How To Choose Art For Your Home.

A Williams Parks" oil in my bedroom

I worked as an interior designer for 10 years when I was the sole support of my three daughters and I always told clients that they should choose art as if they are choosing a friend. It will be something to live with for a long time, something that cheers you when you look at it, and is doesn't matter if it matches the sofa!

There are times when we outgrow our friends and our art collections. Both come from an increased awareness of what qualities we want in our associates and our homes. With art, often it comes with growing realization of talent, skill and message of the artist. You can learn about art by looking at a lot of it.

Whenever I was in a gallery or museum and encountered a painting that I didn't like, often I would sit down and study it. What was about it that put me off? What was this painter trying to say? What didn't I understand about it? Frequently, I changed my feeling about the work. Not always.

I share a home with a daughter who is also an artist and had been an art dealer in San Francisco for 18 years. She knows more about art than anyone I have ever met. We do confer about what gets hung in our home, and we know the importance of changing the placements of the art at least every 6 months. It is like seeing the art anew.
Here are some photos of the art in our home.

In the foreground are 2 of my cold wax paintings. In the background by the entrance, is an encaustic painting by Cynthia Hamilton

In the kitchen, yes art belongs in every room, is one of my favorites over a shelf. I do not remember the name of the Spanish artist, but I never get tired of looking at this moody piece. 

Living room. Left is an encaustic painting of mine. In the middle is an exquisite drawing of Arranz-Bravo, an artist from Barcelona. top right a Miró

Another of my favorites, "Carmen" oil on lead. 

An encaustic painting by Cynthia Hamilton in the guest bathroom.

The Muse is Back!

I have been home 2 weeks now and until yesterday, every time I walked into my studio, I felt empty and hurried out. I did get a lot done on the computer. It takes time to update my online galleries and I even spent some time studying Spanish.

The dental work continues and there was socializing also; but yesterday, after the meditation service, I was eager to start a new series. Here is what is happening:

Here's where I stopped. The paint was too wet to continue

Show opens tomorrow

I have spent the last couple of days hanging my paintings in the gallery for this show. It is a mother and daughter exhibit.  It feels good. I co-owned 2 art galleries in the States and was a professional art installer - it just seemed natural and spontaneous. We'll go back to the gallery today to finish up and get ready for tomorrow's reception. San Miguel de Allende is filled with people and the tourist season officially has started, so I hope the next 2 wees will bring us a lot of people to view and buy

 I am showing my Into the Silence series. Although it is not the newest series, it has not been shown publicly, except for the Internet sales.

Receiving, oil and encasutic

This painting is intended to be the focus of the first room in the gallery, since it already has won an award on a online competition; but, while trying to move the light on it, it fell; so that will have to be fixed today - by someone much taller than I.
The building that houses the gallery is 400 years old and the ceiling is very high. I will take pictures of the installation when completed and lit properly.

Figurative and Abstract paintings sold

With Arms Wide Open, 24" x 24"

I am pleased that I have had classical art training so that I can move between painting figuratively and abstract. I love doing both, but I stay with one or the other until I have a whole series made.

Saatchi Online Gallery informed me this morning that my painting Quiet Time was just sold and will be picked up Wednesday to be shipped to the client. I hope I will be informed in what country the buyer lives.

With Arms Wide Open was sold a while back.

Quiet time, 24" x 24"