Maison Cordier · Journal

Notes on art,
collecting, and living well

Thoughts from Marc on original works, the artist behind them, and what it means to bring something made by hand into a home.

Blue Flowers on Copper — mixed media painting by Kirsteen
About the Work

Mixed media explained — what makes Kirsteen's work different

The term "mixed media" appears on every second contemporary painting listing. Here is what it actually means — and why copper leaf beneath layers of paint changes everything about how a work lives in a room.

Coastal Grasses — original painting by Kirsteen
Guide

How to choose art for your interior space

Start with the light, not the wall. A practical guide to making a decision that lasts years rather than months.

Magnolia and Bamboo — original painting by Kirsteen
Perspective

Investing in original art — what to know

An honest account of what drives value in original works, what to look for, and how to think about it as both a financial and a personal decision.

Seagrasses and Island — original painting by Kirsteen
Guide

How to buy original art without a gallery

What to look for, what to ask, and why the gallery model is changing — a plain-language guide to acquiring original work directly.

Malta Street — original painting by Kirsteen
Perspective

Why original art beats prints every time

Prints look good in a shop. An original painting changes your home. The honest case for one work that stays with you over five that fade into the background.

Five works,
still available

Everything written here is in service of one thing: helping the right work find the right home. If something stopped you — in the collection or in these pages — write to us.

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