How to live an artful life

Happy New Year, and welcome to our first Substack of 2026. Let’s take a moment together to reflect on what it means to live an artful life.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to live an artful life, not in the I need to consume and create art constantly way, but in the sense of intention and noticing. We’re living in a time where so much is thrown at us visually and creatively, a constant stream of stimulation. So how do you live an artful life that feels authentic and true to you? And why does that even matter?

Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt, Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London, brings together numerous research projects that confirm what we’ve always suspected, art is good for us. It helps us live happier, healthier, and longer lives.

I think artists have really cracked the code of living an artful life (who would’ve thought! lol). Over the last few days, I stayed at a friend’s house in Cartagena. She opened up her family home to us, and it was absolutely stunning. Every interior choice and piece of art felt so intentional, you could feel how they lived, and how deeply everything was loved.

From her own design pieces, to a painting her fiancé made inspired by the city, to the authentic Cartagena animal masks, the colours, the textures, every room had its own palette, its own mood. The walls alone told stories. To live that intentionally with art, to allow it to weave into everyday life so naturally, is for me the definition of an artful life. Manuela and her family have definitely cracked that code.

We live in an age where we want to capture everything, curate narratives, and present a version of life to the world, and I am very much part of that. I love documenting moments, big and small. But as we become increasingly oversaturated with content, how do we bring intention back into the way we live? Life isn’t black and white, it never has been, so how do we find the middle ground?

When you Google “What is an artful life?”, most articles talk about living intentionally and finding beauty and meaning in everyday moments. And I agree, but I think there’s something more to add.

For me, it’s about awe and curiosity. Feeding the inner child. The people who live the most artful lives are often the ones who remain endlessly curious, asking how something is made, why it exists, and how it fits into the wider narrative of their own life. Artful living is deeply personal. It can live in the art you collect, but also in the simplest things, a framed photograph, a ceramic mug, a colour on the wall that stirs something in you. Fostering that joy and connection is the key.

Now that 2026 is officially up and running, and knowing how easily we can get swept up in the rhythm of daily life, here are a few gentle ways to continue living an artful life:

Creative Time
Intention starts with dedication. Carving out moments that bring you joy and allow you to slow down. This could be reading poetry, listening to music, or simply daydreaming. The Guardian suggests that dedicating just one day a month to something creative can lower the risk of dying by 31% (we love a fact).

Create Your Sanctuary
This one is especially important to me. Design your space as a sanctuary. You begin and end each day there, it should be a place where you can sparkle, rest, and recalibrate. Your surroundings matter more than we often realise.

Engage All the Senses
Observe your environment. Sometimes there’s nothing better than quietening the noise and really listening to what’s around you. Light a scent that feels like home. Cook something tactile. And one of the easiest ways to reconnect and ground yourself? Go touch some grass.

Stay Curious
My favourite quote “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back” is one we should all live by. Explore new places, ideas, or skills. I’m currently taking an archery course, and honestly, those two hours a week have inspired me more than anything else this past year. Fill your life with fun and curiosity, it can be as simple as changing your commute or taking a different walk in the park.

During Covid, art was what saved many of us. To continue living with it intentionally could make 2026 a year of peace amid the chaos.

But what I’d really love to know is this: what does an artful life look like to you? And how do you weave it into your daily habits?

I’d love to hear from you.

And as always, stay cozy,
Denise