#2 When a painting spoke to you - art collecting begins with an emotional connection
The Art That Spoke to Me: The Journey of Collecting Art Starts with a Feeling
In my previous post, I shared the story of how I came to acquire my very first piece. I couldn’t forget the way that painting seemed to speak to me. It stayed with me so deeply that I eventually tracked it down and made it part of my collection.
The Painting That Spoke to Me: Van Gogh’s Starry Night
When we talk about great artworks that remain in history, a common theme is that the painting "spoke" to us. For me, it’s Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Though it’s just a simple night sky, there’s something deeply moving about it.
Image credit: Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (1889), Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Source: Wikimedia Commons
What is that “something”? I don’t know exactly, but I feel like the painting is talking to me.
The stars shining through the quiet darkness, the violently swirling sky. Brushstrokes filled with emotion, chaotic yet calm — a technique no one can imitate. The mixture of turmoil and peace strangely reflected how I felt at the time.
Van Gogh’s work isn’t conventionally pretty. Up close, it even looks messy. But why has this imperfect, rough painting been loved by so many for so long? Perhaps it’s because it expresses something fundamental about human nature that touches the soul.
A Collector’s Story: Talking to Lee Jung-seop’s The Bull
One collector’s story left a strong impression on me. When he was a young office worker, he encountered Lee Jung-seop’s painting The Bull at a bus stop. (Lee Jung-seop is a key figure in modern Korean art.)
At that time, a retrospective exhibition of Lee Jung-seop was being held, and posters of The Bull were displayed at the bus stop. One rainy evening, caught in the downpour with nowhere to hide, he stood waiting at the bus stop. As he looked at the poster, his eyes met the bull’s.
Photo by Lee Jung-seob / News1
He whispered to himself, “Well, your fate and mine aren’t so different.”
He saw himself, soaked by the rain and restless, reflected in the fierce bull wanting to escape. At first, he looked away, but then he felt as if the bull was calling to him.
He stood there for a long time, and eventually heard a voice inside him:
"One day, I will own this painting."
Photo by Lee Jung-seob
bull
In the collection of the Seoul Museum of Art
Years later, that uncertain young man became a CEO of a major company and the proud owner of that culturally invaluable masterpiece. When asked why he bought the piece, he said it felt as if the intense eyes and uneasy lines of the painting were speaking directly to him.
This is how art sometimes becomes a life-changing companion.
Why We Buy Art: It Starts with Feeling
There are many reasons people buy art — for investment, decoration, or prestige. But many collectors say the real reason is that the painting spoke to them.
This feeling is hard to explain but unmistakable. Some find comfort in a work of art; others discover passion.
If your artwork speaks to someone, it’s no longer just an image. It becomes a story.
Photo by Christine Bae
one summer day(yellow light) 76W x 100.5H cm 2021
As an artist, I imagine someone stopping in front of my painting and saying,
“This piece spoke to me.”
That moment, when my art moves someone’s heart, would be the greatest honor for me.
Connecting Artistic Souls: Finding the Right Owner
One reason I write this blog is to find that one person — the owner for my artwork. Artistic souls must be connected, and art must find the right home.
If a painting ever stops you in a gallery, don’t ignore that feeling.
If you find a piece on my website that calls to you, don’t dismiss it as coincidence.
It might be the moment when what you’ve been searching for finally finds you.
Your Turn: Have You Experienced Art That Speaks to You?
If my work hasn’t moved you, think about other pieces you’ve owned or admired.
Have you ever felt like a painting was having a conversation with you?
Whose work was it? What was the piece?
I’d love to hear your story. Please leave a comment below.
Free Gift
Please leave a comment below and send me your address via email. I will send you a postcard printed with my artwork as a free gift to the first five people who respond.
Click here to see the postcard
Additional Information
For art print purchases, please see the menu at the top of the blog.
For original paintings, please visit the [Gallery] tab.
Author: Christine Bae
Who is Christine Bae?
I’ve been working as a full-time artist for seven years now.
As a professional painter with a passion for collecting great artwork, I’m excited to connect with people who share that same appreciation.
I don’t sell originals online, but I do offer art prints as a way to share my work more widely.
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Originally published at Christinebae.com
This article was written by Christine Bae.
Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited. All copyrights belong to Christine Bae.
Copyright © Christine Bae.
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