over many years. You can read a little of my story here. Here is how I would choose, as the person who makes them.
Start with what speaks to you
In a world full of mass produced decor, an original painting is one of the few truly authentic things you can own. Every brushstroke is a one off, made by hand and never repeated. So, trust your instincts. Give yourself time to look, let a piece pull at you, and choose the one that stirs something rather than the one that merely fills a gap. If it makes you pause, that is your answer.
It is tempting to shop for art that matches the sofa. I would gently steer you the other way, because a piece chosen for how it makes you feel will outlast any colour scheme. I have written more about that idea in let your art reflect your soul, not your decor. When you are ready to look, my available original paintings are all one of a kind, oil on canvas.
Get the size and proportion right
Scale is where most people go wrong, almost always by choosing something too small. A tiny piece gets lost on a large wall no matter how lovely it is. As a rule of thumb, a single work should fill roughly two thirds of the wall or the furniture it hangs above, with comfortable breathing space on all sides. If you love a smaller piece, group a few together so they hold the space as a set. A little planning here makes a room feel considered rather than bare, and I have shared a few simple art curation tips for your home if you would like to take it further.
Consider your space and palette
Look at the room before you commit. The painting should either harmonise with your colours or make a deliberate, confident contrast. An easy trick is to pull a colour from the artwork and echo it around the room in a cushion, a vase or a throw, so the piece feels like it belongs. If you like to plan with current palettes, I have matched some of my work to this year's colour trends here.
Light it well, and look after it
Good light makes a painting sing. Aim for soft, indirect lighting, hang the work close to eye level, and keep it out of direct sunlight, which fades colour over time. Away from heaters and air conditioning vents is best too. A little care here protects the piece and shows it at its best, and once it is on the wall, a few simple habits will keep an original oil painting vivid for decades.
See it on your wall before you commit
Buying art online should never feel like a leap of faith. This is the worry I hear most, and it is an easy one to solve. Send me a photo of your space and tell me which painting you are considering, and I will place the artwork into your room digitally, so you can picture the fit, the scale and the colours before you decide. It takes the guesswork out completely.
To make the decision easier still, every piece comes with free shipping Australia wide, and international enquiries are welcome on available originals.
Original, limited edition, or open edition print?
Sometimes you adore a piece but the moment, or the budget, calls for something else. That is exactly what the different formats are for.
An original painting is the one of a kind version, oil on canvas; when it sells, that one is gone. Many of my images are also available as a limited edition print, an edition of just 25, each one hand signed and numbered, if you would like something collectable at a gentler price. There is more on why a limited edition is worth it here. And an open edition fine art print on paper is the most affordable way to live with the same image, with prints starting from a few dollars. Same artwork, three ways to bring it home.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose original art for my home?
Begin with what you genuinely connect to, then check that the scale suits the wall and the palette works with the room. Emotion first, practicality second.
What size painting do I need for my wall?
As a guide, a single piece should fill about two thirds of the wall or the furniture beneath it, with breathing space around it. Group smaller works together to fill a larger space.
Where should I hang an original painting?
At roughly eye level, in soft indirect light, and away from direct sunlight, heaters and air conditioning vents.
Can I see a painting in my room before I buy it?
Yes. Send me a photo of your space and the piece you like, and I will place the painting into the room digitally so you can see how it looks before you decide.
What is the difference between an original, a limited edition print and an open edition print?
An original is a one of a kind oil painting. A limited edition print is one of only 25 hand signed and numbered reproductions. An open edition print is an affordable paper print with no set limit. Same image, three different ways to own it.
Find a piece you will love
Take your time, trust what moves you, and let the practical checks do the rest. When you are ready, browse my available original paintings, and if you would like to see one on your own wall first, send me a photo of the room and I will mock it up for you. A quiet moment, made to last.
