Would you have guessed the artist? (Picture: The House That Black Built) The dining room wall of Chelsea Stonier’s Shropshire home features two imposing abstract paintings that have gained more than 150,000 likes online. What makes these monochrome prints so popular? The artist, who is Chelsea’s two-year-old son, October. Chelsea, 37, has been commissioning her toddler to add paint to canvas, adding surprisingly chic artwork to her interiors Instagram, The House That Black Built. While some might not trust their two-year-old to paint without creating a crime scene, Chelsea has put all the necessary precautions in place, including extensive sheeting on the wooden floor. ‘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 now created four pieces for the family home.   It all started a year ago. ‘I picked up inexpensive canvases; they were actually on offer. I thought I could always just paint over them in the worst case,’ Chelsea 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.’ A pop of colour in the otherwise monochrome home (Picture: The House That Black Built) October in action (Picture: The House That Black Built) Chelsea, an interior design influencer known for minimalist neutrals, has been publishing her house renovation to a following of over two hundred thousand people since she bought the house in 2021. Always artsy, it’s no surprise she’s already teaching her young son to delve into his creative side. 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!’ October admiring his handiwork (Picture: The House That Black Built) The art is part of a much wider renovation project that has seen Chelsea transform her family home. ‘We’ve been renovating for over five years now, but we’re getting to the nicer end of things, like hanging up paintings,’ says Chelsea, who discovered she was pregnant two years into 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!’   For a long time, they hadn’t even put up blinds and curtains. One year, they had no heating on the two-week run up to Christmas. There was also a period of no kitchen. It’s been a labour of love (Picture: The House That Black Built) Nonetheless, there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and looking at the house now, it is visually stunning. Chelsea’s proudest room is her en-suite bathroom, which contains marble effect porcelain tiles.  ‘Everyone always thinks it’s real marble!’ A before and after of the en-suite (Picture: The House That Black Built) But it’s October’s handiwork that’s 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.’