Why Living With Art Matters More Than You Think

I believe living with art is underrated, and it can have a huge impact on our wellbeing.

Most people think of art as decoration, "just some beautiful object" we have in our homes. But psychologically, there's much more to it than that. Sure, you can get a painting to match your couch, but how boring is that? Here's a small design trick as an example: your dining table actually looks better when the chairs don't match. Mismatched is more interesting than matched.

So today I want to tell you about my experience of living with art for half of my life, and why it matters more than you might think.

A Painting That Made Me Laugh Every Day

I made a painting in 2024 that I ended up taking home. It had such a contagious smile and vibe that I wanted to see it every day. And every single time I walked past it, it made me laugh, smile, or got some kind of reaction out of me. I appreciated the feeling it gave me daily, and honestly, I loved the slightly psychedelic visuals too. It's so joyful it almost becomes manic, kind of like ourselves when we really let go and enjoy ourselves "a bit too much," let's say. (I'll digress a lot in this one, fair warning.)

Anyway, everyone who visited us loved that painting. It made people laugh, it radiated something. But eventually I sold it, and the person who bought it put it in an office in Toulouse, France. So now it gets to entertain even more people than it did on my wall.

Turns out that painting might have a better life than I do, surrounded by people who admire it every day. Not that I'd personally enjoy being hung up on a wall like that.

Imagine Empty Walls

Now imagine how sad it would feel to have completely empty walls, compared to having some paintings, prints, or installations around you, whatever you actually enjoy. And don't let anyone judge your taste. That's a whole separate conversation we won't get into today.

Our subconscious is always on. Even when we're not directly looking at a painting, it still shapes our mood and our thoughts. We can appreciate a beautiful space even while we're focused on something else entirely. Picture yourself sitting at your desk, working, surrounded by beautiful art. Beyond being inspiring, it can bring you ease, comfort, and warmth.

Near my own desk, I've hung a painting from 2023, the last piece from the year that started my elders series. I called it Gently Peeking. The old man in it has a subtle smile, emerging from colorful vertical lines, and you can genuinely feel the warmth of the room through it. It's a pleasure having him look on at us. Gentle, yet powerful. That painting adds something to the room, a peaceful presence that improves my daily experience even when I'm not actively looking at it. And that's just one painting. I have several around my home, and every single one has a story to tell.

Warm and Cozy, or Your Dentist's Office?

I'm sure each of us prefers a warm, cozy space over an empty, minimalist one. Would you rather feel like you're at your dentist's office, or at a cozy retreat? I guess it depends how harsh you want to be on yourself. Personally, I'd choose the warm, relaxing one every time.

If you want that warmth in your own space, and want to support my art and this channel, you can find prints, paintings, t-shirts, tote bags, and more at MIHAICOTIGAART.com. It helps me keep bringing you content like this, and keep making art. Thank you for watching and for the support!

Stories From My Collectors

Over the years I've collected so many stories from the people who live with my paintings. One collector in Denmark has a piece hanging above their dining table, and it's become a beautiful part of their family gatherings. The painting is an invitation. They talk about it. Guests ask about it. Paintings in our homes can take on so many forms: a vehicle, a conversation starter, an invitation to smile, or an invitation to contemplate. Our imagination might be the only real limit to their influence.

That same collector also has a painting that invites him into a kind of meditation, an old man smiling, wearing a backpack, hiking through vivid mountain colors. The smile is inviting, and it makes you think about the whole journey of life.

Another painting is a declaration of conviction, called I Decided. It's a decision to smile, a small triumph of resilience in spite of whatever life throws at you, a quiet reminder that suffering is unavoidable but so is the choice to smile anyway. That collector positioned it in their living room so it can be seen from many angles of their home, and I think that's extraordinary. Repetition like that can have a real influence on you over time.

Optimism Is a Skill, Not a Trait

For me, that's a reminder that optimism itself is a skill, something built brick by brick, day by day. Something I heard from Alex Hormozi this year stuck with me: "Optimism is a skill, not a trait." I've been thinking about that a lot, and actively searching for ways to work toward it. I believe it's true. You have to learn to be optimistic even in the absence of anything to be optimistic about, the same way you can feel angry or sad for no clear reason. If you don't naturally have that golden retriever energy (I certainly don't), you have to put it on manual and practice being optimistic until it feels completely natural. Once cultivated, it's a skill that will carry you through your whole life.

With all that said, the art around you can be so much more than an object. It can be a true companion, one that lives with you, adds depth and meaning to your days, and hopefully makes you smile or laugh exactly when you need it most.

Slowing Down in a World That Won't

We often find ourselves stuck in an endless scroll, taking in a huge amount of imagery in a very short span of time, overloading our brains. Living with art is the opposite of that. It's an opportunity to slow down and take in one image at a time. Art asks for your time, your attention, your presence, but it gives back so much more than we expect in this fast paced world.

Do you remember a time you were just listening to a song, doing nothing else, fully present with the music? That's a deep experience, one that reconnects you with yourself. Paintings can offer that same thing, if we give them the time. I know that slow kind of experience can feel like it belongs to a different planet these days, but I really encourage you to sit with a piece of art for a few minutes, however long feels comfortable. It's a genuinely profound experience. Time slows down, and you end up more connected, to yourself and to everything around you.

Art has this beautiful influence on us. It gives us stories, and we build stories with it and around it, all while slowing down and staying in the moment.

Life is simply better with art around us. And if none of this convinces you, well, at least you'll have some nice decoration on your wall.

So take a moment to notice the art around you. And if you don't have any yet, maybe it's time to start somewhere: cultivate your taste, and begin a small collection of your own.

Thank you again for reading and following along. And now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go spend some time talking with my paintings. They're great listeners, honestly better than most people.

See you next time!

© 2025. All rights reserved.