Last year I bought my very first piece of artwork – a painting. It hangs on the wall in my study where I can look up to it from my desk. I’ve waited a long time for an artist to strike me. I wouldn’t say I’m fussy with artwork, but it needs to really say something to me, connect with me in a powerful way for me to want to commit to a purchase. After all, I’m the one who has to see it everyday in my home.

Strangely enough, my partner bought a painting from the same artist a year earlier. The artist is from South Africa, her name is Katherine Wood.

When I bought my painting, my partner and I were lucky enough to attend the exhibition opening at Red Hill Gallery in Brisbane and met Katherine and her husband. It was fabulous to not only have a conversation with them, but also to discuss her interpretation of the artwork I had chosen to buy and to let her know why I had chosen it and what it will mean to me. Katherine and one of the gallery staff made the observation that my partner and I were part of a minority at the exhibition, that being we were a couple of the young ones there. We took that as a compliment.

I guess you can read into some paintings as you will, but especially with Katherine’s.

The painting I bought is called Dreamlike.

Unfortunately I can’t seem to find an image online and my photo just won’t do it justice.

Dreamlike isn’t big, but just enough for me. She let me know that she usually doesn’t do small paintings, so mine could end up being one of only a few.

I believe that if you want to buy a piece of artwork, you have to commit to it; it needs to be meaningful to you (and if only you then its extra special), and it needs to be a pleasant constant in your everyday life. I absolutely adore my painting. I may not gaze it at everyday, but I do see it and I know it’s there when I need it to remind me of a few things. Those few things of course, are between my painting and I. No one else.