Most people miss the world’s most beautiful details because they’re too busy scrolling.

And it’s not their fault. The world is now designed to keep us constantly stimulated.

Social media, news alerts, ads everywhere, podcasts, etc… There’s never a quiet moment anymore unless you create it.

No wonder mental health issues are on the rise, ADHD, anxiety, etc… Our brains never get a moment to rest anymore.

Enter… Mindfulness - but not in a woo-woo spiritual sense. I’m talking about a practical day to day experience of mindfulness.

This article is about one particular practice of using your beautiful lil’ eyeballs to see things you usually miss.

Right now, look around and notice the textures of your surrounding. What materials are things made of? Look at the different hues of greens in the plants you can see from where you are.

See any wooden furniture? Notice the textures, grains, subtle differences in the wooden colors.

If’n you’re playing along, perhaps you already feel a little calmer than you did a minute ago. Try adding some deep breathes as you scan your surroundings, noticing little details that catch your eye and attention.

And don’t you dare stop reading to check your social media.

Anyways… here’s my hot take:

Subtlety Is The New Luxury

Slowing down enough to not be on the constant treadmill of notifications and distractions is the ultimate luxury. Why? Peace, my friend. Peace.

Do you want chaos and anxiety? Or peace and calm?

Who cares how much money you’re making or how up to date you are with a bunch of random internet people if you’re not experience a sense of peace and calm in your very being.

A Showcase of Subtlety

In January 2025 I found myself strolling the street of Madrid with no destination or plan in mind, as I usually like to do while visiting foreign cities.

I had hopped over from Portugal, where I was visiting my family, and was spending a few days in Madrid with some friends.

That fateful day as a few of us were walking about, I saw a very old and cute looking art supply store… the name of the store was hand painted in an old font, the wooden trim of the doors and windows was clearly well worn, and inside was an array of art supplies and colors. I knew I had to stop in.

Inside we were greeted by a man who must have been in his 70s and was THRILLED to tell us all about the shop that had been there for over 100 years… his grandfather started it.

They have been making oil paint by hand for over 100 years. So of course, I had to get some to take home.

They had 3 different blues in stock, so that’s what I got (obviously).

Prussian Blue - a darker less saturated blue, almost like a midnight blue.
Cobalt Blue - a standard deep blue
Ultramarine Blue - a rich, saturated, bold blue (very similar to Yves Klein blue)

Armed with these delicious blues, I had a concept in mind I wanted to create to really showcase these shades of blue, and create a wondrous and calming art piece.

I knew that a walnut color wooden edge would be a beautiful backdrop to compliment the blue colors. The wood also creates a sense of calm security, rooting these pieces in space.

The surface is lightly textured as not to reflect any images, but captures a subtle glow of light in the blue pigments.

To me, this piece makes me stare, wonder, slow down, and enjoy observing not only the differences between the three, but the subtleties presence within each piece (yes they are there if you slow down enough).

Madrid Blues
3 pieces, each 16” x 20”
Oil on Wooden Panel

Explore more images of this piece at this link.

Available for collection - email me at [email protected] to inquire

Cya next time,

Julian

PS: On a similar topic, check out my recent YouTube video on overcoming phone addiction to be more present in life.

Link to video.