Art by Heather Bridge

Written by Heather Bridge, Contemporary landscape painter

In today’s fast-paced world of 30-second clips and trends that are over before we learn about them, why invest in what is possibly the slowest of all mediums? That’s the question people have been asking since the invention of photography. 

As an artist, of course, I believe art is essential and today I will break down exactly why.

Personal expression

You bring your unique lived experience to every artwork you connect with. Artists create work through their own personal lens, but when it’s viewed by you it changes. It morphs into your memories and feelings. Yes, there are universal human experiences which I love to draw on in my work. But, the magic really happens when you can connect those feelings with a personal memory from your past. And art has the ability to allow you to reminiscence.

Inspire you to be present in your life

Life is fast! We need daily reminders to stop and enjoy the small moments. Art can do just that. We can appreciate the texture of the paint, and the way the colours meld together. Every day you can discover something new in a painting that you didn’t notice the day before. Taking that time to be mindful can bleed into other areas of your life. You start to notice the way the trees sway in the breeze or the way that your shadow interacts with the world around you. Noticing the small things has a big impact on your daily life.

Interesting conversations

Bring your family and friends into your deeper world. It’s a great way to open up a conversation to discuss your thoughts, feelings, memories, beliefs, values and desires. Maybe, you’ll even be lucky enough to learn something about them as well.

Join a community of art collectors

You don’t need to own art to be involved in the art community. You can appreciate the work, engage on social media with artists, go to galleries and talk about art without ever owning a single painting. That said, there are people who enjoy collecting to have a physical representation of their passion. They enjoy being able to bring people into their homes and point to exactly what about that work ignites their passion. And, they enjoy being involved with artists throughout their careers. If that sounds like you, collecting art may be right up your alley! 

Buying art can be treated as a monetary investment, but if you ask me, most people purchase art because they have passion and something unique to express to the world.