Why do we enjoy different food, different movies, different clothes, and so on and so on? There are so many answers, but for some, it is believed that most people have creativity within them from the smallest amount to the deepest drive. The child inside never leaves us in some way and seeks to hold a crayon, a pencil, a paint brush...or is drawn to colour, texture, interesting sounds and those things that appeal to our eyes or our ears when we are young, learning and exploring our world. For the adult artist, this never leaves and stays at the surface, coming out in an eclectic array of work by so many people from art to music and more. This theory has us holding onto our early self. 

Another point of view is that we are innately drawn to variety for our survival. It's why those before us, foraged, fished and hunted to maximize the value within all that nature provided to keep them healthy, heal them or satiate. Seasons had us doing different chores, eating different foods and therefore, telling different stories to each generation as life happened. 

Nature is strong because of its variety. I pay attention to this when I draw and so I find subject matter anywhere my eyes find something appealing. Life itself can provide subject matter because we all live different lives.

And so it is, that each artist has style, uses theme and subject matter that is their own. This is what makes art, so incredibly interesting to many. It can be a window into a corner of the world, or life that we may not have seen yet. It is in affect, a sharing of life. Funny enough, I've heard artists described as the historians of humanity. Their work is touched by their hand alone, leaving a story behind or a tiny moment in time from their life experience. This is why I see art as a beautiful necessity. It has told the story of mankind for centuries and to this day, we have this story in all of its chapters hung in every building we exist in, from the gallery, to the office setting, hospitals, restaurants and of course, our homes. We listen to songs for years, we install sculptures that stand the test of time...it goes on if we open our eyes to the dreaming child we all have inside.

Like Dorothy and her dream of a place filled with characters, adventure and wonder...art provides us with the ability to do just that...dream and that is the youthful creativity that we all carry within our hearts. To hold onto it, is a gift to our adult soul.

So much saturation of the subject of art leaves many buyers and creators feeling overwhelmed. In effect, it is given a stigma at certain levels that gives it the feeling of a luxury item, something only some people will want, or something we don't need. 

To see what the reason is for people to both create art and to purchase it is to examine its purpose or plausible purpose within a bigger picture (no pun intended).

As with many things art can be conceived as an 'extra' in life, but if we take a look at how we live and what we consume and surround ourselves with, it takes on a different persona. 

As AI and digital begins to shine brighter on the horizon, many old school artists are getting a bit nervous. We can at times, feel invalid deep down inside. Here's why this is not only something we can erase, but challenge. 

Art is so subjective, that it becomes a conundrum for many, unless they are already someone who has been in the art world for years, a curator or a collector with a very precise taste who knows exactly what they want. It is so vast when keying in online, that many people don't even know where to start. One can shop anywhere and everywhere for 'art', from galleries, to brick and mortar shops to online, but two questions for us to ask ourselves to help narrow that down are, "What do I want to look at every time I walk into the room?", and "Does it matter to me how it makes me feel?" The actual value of art will forever be a conversation had and so it comes down to the person who is thinking they may want something unique. So then begins the search. 

It can then become far more simple a task. We can choose to look for an individual artist's work that tells a specific story to us, or something that is created by an unknown source, but just looks good to our eyes. Deciding which one we fit into makes it much less daunting. The choice is an extremely personal one. I have artwork from fellow artists in my own home because something about it spoke to me, or it was gifted through a mutual respect of the subject matter. Both are very special because there is something about them that speaks to me. 

For the artist themselves, we choose to create our own expectations and goals for sitting down and creating: lofty with deep meaning, or simple with less emotion. How we see our artistic process, and the outcome is also an extremely personal one.

And so the buyer and the artist are like kindred souls. There is a match for everyone if we delve into the idea of it in this simplistic way. 

There are those who desire a deeper meaning, a connection to what is on their walls. There are also those who simply wish to adorn their surroundings with images that appeal and they are not interested in the process, or story. Both are valid if we are being fair, because like art, there are no two people alike. We are living beings and the art we surround ourselves with suggests what we desire and even require. This can be of interest to those who enjoy the 'Freudian' approach to things. The bottom line is, old school hand crafted art has and always will have a place alongside everything else, because it is still as unique as anything else. 

For those who seek a deeper connection to their personal environment, seeking out an artist can be exciting, adventurous and fulfilling. Original artwork has the feel of the human touch, and deep meaning for some. For me, art has and always will have that deeper meaning. It is a story or a flash in time put onto paper through the image. Like anything handcrafted, the human element can never be taken out of it. This is what makes each piece unique among everything else we choose specifically for ourselves. 

And so as a bigger picture comes into view, "That is why art is not just a luxury item. It is just as valid as the jewelry or clothes we adorn ourselves with, the home we choose to live in, the restaurants we choose to visit, the entertainment we choose to engage in. Art is not just an extra in life...it is a part of it as is everything else we surround ourselves with." The choice is what makes it our own and its very subjective nature provides something for everyone." 

As the subject of originals versus prints gains momentum, I find it interesting to see so many different view points. Realistically, most new artists are bound by budgets that delegate the amount of prints they produce. Like myself, there is a choice made to produce prints of smaller original pieces in order to provide options to everyone. Not all art enthusiasts want to purchase a higher priced original. There are those who prefer to only own original artwork and so the debate continues for the artists themselves. Currently, I have made the choice to offer selected prints only at in person events alongside my original work. My online gallery offers originals only. 

Keeping in mind, that the quality of the originals is always best, it is a very personal choice to offer print versions or not. I truly believe that anyone wanting an original will appreciate it for just that. It is the actual piece that the artist created. This is what gives an original its value no matter what medium it is created in. 

For my clientele, I am offering prints at in person events and some smaller originals are made into art cards as well for those who wish to enjoy art in a more affordable version. 

For those lovers of original work, when no one else owns a version, I currently have no prints made of my larger pieces 16 x 20 and up. And so, we make these creative decisions based on our vision for our art and our client base. Art should be from our souls as artists, first and foremost, but we can also develop our own way of seeing how we offer it to others. The discussion can always be had between artist and client if the client wishes to own original or a print version of certain works.

Once an original is sold that hasn't had prints made already, my work will remain original to that client. Other original works that have prints pre-made will have those circulating as well. If a client does not wish to have print versions of a work that they purchased out there, there will always be a discussion and confirmation of this prior to their purchase. It is a flexible, personal discussion of the process that any artist should be willing to have. 

Shown above, a  partial shot of originals on display November 22nd 2025