Vertical vs. Horizontal Living: An Artist’s Reflection on Life and Perspective

“Do we live vertically or do we live horizontally?”

“Is there such a thing as vertical or horizontal living?

A couple of peculiar questions popped into my head whilst I was wrestling with why I never feel quite right painting in horizontal orientation. My preference has always been to paint in a vertical format. Why?

That curiosity sparked my recent abstract acrylic painting series, “Vertical vs. Horizontal Living”. I created two companion pieces sharing the same palette, vibrant reds, deep blues and earthy greens in varying tones.

One features bold, vertical brushstrokes that sweep upward like flames. The other flows in broad horizontal gestures that seem to breathe across the canvas. Both are made in vertical orientation paper cards because, well, that’s simply how I see the world.

But here’s what got me thinking: Could the way I instinctively choose orientation in art reveal something deeper about how I navigate life itself?

I should mention straight away that I’m not entirely certain I can clearly explain what I mean by “vertical” or “horizontal” living. These concepts emerged from my own musings as I worked on these paintings and I don’t have any academic backing for these ideas.

They’re simply thoughts that bubbled up from the creative process. Perhaps you’ll have your own interpretation that makes more sense than mine.

Seeing the World: Horizontal by Nature, Vertical by Aspiration

We’re naturally wired to perceive the world horizontally, aren’t we?

Our eyes sit side by side, granting us a panoramic view that’s wider than it is taller. Think about it – roads stretch across landscapes, computer screens sprawl horizontally and even our conversations happen at eye level, creating an invisible horizontal line between people.

Yet vertical elements command our attention in entirely different ways.

Towers pierce the sky, ancient trees stretch toward heaven and skyscrapers seem to defy gravity itself. There’s something about vertical lines that suggests aspiration, growth, reaching beyond our earthbound existence.

I remember visiting York City years ago, standing in front of York Minster, my neck craning upward to follow the soaring columns. The architects knew exactly what they were doing – those vertical lines pulled my thoughts heavenward, made me feel small yet inspired. That’s vertical thinking in stone and mortar.

Reflection Prompt: Pause for a moment and look around your room or glance outside. Which directions dominate your environment? How does this make you feel?

The Language of Direction in Art

In art, the symbolism of direction is beautifully straightforward – more so than in our messy, complex daily lives.

Vertical Lines speak of:

• Aspiration and ambition
• Personal growth and reaching upward
• Strength, focus and individuality
• The drive to transcend

Horizontal Lines whisper of:

• Stability and peace
• Equality and shared experience
• The comfort of belonging
• The need for connection

When I painted the vertical piece, my arm moved with urgency, each stroke reaching upward like a prayer or a plea. The horizontal painting felt entirely different, my movements were broader, more contemplative, as if I were smoothing a blanket or stroking calm water.

It was really interesting to notice the shift in my mood in the direction of the brush strokes.

How Direction Shows Up in Everyday Life

The more I’ve pondered this, the more I’ve noticed vertical and horizontal patterns weaving through my daily existence in surprising ways.

At Work: (That was years ago), I once spent nearly a year fixated on climbing toward a promotion. Every morning felt like scaling a mountain – meetings were rungs on a ladder, targets were summits to conquer, deadlines were cliff faces I had to scramble up.

That was vertical living in its purest form: achievement-oriented, driven, sometimes breathlessly intense.

But then something shifted. I began mentoring younger colleagues, collaborating on projects where success meant lifting others up alongside me. Suddenly, work felt more horizontal – less about my individual ascent and more about moving forward together, like a group of friends walking side by side along a country path.

In Relationships: I’ve caught myself living vertically in friendships without realising it – unconsciously trying to “lead” conversations, quick to offer solutions, positioning myself as the one with answers. It created an invisible hierarchy that felt oddly lonely.

The most treasured moments with friends happen horizontally: sitting together on a park bench, sharing stories without an agenda, laughing until our sides ache, or simply being present in comfortable silence. Equal, relaxed, grounding. No one’s above or below; we’re all just here, together.

Daily Rhythms: Last Thursday morning, instead of rushing to my studio, I decided to wander through the local park. I found myself drawn to a bench overlooking a pond, watching the horizon stretch between tall oaks. Children playing nearby, their laughter rippling across the water like gentle waves. Time seemed to expand rather than push forward.

That hour felt profoundly horizontal – expansive, unhurried, in harmony with life’s natural rhythm rather than fighting against it. I wasn’t climbing toward anything, I was simply being present in the wide, generous space of the moment.

Art Practice: This brings me back to why I always create in vertical format, even turning horizontal canvases upright. Perhaps my vertical brushstrokes mirror my ambitious, goal-driven nature, that part of me that’s always reaching, growing, pushing boundaries.

Meanwhile, the horizontal strokes reflect my longing to connect, to pause, to find peace in the spaces between achievements.

Both orientations feel essential, like breathing in and breathing out.

The Balance Between Directions

Here’s what I’m beginning to understand: vertical and horizontal living aren’t opposite, they’re complementary forces.

Vertical living gives us direction, purpose and the exhilarating feeling of growth and progress. It’s what gets us out of bed with dreams bigger than ourselves. But lived exclusively, it can become exhausting, isolating and a constant state of striving that never quite satisfies.

Horizontal living offers connection, presence, the deep satisfaction of belonging and being enough exactly as we are. It’s what makes life rich and meaningful. But without any vertical elements, we might find ourselves comfortable yet stagnate, connected but not growing.

I think of a tree. Its root spreads horizontally, creating stability and drawing nourishment from the earth. But its trunk and branches reach vertically toward light and sky. The tree needs both directions to thrive.

Perhaps we do too.

Questions for Reflection

• Do you naturally lean more toward vertical or horizontal living? What draws you in that direction?
• How might your career choices, relationships or daily habits reflect one orientation over the other?
• Can you think of moments when you’ve felt the satisfaction of vertical achievement versus the peace of horizontal connection?
• What would it look like to blend both perspectives more intentionally in your life?

No pressure to answer everything – even just a quick thought on one of these questions would be wonderful to hear. Drop your reflection in the comments; I love learning from the different perspectives that come through here.

Art as a Mirror for Living

Art doesn’t just exist on canvas, it reflects our inner orientations and choices. My vertical brushstrokes teach me about ambition and the courage to reach beyond the familiar. The horizontal ones remind me to breathe, to connect, to find richness in the present moment rather than always chasing the next summit.

Maybe life, like painting, achieves its most beautiful expression when it includes both directions, the upward reach and the outward embrace, the individual journey and the shared path.

A Personal Confession

I’ll be honest, this hasn’t been the easiest subject to write about. I’m still not entirely sure I’m explaining these concepts clearly and I worry I’m creating categories that don’t really exist outside my own mind.

“Vertical” and “horizontal” living aren’t terms you’ll find in psychology textbooks or philosophy journals, they’re just the language that emerged from my brushes and my wondering.

But sometimes the most meaningful insights come from paying attention to our patterns, even when we can’t fully articulate them.

My preference for vertical orientation in painting has opened a window into how I move through the world and perhaps that’s enough.

What do you think? Does any of this resonate with your experience?

I’d be genuinely curious to hear your thoughts. Perhaps you can offer clearer explanations or entirely different perspectives on these ideas.

After all, the best conversations happen horizontally, don’t they? Side by side, exploring ideas together.

Other Reading

The Direction of Viewing Art: Left to Right or Right to Left