The Power of a Painting's Story
I'm convinced that people are drawn to paintings not just by the images itself, but by the story behind them. I've seen it happen time and again: a person connects with a piece because they know the artist's intention, the history of the scene, or the personal meaning it holds. These backstories create a deeper connection that often leads to a sale.
One of the most memorable examples was my first solo show, "When the Wind Stops," in 2020. I wrote a short story for each painting, and one of them was a landscape of the Alameda seaside with San Francisco in the distance. A woman read the story and immediately purchased the piece because her sister-in-law lived in San Francisco. The personal connection to the story made the painting a must-have.
I've also noticed this trend in my online presence. When I post a new painting on Facebook with an explanation of its backstory, I often get calls from people who want to buy it. They're not just buying a piece of art; they're buying into the experience and the narrative.
In a recent show, a landscape from a trip to Colorado was purchased as a gift because the buyers had also taken a trip to the Midwest. Another friend asked me to walk her through the gallery, explaining the story behind each piece, and she ended up buying one because of the emotional connection she felt to my story. Even a simple landscape of a lake view behind my house was purchased by a neighbor across the lake who saw the post on Facebook and came to my studio specifically for that painting.
People want to know why you, the artist, chose to paint a particular scene and what it means to you. For example, more than once I have painted a small flower house that my grandfather built for my grandmother. Every time I shared the inspiration story, the paintings have sold.
Ultimately, it's the stories that create a bridge between the artist and the viewer. When you share what you were trying to convey, people often "get it" on a deeper level and feel compelled to own a piece of that story.
