Peace

Mykonos, Greece

With all of the end of school activities and craziness, I was looking for a painting that was calming. This is from a photo I took when on Spring Break in college. I painted it years later when I started painting more seriously thanks to the encouragement from my husband. Who would have known that I would return to this location again. When living in London, we went to Mykonos and I stood in this very spot 14 years later. Who knows what the future holds.

Looking for Serenity

Midnight Magnolia

The last week of school is here! The kids are so excited. I am, too. However, I do long for the summers I grew up having. I had read in a newspaper article a long while ago that the definition of summer is to spend time doing nothing. How decadent is that in today's world? The article was about how the author spent his summer hanging out with his friends and looking for things to do (exploring, making up games, etc.) vs. today's very busy summers filled with day camps and organized sports. I can't find that definition on the internet!!!! Right now with how fast our world is and our schedules are, I want that definition to be true. I want for my kids to have that time to be creative and figure out what to do. As an adult, I would love to have time to do nothing - I see that as a total luxury. As our summer approaches, I am going to try to allow for my children to be "bored". I want to give them that luxury of just having time. I did find a definition of summer that I do like! It is: "A period of fruition, fulfillment, happiness, or beauty." from answers.com. So I wish everyone a happy summer. May you be fulfilled with how you spend your time this summer!

15x22 original watercolor by Liana Yarckin
$350

Memorial Day Weekend

American Beauty

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, I was going to post one of my paintings with an American flag in it. However, when I was scrolling through my paintings, I saw this one and it made me remember the vision I had of America when I was a little girl. I don't know why, maybe from a history book or one of those films you have to watch in history class, this is what America looked like to me. So in honor of all of the soldiers that have protected our freedom, I post this painting.

17x22 original watercolor
$300

Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by!

Children Can Make You Smile

             
Sailing in Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France

16x22, original watercolor by Liana Yarckin

Follow up to the previous post about talking to my kids classes for career week. The kids were so sweet! First, my son said that I needed to bring goodies to pass out and could I write my name and website on cards to pass out. I have business cards, but, what kind of marketing goodies does an artist have lying around the studio?

I was so impressed with their questions - "Do you like being an artist? - Is it fun? - Is it hard? What is it like?" I had taken some unframed paintings to show and someone noticed there was something on the back of a painting. They wanted to see it, I told them when I don't like how a painting comes out, I just paint on the other side. All of them wanted to see the painting that I didn't like. They were so sweet, all commented, "I like it, it is pretty, you did a good job." Obviously, they are all nurtured and loved.

The best part was when my son was passing out the "goodies" - watercolor sets and a little girl asked, "When did you start becoming an artist?" I said, "When I was your age and with these very same watercolors I am giving you." They all had wide eyes and couldn't believe it. The next day when I dropped my son off at his class, the quietest little girl held up a painting she did with the watercolors I passed out. Her giant smile and pride is still making me feel all warm and fuzzy!!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Beauty in Simplicity

I know that I promised I would post some of my photos and preliminary sketches for you to see, but, first let me tell you about these. This week is career week at my son's school. He asked me to come talk about being a painter vs. an architect. I was looking through my paintings to see what the children might be interested in and I found these. I did these in my first watercolor class about 12 years ago. What I like about these is that they are so high in contrast and vibrant color. I am going to tack these up in my studio to remind me to keep my watercolors clean, bright and simple. I am going to tell the kids in my son's class to go home, get one piece of fruit and draw it in many different positions. Notice how the light is shining on it and draw that shape of light. Then paint or color it noticing all of the colors in the fruit. Notice what colors the fruit is taking on from it's surroundings and put all of those colors in your drawing, but leave the shape of light alone. I encourage you to try the same. You never know what you might find!!!!

Thanks for visiting. Please feel free to email me any questions!

Provence Doorway

This doorway is from one of my Provence photos. I will have to look it up in my notes to see exactly what village it was in. There were so many interesting doorways and nooks and crannies. I have a stack of photos that I want to paint. I loved how there are always pots of flowers and vines at most every door.

11x14 watercolor by Liana Yarckin
Sold.

Be sure to check back in the next few days. I am going to post some of my rough value sketches & photos so you can see what I start with. Thanks for visiting!

Happy Mother's Day!

For all of the moms out there, I hope you have had a very happy mother's day. We can't do it without your love and guidance.

Lavender at the Pool House

This was a lavender field that we had access to when we stayed in a hotel in the town of Loumarin in Provence on our first trip to France. I will have to look up the hotel name, but they had to die for dinners and an amazing cheese cart. The pool was not on site since the hotel was in the town center, so we had to go to this little country house for pool and spa treatments. Just on the other side of those green bushes was the resort style pool. This was the lavender field and off to the left was their vegetable garden in which they grew for their meals. The lavender from this field was used to make lavender honey, lavender cookies and other yummy lavender desserts like creme brulee! We tested it all, and it all was delicous!

11x14 watercolor by Liana Yarckin

$350

Dedication to Architecture

I thought it appropriate to share with everyone my first commission that I mention in the "about me" section. The above watercolor was my friends' house. It has since been torn down. This was truly fun for me to paint. The home owner's have an eclectic art collection, so even though I was scared to death because it was my first commission, I knew they would also appreciate my artistic interpretation.

The home done in pen and ink deserves to have many more sketches. There is so much architectural detail in this home. I loved this view showing the gardens and the house nestled in the mature trees.

Although my academic and professional background is architecture, I much prefer to do artistic representations of architecture vs. an architectural rendering at this point in my life. If you would like a painting of your home, parent's home or favorite building by me, feel free to email me with your request.

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

Lowtide

This boat is in front of the beach house we rent. I love low tide. The water goes out for miles and there is nothing but smooth sand and tide pools. The kids can run and run with no worries. All of the moored boats end up sitting on the sand until the tide comes back in.

Sold.

Overcast Cape Cod

This was a grey overcast day. You could barely see were the water met the sky. In real life, it was much more grey with barely a hint of the sun peeking through and a tiny sliver of color on the water. It was grey and quiet. A sweatshirt and video day.

Sold.

Holland Park in the Morning

This is Holland Park in London. The morning sun was shining through the trees. The ground was covered by all of these wonderful little violet bell shaped flowers. I did this in watercolor, but, was not happy with the way it turned out. Today I tried it in pastel and am so pleased to share it with you!

6x9 pastel by Liana Yarckin, $85

To purchase this painting, please email me at lyarckins-art@yahoo.com

Thanks for visiting!

April showers bring May Flowers

I am loving this wonderful rain and thunderstorms we have been having!!! It forces me to stay inside and do desk work! I have a lot of new ideas for paintings dancing around in my head inspired by how bright green everything looks due to the rain. In honor of the rain, I am going to post some watercolors of flowers for your viewing pleasure.

All of the above paintings are 11x14 original watercolors by Liana Yarckin.

Prices range from $50 - $350.

To purchase a painting, please email me at: lyarckins-art@yahoo.com

Thanks for visiting!