For Mandy Racine, art has always been a calling. From her earliest childhood in Scotland, sketching alongside her mother, to her current life as a full-time artist in the tranquil village of Petra, Mallorca, Racine has remained steadfast in her creative pursuit. Her vibrant, contemporary takes on classic Rococo and Baroque portraiture have earned her international acclaim, with representation in galleries across the United States. In this interview with “Humans of Mallorca”, Racine shares her journey from budding artist to a name recognized in the art world, reflecting on the influences of her upbringing, the challenges of forging an artistic career, and why the island’s light and serenity make it the perfect canvas for creation.
What’s your background?
I was born in Scotland. I studied a Foundation Course in Art & Design for 1 year in the UK, followed by a degree in Fine Art for 3 years also in the UK.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As I child I actually always wanted to be an artist – my mum told me that I was drawing from the time I could hold a pencil.
Who are your parents?
Both my mum & dad are sadly no longer alive, but they gave me a wonderful & inspiring childhood and always encouraged my creative expression. I think if they’d have been born into a different generation, they’d have studied art of some kind (my mum – fashion design and my dad maybe graphics), but that wasn’t an option for them. I remember painting & drawing alongside my mum – she’d set up easels and paint with me. They always took me to visit old castles and museums, so I’ll always be grateful for that – it helped expand my artistic vision & gave me a good insight into history and the history of art.
How did you choose your profession?
I think it’s difficult to choose art as a career even if that’s what you really want, because it’s not so straightforward to get to that point. I’ve worked in many different jobs, but when I first got to Mallorca I started to get closer to that creative dream. I worked as a specialist painter in interiors for many years undertaking a variety of paint finishes including frescoes, furniture painting, gold leafing & marbling. Then I decided to try and work on my own paintings alongside that work, which I did for a few years before being able to finally work as an artist full time. I joined the online gallery Saatchi Art, based out of the United States and that really started me on my artistic path – that was just over 10 years ago now. Since then, I’ve been represented by a physical gallery in the UK (3 years) and more recently I’m now represented by Laura Rathe Fine Art in Houston, Texas and Joanne Artman Gallery in Laguna Beach, California. As my main market seems to be the States, I haven’t done so much in Mallorca, but I find it the perfect place to create and the light is fantastic. I now live & work in my house in Petra, which is amazing because everything is under one roof. I have a great studio space and I work in it 7 days a week, usually 4-5 hours a day.
Describe your typical day from morning till you go to bed.
A typical day – after breakfast I do any admin work on the computer – answering e-mails or organising shipping. Then I go upstairs to my studio to start work – I have a load of books & reference material as well as sketchbooks. Normally I work on one piece at a time, but more recently I’ve been working on two. After 2-3 hours I break for lunch and after lunch do another hour or two. After 5pm, I get quite tired, so I stop work and take my dog for a walk – always good to get some fresh air.
What are you most proud of?
I’m very fortunate that I’ve been able to keep going despite at times not having much financial security. I’m naturally quite determined and believe in my work and I think that propels me forward. This is probably what I’m most proud of – believing in myself when at times it’s been very challenging & sticking to my guns. Finally, I’m starting to get a bit of recognition which means the world!
Text by Anastasia Barysheva
