New Painting, "There's A Certain Peace That Comes with Surrender"

 24" x 24" x 1.5"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas
Available

Here's a new painting inspired by my amazing Exhale Spa Dallas, yoga teacher Susie Caicedo . Susie encourages us daily and shines light for us to look w/in ourselves for strength & grace.


In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali refers to this inner presence of Ishvara as our foremost teacher (I.26). Through intimate listening to this voice within us, we begin to have a relationship with inner guidance in all aspects of our life. When I think of my most important teachers, including my parents, I see that they were there not just for the big lessons but also in a thousand small ways, constantly showing me when I was on target or beginning to wander off the path, opening my being to new vistas and reminding me when I was closing myself to life. My experience of my inner teacher is similar: As my attunement to this inner sense of direction grows, it increasingly guides my thoughts, speech, and actions.


If Ishvara is the inner compass, pranidhana is remembering to stay connected to that essence not just occasionally but throughout the day. Ishvara pranidhana is also translated as "offering the fruits of one's actions to the Divine." So many misinterpret "surrender" as a giving up, accepting defeat, but when you examine the word from a sense of letting go of resistance, of accepting and being at peace with where you are, it takes on a beautiful new meaning. 


So...surrendering...to your painting, your life circumstances, is not always easy. It's a learning process...it involves taking that leap, that fearless risk, but if we can let it take us there, it's a really a beautiful thing.

detail

detail

Decorate your Walls; Decorate Your Soul: 6 Reasons to Invest in Original Art

On Golden Waves
24" x 28"
Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

#1 Because it moves you and makes you feel

Some art just resonates with us. It moves us. It stirs our soul and evokes an emotion, a memory, an intangible thought – and we want to capture that feeling and feel it again and again. If you find art that you truly love, that makes you feel happy and inspired, buy it and bring it home with you, and you will return to that place every time you look at your painting. 

"The City of Blinding Lights"
24" x 36" x 1.5"
Oil and Mixed on Canvas

#2 – To mark the milestones

Some people like to collect art to mark the milestones in their lives.   For example, many couples like to invest in a piece of original art on their honeymoon, as a reminder of their wedding and the special bond that they have, and then purchase a piece each year on their anniversary. Others like to purchase new pieces when they move to a new home, or to celebrate the birth of a child and thus began a legacy of sharing the love of art with your children. Paintings also make the most memorable wedding gifts...you may not remember who sent you those crystal goblets but you will always know who sent you the painting. 

#3 -Art reduces stress

We are surrounded by to-do lists, chores, errands, and tons of advertising messages. Taking a moment or two to look at artwork gives us a visual vacation. It is refreshing. It can lift your mood. Owning and displaying art can enrich your life and reduces stress. It can take you back in time as you recall the memory or occasion you purchased it, or move your forward as a little mental escape.

Relax
24" x 24" x 1.5"
Oil and Mixed on Canvas

#4 – Art personalizes your space

The walls in your home are the walls of your own private gallery. You are both curator and artist. Choose art that is an extension of you. Original art is the ultimate conversation piece. It always gets noticed by your guests. Artwork is a signature way to personalize your home, office, or whatever other space you want to enhance. The art you select reflects your personality, style, and taste. It is a great way to make a space feel comfortable, to make it your own.

Original art avoids a cookie-cutter look. It brings warmth and life to a building and makes it a home. If you like quality – granite countertops and high-end fixtures and appliances – then I encourage you to invest in original art, rather than reproductions. Original art will enhance the quality of your home.

"Stay in This Moment"
10" x 10" x 1.5"
Acrylic and Mixed

#5– Original art is unique

There is nothing like an original piece of art. You are the only one in the world who possesses it.  With an original piece of art, you get the complete visual experience created by the artist. Sure, you can get a print instead, but the print lacks so much of the original. There is a richness to an original piece that just can’t be matched – or even come close! You get to see every brush stroke, all the nuances of color and depth. 

Self Symmetry
14" x 22"
(2 Canvases, 11" x 14" each)

#6 – You ensure that art continues to be made

Wouldn’t the world be a sad place without art?  If there were no art to add beauty and decoration to our lives? It is disappearing at an alarming rate in our children's schools, and as parents it is up to us to foster a love of creativity in future generations. 

Believe me, Artists are not creating art to get rich. There is something in us that drives us to create. When you purchase an original painting, you are voting with your wallet and helping to ensure that the Artist can continue making art!  

What other reasons to invest in original art can you think of?

I’d love to hear them! And thanks for stopping by!

Gladiolas
24" x 24"
Acrylic and Mixed on Canvas

All of the paintings featured are by me and available if you are looking for some original art of your own.  Email inquiries to utopiapkwyarts@yahoo.com.

New Painting, "All Around Them, the Universe Began to Unfold"

24" x 28" x 1.5"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

Original is available 

Giclee prints available for online purchase here.

I am so fascinated with the symbolism of the lotus flower. The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the water, and the heavily scented flower lies pristinely above the water, basking in the sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the bright sunshine of enlightenment.

Though there are other water plants that bloom above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the strength of its stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface.

According to the Lalitavistara, "the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like the lotus in the muddy water which does not adhere to it."

The secret is in the allowing and the understanding and with that, the letting go.

Perhaps today, right now, is finally the time just to let it all go, and let it all be.

New Painting, "Each Day I Return Anew"

16" x 20"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

Available

To me, yoga has become a way of life over the past few years, and in many ways quite different than the life that I was accustomed to. This painting is a dedication to my daily practice. Yoga has empowered me to embrace life, which helps me be a more enriched wife and mother. Each day I arise before my household, sneak away to practice and I return to my family anew, refreshed, inspired, full of love and post-Savasana bliss that I try to carry throughout the day and impart on my children. 


 The reasons why we embark on the yogic path are different for everyone. Simply put, we could say that yoga guides us from a life of ignorance, selfishness and ultimate dissatisfaction into a ‘higher life’ – into a life that is lived with proper understanding of Universal laws and of the true nature of ourselves and the world around us – with the aim to bring greater meaning into an often otherwise aimless and frustrating existence, and to guide us along a path of evolution during our time here on this earth.

Yoga teaches us to know what the behavior is that will support a fruitful, spiritually advancing life, and helps us to perform the right actions, in the right manner, at the right time.  For these tools and knowledge I am grateful and inspired.

The kids and I were at the Dallas Museum of Art yesterday and I saw this quote on the wall in the Egyptian Artifact room. I snapped this picture while trying to explain to kiddos that the mummy and sarcophagus is not "yucky"...it's amazing. 

Love those wall quotes...it resounded with me on so many levels, and I feel struck a special chord with me as I had just finshed this painting and was searching for the meaning behind it.

Greetings!!

By popular demand, I am now offering note cards featuring some of my original Artwork.  I just picked these up from the Printing co. and I am so happy with the quality of the card stock and the images. I hope to get these into some retail stores soon, but I still need to do some research on that. Speaking of, would love to hear from my dear readers if anyone has any leads! They are so wonderful I just know they will sell. 


In the meantime, for purchase info click here. 

These unique designs are from some of my most cherished paintings and are sure to make a statement when friends receive them.


Cards have been professionally ordered on high-quality, heavy matte card stock with matching envelopes. These are great for all of your stationery needs! Their size and quality lend them to be matted and framed for display if you choose not to mail them to some special person. 

DETAILS

- Set of 6 folded cards, 2 of each design 
- Blank Inside
- Folded Size - two designs are 5" x 7" and one ( "I Love You As Big as the Sky") is 5" x 5"
- Each card is paired with a matching white envelope
-Materials used are of the highest quality
-Gift Idea: I can tie them up with ribbon for you to give as a gift. Perfect for a Mother's Day, teacher gift, or birthday gift!

** Note cards are shipped safely and securely in protective mailers. Save on shipping by purchasing more than one item from my shop!

If you are ordering this as a gift to be shipped to someone else, I would be happy to include a personal message for you.

If you are interested picking and choosing the designs you want for your set of six, just message me and I will customize the set for you. Thanks for looking!

These designs created from my original artwork are also available as fine art giclee prints here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67562286/i-love-you-as-big-as-the-sky-12-x-12?ref=pr_shop

and here:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67487155/detached-11-x-14-giclee-print

Hecho En Dallas

 

So excited my paintings, "Connected" and "Detached" (above) were selected to be featured in the Hecho en Dallas Exhibition, currently on display at the Latino Cultural Center in Deep Ellum.

Hecho en Dallas

Exhibition is open until April 29, 2011

Hecho en Dallas 2011 features 46 artworks by 42 artists from Dallas and North Texas and includes a variety of themes and media. Over 100 artists submitted more than 300 artworks for review, making this one of the most popular juried shows in the history of the LCC. One reason this show is particularly significant to me is that two years I submitted some pieces, but they were not selected to show, and this year it was very special to receive notice that I was accepted. It really demonstrates the progress that is being made on this little creative journey that I'm on. 

The jurors for Hecho en Dallas 2011 were: Marty Ray, Professor of Ceramics and Sculpture and Art Programs Coordinator at North Lake College and founder of the White Rock Lake Artists Studio Tour; Elizabeth Mellott, professor of Photography and Book Arts at Collin College; and Awadh Baryoum, professor or Drawing and Painting at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas.

Me and my mom at the opening reception.  Mom is an Artist herself, specializing in custom murals, and has always been my biggest cheerleader.

I love watching people look at my paintings at openings.  Kind of stalker-ish? Maybe, but I could have literally sat here all evening and observed people looking at my paintings and the feelings it evoked in them.

Detail of "Detached"

The 8th Annual Hecho en Dallas (Made in Dallas) is a juried exhibition designed to showcase the recent work of professional artists who reside and are active in the artistic environment of the Dallas area. The exhibition is presented annually by the Latino Cultural Center in recognition of the talented pool of artists whose creative endeavors give vitality to the cultural movement in North Texas.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something

"I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do." 

Edward Hale

24" x 24" x 1.5

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

Created for Alley's House Incrementum Art Auction

I am a mom of three children under five.  The reality is, I do not have a lot of spare time.  Eventually I hope to be able to give back by spending time doing acts of service with my children and husband, but we are just not there yet. In the meantime, the way I feel like I can help is by contributing my paintings to organizations that I feel serve causes that are important to me.  One of these such organizations is Alley's House, who provides education, support services and empowerment to teen moms in need.

Here is the info for Incrementum, which takes place this Saturday night at RISING Gallery & Creative Haus in Dallas.  I hope to see some of my Dallas friends there!

Please join us for an evening of 200 works of art celebrating INCREMENTUM Saturday, February 26 between 7-11 p.m.

We are excited about this year's art auction which will feature 200 local artists who have joined us in supporting our mission to empower teen mothers and their children to become independent.

Each piece of art will be part of a silent auction, however, 10 pieces will be live auctioned.

It will be a festive evening of beautiful art, complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres and live jazz by The Brehms!

INCREMENTUM is a collaborative event with FGIIIART.

Please click the link below to RSVP and purchase tickets online:
http://conta.cc/idXqiI

Can't attend, but would like to support alley's house? You can donate online at http://www.alleyshouse.org/donate.htm.

New Painting, "Surfacing"

11" x 14"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

The original painting is available and prints are on Etsy.

Chalk it up to my deep search for Symbolism in this world, my daily yoga practice, or my love of all things ephemeral, but I am really inspired by the image of the lotus lately.

The suggestion of my newest lotus flower painting is to open us up to beauty and light. I look at this painting as a reminder of the miracle of beauty, light and life. TIt is my hope that this reminder, communicated on an emotional level, will aid both spiritual and practical understanding of the world and our place in it.

A Poem for Wednesday, and a New Painting..."What Lies Beneath"

"What Lies Beneath"
24" x 36"
Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas
The original painting is for sale and prints are also available on Etsy.


Feeling a little somber today...maybe it's the cold.  Snowed in for the fifth day in 2 weeks, I pulled out some sketch books from high school and found this Sylvia Plath poem on one of the first pages.  Yes, going back to my teen-angst-ridden, Plath-quoting days is always an interesting place to revisit. Despite all the years that passed when I first stumbled across her poetry, the words are still so powerful to me. The poem spoke through my new work and let me see it in a new light.

"Elm"

I know the bottom, she says. I know it with my great tap root; 

It is what you fear. 

I do not fear it: I have been there. 

Is it the sea you hear in me,

Its dissatisfactions? 

Or the voice of nothing, that was you madness? 

Love is a shadow. 

How you lie and cry after it. 

Listen: these are its hooves: it has gone off, like a horse. 

All night I shall gallup thus, impetuously,

Till your head is a stone, your pillow a little turf, 

Echoing, echoing. 

Or shall I bring you the sound of poisons? 

This is rain now, the big hush. 

And this is the fruit of it: tin white, like arsenic. 

I have suffered the atrocity of sunsets. 

Scorched to the root 

My red filaments burn and stand,a hand of wires. 

Now I break up in pieces that fly about like clubs. 

A wind of such violence 

Will tolerate no bystanding: I must shriek. 

The moon, also, is merciless: she would drag me 

Cruelly, being barren. 

Her radience scathes me. Or perhaps I have caught her. 

I let her go. I let her go 

Diminished and flat, as after radical surgery. 

How your bad dreams possess and endow me. 

I am inhabited by a cry. 

Nightly it flaps out 

Looking, with its hooks, for something to love. 

I am terrified by this dark thing 

That sleeps in me; 

All day I feel its soft, feathery turnings, its malignity. 

Clouds pass and disperse. 

Are those the faces of love, those pale irretrievables? 

Is it for such I agitate my heart? 

I am incapable of more knowledge. 

What is this, this face 

So murderous in its strangle of branches?-- 

Its snaky acids kiss. 

It petrifies the will. These are the isolate, slow faults 

That kill, that kill, that kill.

New Paintings, "Connected and Detached"

22" x 36"

(2 canvases, 18" x 22" each)

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

"In the space of letting go, she let it all be.  A small smile came over her face.  A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and moon shined forevermore."

-Safire Rose

I worked on these canvases at the same time and simply cannot decide if they are supposed to remain connected or not...they work both separate and together.  All this thinking about connection led me to the title, and got me thinking about the meaning behind the connections between all of us.

I think the easy part about manifesting/creating those things that we want in our lives is the desire and the imagining.  These are the fun parts. For me, the hard part is detachment.

Often, we get attached to how we expect certain things to come to us, when or where. Or we are attached to how certain things/people "should " or "ought to" be.  And of course, these expectations hinder us. We get in our own way.

The secret is in the allowing and the understanding and with that, the letting go.

Perhaps today, right now, is finally the time just to let it all go, and let it all be.

This painting is currently on display at Momo's on Knox in Dallas and available for purchase. Fine art giclee prints available on Etsy.

New Painting, "Transformation"

 Transformation

24" x 36"

Oil and Mixed Media on Canvas

I am fascinated with the journey of the lotus flower. It starts as a small plant down at the bottom of a pond's mud and muck. It slowly grows up towards the water's surface, continually moving towards the light. Once it reaches the surface of the water the lotus begins to blossom and turn into a beautiful flower.

The lotus flower has become a symbol for awakening to the spiritual reality of life. As the lotus flower grows up from the mud into a object of great beauty, people also grow and change into something more beautiful (hopefully!). To me this symbol represents the struggle of life at its most basic form and the reminder that the journey is precious and beautiful.

This painting will be on display in January at Starbuck's in the West Village. Contact me for more details or purchase information.

(detail)