Art makes a meaningful, lasting holiday gift. Here are five simple reasons it’s one of the best things you can give — plus tips on choosing the right piece, finding work at any budget, and supporting artists in a real way.

Small moments can open entire worlds when you’re paying attention. In Paris, it was a tiny cat watching the street like he owned it. In Bordeaux, it was a shared smile that turned into an unexpected conversation. This post is about the people you meet when you’re open, the connections that find you when you slow down, and the stories that ended up becoming two new paintings. Field Notes from France continues with the art — and the people — who stayed with me.

After three fast-moving days, time finally slowed down in Bordeaux. We stayed still long enough to savour it — from wine bars and sculpture gardens to the meditative tasting at Cité du Vin. This was the pause I didn’t know I needed — the moment the trip caught its breath, and I did too.