Two abstract paintings hanging in the dining room of Chelsea Stonier's Shropshire home have gained more than 150,000 likes online. The artist is her two-year-old son, October.
Chelsea, 37, has been commissioning her toddler to add paint to canvas, creating artwork for her interiors Instagram account, The House That Black Built. She has put precautions in place, including extensive sheeting on the wooden floor.
From paint samples to family art
'We do it all inside the living room, but maybe outside is a better idea,' she tells Metro. 'I have someone else on hand with me in case he goes for the sofa.'
The young artist has created four pieces for the family home. It started a year ago when Chelsea picked up inexpensive canvases that were on offer. 'I thought I could always just paint over them in the worst case,' she explains.
'I used the paint samples you get in the shop – I have hundreds of them. I'm always trying to fill days with a toddler. I was definitely expecting it to be abstract. It went way better than I thought.'
Encouraging creativity
Chelsea, an interior design influencer known for minimalist neutrals, has been sharing her house renovation with over two hundred thousand followers since buying the house in 2021. She encourages October to use his toys during painting. At the beginning, she says, he didn't want anything to do with it.
'He'd lose interest really quickly; we'd have to redirect him. He loves it now!' she says. 'The biggest challenge is probably the mess. Half of the paint gets on his legs.'
Comments online range from 'does he take orders' to 'why not use colour?' Chelsea says: 'Most people who commented adored it and thought he was very talented. A few people hated it, especially my colour choice. They also said it "looked like a toddler did it". Which made me laugh, because he did!'
Part of a wider renovation
The art is part of a renovation project that has seen Chelsea transform her family home over more than five years. She discovered she was pregnant two years into the renovations.
'We've been living in the house while renovating. It would have been great to stay somewhere else, but beggars can't be choosers!' she says. For a long time, they hadn't even put up blinds and curtains. One year, they had no heating in the two-week run up to Christmas. There was also a period with no kitchen.
Chelsea's proudest room is her en-suite bathroom, which contains marble effect porcelain tiles. 'Everyone always thinks it's real marble!'
It's October's handiwork that has brought her social media account to a whole new audience. 'I like that it has inspired other people to make art and create with their children,' she says. 'Even if the outcome isn't great, it's still a fun way to spend an afternoon with your child. And if you're lucky, you'll finish with a piece you love and want to hang on your wall. My son is so proud of his artwork and points it out to anyone who visits.'
Why paint with your child
Debbie Wordley, an Early Years Specialist, commented: 'Painting is about so much more than creating a picture. For young children, it's an opportunity to explore, experiment and express themselves without fear of getting things 'right' or 'wrong'.
'Through art they develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity, problem-solving and communication, while also building confidence and resilience. The real learning happens in the process: making choices, experimenting with colours and textures, and expressing their own ideas. When a child's artwork is displayed at home or in an early years setting, it sends a powerful message that their ideas, effort and creativity are valued. That recognition helps build confidence, self-esteem and a lifelong love of learning.'
