Tulips from the Dallas Arboretum

Tulips Ablaze

16x20

watercolor by Liana Yarckin

I haven't painted flowers for a while because nobody seems to buy them and "they" say not to enter a floral in a competition.  My floral paintings get rave reviews, but, it seems that everyone ends up buying everything else I paint except for the flowers.  That's okay, because I don't want to part with this one.  When I saw these tulips at the annual Madhatter's Fundraiser at the Dallas Arboretum, I had to take a zillion photos of them.  I took some in the morning when it was about 50 degrees and all of the tulips were completely closed, then at 1:30 after it warmed up, the tulips all opened completely.  I will have to paint another version of them when they were closed.


Below are some of the paintings that sold at my art show.  If you need a gift for Mother's day that is a unique one of a kind - I still have framed paintings at City Cafe waiting to find a home.  I posted a bunch on my Liana Yarckin Watercolors facebook page.  A season of Aspens, Seals in Newport Beach, Cape Cod, Miami Beach, several Paris scenes, a couple of abstracts and 2 Highland Park paintings.

 

I am working on some home portrait commissions right now and entries for the SWS Annual Membership Show.  Thanks for visiting and staying in touch!

Reception - Successful

Karim of City Cafe

The reception for my art show, Colorful Aspirations, was a great success.  Thank you to everyone that came.  I loved the questions and your thoughts about the different pieces of art.  In particular, the story from the couple that purchased "Bridge at Exall Lake".  They said it reminded them of all the times they walked on that bridge with their grandmother.  It was great to hear the memories or ideas that people had from a particular painting.  I truly appreciate all of those that came, old friends and very new friends.  I cannot forget my husband who's support and encouragement is so awesome.  Thank you to my dear friends who helped me set up, took photos and played cashier.  

A huge thank you to City Cafe for hosting such a wonderful party for us.  Great food, wine and music!  I could not have asked for a more professional staff who handled everything with such grace.

To see more photos from the art show and what painting I am working on now, go to my facebook page, Liana Yarckin Watercolors.

Art Reception Announcement

Please join me to celebrate another year of painting and life in general.

Come with your girlfriends, your kiddos or your hubbies for a good time.

City Cafe has special treats for the kiddos - t-shirts with one of my paintings printed on them!

10% of the proceeds are going to The Retina Foundation of the Southwest

For latest info:  Liana Yarckin Watercolors on facebook

That's my baby boy in the painting.  Inspired from a photo I took of him jumping with joy at the State Fair.  It takes so little to make a toddler happy.  It is on display at City Cafe, but not for sale.  

I think I still need to explore this painting idea more.  However, since the subject matter is dear to my heart, I love the painting for now.  If you know what I need to do to make it a competition worthy painting, please let me know.  I want to improve it, but, I am so close to it that I can't think objectively.  I like the idea of one person and then all of the shadows.  I am thinking that I need to make the entire front of the figure dark.   I like letting the shadows be all colors mixing together as they are.  But, I also like the idea of the sunlight on the side of his shirt and body disappearing into the sunlit background.  Or is it suppose to be that the boy and his shadow only stand out from all of the rest?  In any event, I am all ears to your suggestions, even starting on a fresh piece of paper.  That is how into this idea I am.  Actually, any further exploration will be on new paper and I will just keep this as one of the versions.