You do not need an art-history vocabulary to know that a painting has your attention. You notice it. You return to it. Something in the face, the colour or the composition stays with you after you have looked away.
That is where I would begin when choosing an original oil painting. Before deciding whether it matches a room, give yourself time to see what you are responding to.
Look at the painting before the room
The women in my paintings belong to a parallel world. They have their own presence, their own authority. In the Power collection, that authority is inherent. With The Prime Minister, look at her eyes and the way she holds her head. There is a person before you, with a life beyond the part of her you can see.
Elsewhere in the gallery, The Dandy offers a different encounter. Spend time with the work itself. Which painting do you want to see again? Which one makes you stop scrolling?
Check the dimensions
A screen can make a small painting and a large painting appear almost the same size. Read the measurements on the individual artwork page, then mark that space on your wall with paper or removable tape. Step back to where you would normally see it. Look at the space around it, too.
The Prime Minister: 40 × 40 inches, a square canvas.
The Alchemist: 36 × 48 inches, a portrait format.
The Coquette: 48 × 60 inches, a larger portrait format.
Think about both distances: where you will stand to take in the whole painting, and where you will come closer to look at its surface. Confirm the finished measurements and framing for the particular work before purchasing.
Look through the photographs
The first image introduces the painting. The other photographs can tell you more about its surface, edges and presence in a space. Open the artwork page rather than relying only on the gallery thumbnail.
Light matters. The photographs of Kintsugi, for example, show it under spotlight, studio light and natural light, as the listing explains. If something looks different between photographs, look closely and ask about the difference. You should not have to guess at a detail that matters to your decision.
Know what accompanies the painting
Read the medium and support, whether that is oil on canvas, linen or wood. These describe the physical work you are considering. Check its current availability and the information specific to that piece.
The decorative frames in this website’s gallery are a digital presentation. Please confirm whether a physical frame accompanies the painting you choose.
Settle the practical questions
Check the purchase and return terms, your delivery destination and the arrangements for the particular painting. For an international destination, enquire about the work and its shipping route before purchasing.
Include the painting’s title with your enquiry. If your question is about placement, the wall measurements and a photograph of the space can help make it clear.
Then look again
Once those questions are answered, return to the painting. Think about seeing it on an ordinary day, when you are no longer in the process of choosing it. Does it still hold your attention?
That is the encounter I would keep coming back to.