The Last Dance with My Paintings

I finally did it. I tried one of those “frame your art” apps.

Now, I’ve always thought they were a bit hokey. Like those dating apps where everyone mysteriously “loves hiking” — sure you do. But curiosity got the better of me, so I gave it a whirl.

And… I kind of loved it. Here’s why:

I’ve sold a whackload of paintings over the years. Once they leave the studio, they basically enter the witness protection program. I never see them again. I don’t get to see the fancy frame you picked, or how it looks in your living room, or if it’s now hanging above the cat’s scratching post.

I put in all the sweat, caffeine, and questionable dance moves to make the painting happen… and then poof! — out the door. Gone forever.

So when I saw one of my pieces dropped into a fake frame on a fake wall? Weirdly enough, it felt like getting a true last dance. A moment to see it living somewhere, even if it was all smoke and mirrors.

Which brings me to this: If you’ve got one of my paintings, I’d love to see it in its natural habitat. Tag me, text me, send me a pic. Whether it’s the star of your dining room or gathering dust under the guest bed, I don’t care — I want to see it.

Because at the end of the day, that’s the fun part: knowing the art gets to keep dancing long after it leaves me.

Thanks for keeping my dream alive. And hey, if nothing else, it beats me downloading another frame app and pretending like a potato in a tuxedo.

Happy New Year.

All the best for 2026.

Your friend in art,

Doug.

P.S. If you have a frame app, what do you use? Send pictures of your work on a wall.

Four testers for your viewing pleasure.