Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. (Pablo Picasso)

Vincent's Bedroom
in Arles

A few years ago I visited the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam on the recommendation of my comrade. He had been there a few months before and for a football/pub/macho all the way guy (aka your average non sensitive type of fella) he was completely taken aback... okay that might be stretching the truth but he thought it was pretty awesome. For about two hours I strolled through the gallery in complete and utter awe. This is not a global breakthrough for humanity... Van Gogh is Van Gogh. You don't get your own gallery and your work is not valued priceless because you know how to hold a paintbrush! Seeing his work in "real-life" was simply compelling. I felt like I was taken away into his mystical world. 

One of the last paintings I saw was Vincent's Bedroom in Arles. I had seen that painting before... it was ohhhh so familiar. It was hanging in the hallway of my parents' house for like my whole life growing up. But it was not the same... maybe because my Mum had cluttered it up with a few hundred thousand other prints (that she probably bought from the Reject Shop on special). The real deal was amazing... the print well was a print.

A house without art just seems empty and characterless to me. My favourite painting was purchased a few years ago on a holiday in Vietnam. It is of a woman who has her arms stretched out aka Titanic style and when I first looked at it I saw freedom, risk, determination and bravery... I was immediately inspired by it. And well it was only $20.

Browsing through etsy I stumbled upon some more wonderful artwork to add to my collection... well one day when I eventually frame all the other art work I have leaning ever so conveniently against the wall!

Brad Collins

Popme

DazeyChic