Unfinished Business: What to do with old, unresolved work!

I have been organizing the office and studio in my new home, coming across so many unfinished pieces of artwork from series past, spanning ten years of work. Practically, this is a great way to see if there are any hidden little gems I can post in my soon-to-be-complete Etsy store.

But, finding a big collection (you see a sampling above) of work that was left unfinished has got me thinking about the nature of my work and of changing thematic gears in general. If you haven't already noticed, my style and approach is broad and varied. This has its pros and cons. I love variety and use whichever materials I feel best express a given idea. However, I do sometimes feel fragmented, not sure which project to work on some days (Hello, Gemini!). In addition, more than one gallery owner has told me my work is not 'cohesive' enough. Business and marketing aside, I know it's important to learn from the steady growth of an idea over time.

One of the reasons you can see so many different styles is directly related to stopping and starting work in the studio due to moving house or other big life changes.
As I have mentioned before, I have moved 17 times in 21 years. Thus my persistent curiosity in stories about moving, renovations, packing, nesting, etc. When I have had to pack up and relocate, then get through transition times, I would often interrupt a series of artwork. Then, when I was ready to work again, I wanted to respond immediately to my new surroundings and sensations, leaving the previous body of work 'boxed'.

These days I seek continuity. One of the mantras from Yogi Bhajan I repeat to myself daily is: Consolidate, Concentrate, Be YOU. So, in this consolidation process I am determining whether some of the unfinished artwork should be finished and presented, and some should be recycled forever. Part practicality, part 'letting-go'.

There are also only so many hours in the day, so for one month, my daily paintings site will be dedicated to finishing and posting almost-there works. It's practical, but also sort of an experiment. would like to see what the common denominator in my varied bodies of work of over the last ten years is, and then how it connects to what I am currently exploring.

Thenot's Practical Perspective

What a find. A friend gave me this book years ago. I have been cleaning/reorganizing my office this weekend and it leapt out at me. I already have plans for these images...can't wait to share them with you.

Panoramic view: Loose Cables

Here is the piece posted below as it looks displayed as a diptych.

New Diptych: Loose Cables (Cables sueltas)

Loose Cables (Cables sueltas)

2(80 X 40 cm) mixed media on wood.

This is actually meant to be displayed in a panoramic composition. I'll hang it and photograph it that way today and post it; it will also provide a better sense of scale. It's very similar to some works I did called Reformas about two years ago when I started depicting these stripped-down building facades.

On Daily Painting: at times a humbling discipline

Look what is cropping up in those cute daily paintings everyone is enjoying so much!

Yes, this newer series is bright and colorful, incorporating my daughter's drawing; surely the shift must be a harbinger of Spring?

This is true, in part. Daily paintings for me are quite auto-biographical, they can't help but be so, given the nature of the project. I paint intensely for a few hours without thinking too much. The work emerges from intuition and I have learned not to question it. I save such scrutiny for my larger works and series that I create and exhibit over time. Both bodies of work inform each other.

The other day, I caught myself trying to avoid the inevitable self-expression that emerges within the constraints of size/materials/and time. I wanted to change the subject. But I didn't really have a good reason, was I avoiding something?

Sadhana means daily discipline and in the Eastern tradition, it is often carried out in increments of 40 days, the time believed necessary to break old habits and mental blocks so that new prospects can emerge. So, this is just the challenge- push through the boredom, the awkward outcomes, uncomfortable moments to see where it leads me.

Then seemingly innocently enough, two pieces came out using writing of my daughter (who couldn't spell at the time of making the drawings) with the word 'ira" Spanish for ire, or anger, then MAD. Was this the part I was avoiding, showing the darker side of this moving story?

Stay tuned.

Molding Display: How did I miss this one?!

Yesterday I spied this little treasure through a rip in a canvas-covered, tall barrier in front of a demolished building here in Palma de Mallorca. How did I miss this treat?! Must have been a shop selling such decorative moldings.

I would love to just take this whole composition and re-install it in my house as a work of art on the wall, salmon colored background included. Do the contractors have guilt pangs when they finally build over such visual delights?

Plaster relief, 3 steps forward, one step back...

Taking a new look at my approach to working with plaster relief. It's been a long time, but the weather is finally good for casting again. Above is an example of some surface play. The electric hand-sander is the best art tool ever. That's why I say, 3 steps forward, one step back - I love over-working a surface, then boldly eliminating most of it in one swift pass, seeing what surprises lurk below.


What you see here is an image from the Castillo Bellver in Palma de Mallorca. The walls on the roof of the castle are covered with graffiti from prisoners from 1400 to 1900. Seeing these surfaces for the first time a few years ago has been lingering in my visual memory, along with the other aging walls that are so prevalent on my blog.
Can you imagine taking the time to carve letters with a serif!? Well, I guess they had plenty of time on their hands.

From Palma to New York City

Slooowly but surely getting back into the studio.
Here's a piece I finished (?) recently as a going away gift for a friend taking an adventurous sabbatical from Palma de Mallorca to New York City for several months.

The moving story excerpts are from "Leaving Lisbon" by Evan, thank you.

In the meantime...Sadhana Yoga Palma

I know, I know...Where have I been?!
Well, in addition to making art, I teach Kundalini yoga and meditation. So, in addition to the big changes of moving house and art studio- I have re-opened my new yoga center: Sadhana Yoga Palma. Above you see the space. It was originally the formal dining room in my 1918 Palma apartment. Tempting, isn't it...first class is free, come on over!

Now that the center is up and running and new students are coming in, I can get back to my other studio!
Thanks for your patience.

Across the Bridge

Here is the diptych I recently completed, Across the Bridge.

It's a 'moving story' (Español) about making big changes that includes writing in English and in Spanish about both the fear and relief that comes from this process. Thanks to Kristen and Xavi for providing the story excerpts. I am always looking for new stories to illuminate, so click on the links highlighted above or instructions. Thank you

Sweet Relief, back to work!

Wow. What an amazing feeling it was yesterday to finally start painting again! It has been over a month since I began the process of packing up my former residence and moving into the center of Palma de Mallorca. Here I have ample space for my art studio, a big office, and my yoga center.

The holidays are about over (are they ever really over in Spain?!) and guests are gone; so yesterday I re-aquainted myself with my materials to work on a commissioned diptych.

Words can't express the liberty that making art brings me. Ahhhh, sweet relief.

Keep looking for progress and new works on this site and a new series of Daily Paintings on my sister-site coming soon.

Light Installation at Plaça Vuit, Sa Pobla, Mallorca

Last night we celebrated the grand opening of the new site of what was formerly called E-Così. Here you see the great bar at the new restaurant Plaça Vuit in Sa Pobla, Mallorca. This is opposite an artwork I created especially for the owners. Bel and Toni worked together with an incredible team to design and transform a historic building in the center of Sa Pobla.
They asked me to create special sort of painting / light installation for the site. You can see the images below. It is a theatre-like scrim depicting the Plaza España in Rome (this is an Italian restaurant).


The installation works nicely with the many beautiful light fixtures selected by Bel.


My good friends and the owners of Plaça Vuit. The name is the street address 'Plaza # 8' in Catalan. Congratulations to them and all the folks that worked their tails off over the last few months.

Shades of Grey at ArtPropelled

Untitled (Hitchcock series) by Robert Natkin

Haunted by Sara Giannobile

Please hurry over to http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/ to see more of this comprehensive blog post about Shades of Grey. Robyn's site is great - I recommend you check it often. Thanks to Robyn for including one of my Expert Mover paintings in this post. Enjoy.

Opening Coverage at the Tesorería General, Palma de Mallorca

I really wanted to post pictures of the opening, with lots of people milling around happily , but I have none! My designated photographer, the coordinator of the exhibition space, worked the refreshment table and in the end sent me only the picture at the end of this post of himself and I!
The pictures you see here were taken in the empty gallery earlier in the week, but you get the idea.

The good news is that it was crowded and a successful night. I really appreciate all of those who came out to celebrate with me. I did get some newspaper coverage as well. It is a possibility that I will get a review from another publication. If so I will certainly keep you posted.






Coordinator, Tomeu Pinya and I.

Exhibition Open in Palma de Mallorca: The Search for Home/La Búsqueda de Casa

Just look at the sheer joy with which I work...My exhibit in the Gallery space at the Social Security Building in Palma de Mallorca is up and will be until the 13th. We will celebrate on Friday night at 8 p.m.; come by for Spanish tapas and a refreshment! I say this knowing that most of my English-speaking readership will certainly NOT be there, but a girl can dream...

Expert Mover, 1 of 8

A little sneak preview of a new series of daily paintings not yet posted over at my Dailies site. I've been a busy little bee.

Casa & Campo I/II / House & Field I/II

Casa & Campo I / House & Field I


Casa & Campo II / House & Field II

Diptych: 20 X 20 inches (50 X 50 cm) each. Collage 7 mixed media on wood

This diptych is a large scale version of the 32 abstract orange Daily Paintings featured on my other blog.

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

New Piece: Volver a Casa / Return Home

24 X 24 inches (61 X 61 cm)

Mixed media collage and painting

The composition of this piece is from a section of an enormous destroyed building in Inca, Mallorca. The wall paper and newspaper come from a building demolition in Sa Pobla, Mallorca. There are two bodies of text taken from moving stories contributed by Jose and Eusebia. Thank you both.

Pondering Weathered Walls

I received an appreciated recognition from Robyn at: http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/
where she has gathered a collection of artists who are interested in the same rich and reminiscent surfaces of aged and decrepit walls as I. Thanks to Robyn, I have had a wonderful morning of discovering new artists that make my ex-pat world feel a bit smaller.

The photograph above is by Margaret Ryall.

I am particularly blown away by the fact that I hadn't previously stumbled across Clay Ketters, whose photographic images are almost identical to so many I have taken in Mallorca. More on him later...

The High Tower (La Torre Alta)

The High Tower (El Torre Alta)

Collaboration with my 5 year old daughter, Malena, 2009

35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (old Mallorquin newspaper, acrylic, graphite, ink)

New Piece: The Castle

The Castle (El Castillo)

Completed October 7, 2009
35.5 X 47 inches (90 X 120 cm)
Mixed media on wood (old Mallorquin newspaper, acrylic, graphite, ink)

The title of this piece comes from the drawing in the background created by my daughter about a year ago. Lately pretty much every piece I make either has some drawing of hers or found objects collected by her incorporated into it. The composition of rooms and open door is from a destroyed building in Palma de Mallorca. The text is from a moving story written by my yoga student, Victoria.

here's a detail of the castle drawing...