Gratitude

Merry Christmas to everyone!  I would like to thank everyone for all of the emails and comments and support you have given me over the years.  I feel so blessed to be surrounded by such caring friends.  I am thankful for each of you.  Everyone provides something good and interesting for me to consider in my paintings.  

Above are cards from my painting class.  We had a card exchange.  I love looking at each card and recognizing the style of each artist as well as admiring their creativity.  I gave mine blank so that they could be "re-carded", as well as received some blank ones, too.  However, they are all so pretty and personal, I don't think that I could give one away.  I hope we do it again, next year, I can't wait to look and compare.

Thank you and blessings to you and your family.

Peace for Sandy Hook

As a mother, my heart aches for the children and family of Sandy Hook Elementary.  How can we reverse time?  There are so many questions, so much pain.  I pray for peace for the families of those children and for all of us.  

#26 Acts of Kindness, (read more here), Ann Curry's idea.  Do 26 acts of kindness, one for each fallen victim of Sandy Hook Elementary.  

Dreaming of a White Christmas, in white linen that is

11x14 watercolor

sold

Is it as warm where you are as it is here?  We are experiencing mild weather, highs in the 70's-80's.  As one friend put it, "we have two seasons in dallas, winter and summer and sometimes within the same week."

The painting above was just picked up today.  My client is going to give it to her husband for Christmas.  This is a home in Highland Park.  Although, I took the photos in November when the commission came in, my client preferred to have the azaleas and crepe myrtle in bloom.  I do love painting the gorgeous architectural details, but, what is most fulfilling is how pleased and appreciative my clients and recipients are of the painting I have done for them.

That's my painting framed.  Wow, what a difference a frame can make.  I am honored that she hung it in a prominent space in her dining room along with some fabulous art by other women artists.  I posted that painting last year here and on facebook.  The woman next to it saw it on facebook and replied to buy it.  I happen to be dressed for a costume party in this photo, so hence the red hair.

Hope you are able to slow down and enjoy this holiday season.  

Aspens in Every Season

close up detail

A Year of Aspens

each 7.5 x 22"

First a huge thank you to everyone who has "liked" the Southwestern Watercolor Society facebook page that I have started for SWS.  I truly appreciate it.  If you have any thoughts on what you would like to see on it, please let me know.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving for the Americans out there.  For us it is always nice to spend time with family and see our kids play with their cousins.

I had started doing these aspens a few weeks ago.  The idea first came to me while hiking in Beaver Creek, Colorado.  I took so many photos trying to capture what it was like to be surrounded by so many aspens.  Did you know that the aspens are actually all connected underground by their roots and that they can actually smother or deprive another tree type by surrounding it and drinking all of the water.  Also, aspen trees have a very low flammability rate so they actually help prevent forest fires from spreading.  

Back to my inspiration.  After taking photos and different times of the day and catching the sunlight in the morning, backlit trees and evenin sunset, I couldn't decide what time of day I wanted to paint.  The more I thought of it, the aspens through out the year came about.  Like my Sea of Sails paintings, I wanted the viewer to feel as though they were surrounded by aspens, hence the exagerated horizontal proportion of the paper.  I think I will still do another winter scene with pine trees, too.  To see close up details and the process, visit my facebook page.  The fall close up got the most comments with the yellow a close second.  

I plan on showing these in my spring show as one piece.  I will have all four framed together. 

Let me know what you think - good or bad.  I love hearing your suggestions.

Calling All Watercolor Artists

Watercolor Artists, I just wanted to let you know that there is a great new resource for you, the Southwestern Watercolor Society on Facebook.  Artists and collectors, please visit the facebook page (not the group) to see the latest info on workshops, speakers, competitions, paint outs, art....

As the official SWS Facebook Chair, any feedback you have on the page would be much appreciated.  Please show your support by pressing the "Like" button.  As soon as I see you all on there, I will stop blogging about it ;).

 Sunflower Trio

15x22 watercolor

by Liana Yarckin
buy here

4x6 Spirit Cards made from last weeks painting

Sunflower Trio was done using a spirit card as the design for an under painting.  The second photo shows the painting from last week cut up into 4x6 "spirit cards".  This is a technique explained in Douglas Walton's book.  I used one of the spirit cards to create the under painting for Sunflower Trio by painting exactly what was on the card on my 15x22 paper.  I selected a card that had opposite movement or design than what my composition of the flowers.  I thought this would create both tension and interest.  Some of the under painting ended up getting lost though because I used a non-staining color.  You can see remnants of the under painting where I used staining colors.  So that is a lesson I learned.  

Another thing I learned, whether I use spirit cards or not for an under painting, creating the first part of the spirit painting was an absolute great way to let loose and have fun.  If I am ever having a painter's block, I think I will just set out to make spirit cards to break out of my block.  Making that initial painting really took me to another place in my head.  Without preconceived ideas I was in a wonderland of just following my instinct and responding to what felt right.  Then looking at the invidual spirit cards gives me ideas for interesting patterns and compositions.  

At this point, I have abandoned underpaintings because I want to save my white.  Do you use underpaintings?  What is your way to get creative and loose?  Wine?  Music?  Post to share with everyone, don't be shy.  

p.s. don't forget to like the Southwestern Watercolor Society facebook PAGE, please.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Flowers, Spirit Cards and Goblins

 My goblins dressed for Trick or Treating

Spirit Card before cutting

Flowers from a Friend

11x14 watercolor
buy here

Oh my, I feel like it has been forever since I have been able to paint.  Life has been busy this past month or so.  My baby turned 5 today.  We celebrated with a party this past Saturday.  I just have to tell you how adorable he is because I know these are the last days of experiencing the total innocence of a toddler.  One sample of adorableness, "Is Santa watching me when I am looking through the Lego catalogue?"  In the top photo, my 3 little goblins are dressed for Halloween.  An NFL Patriots Fan, Sensei Wu (Lego), Scream and our dog as the Headless Horseman.  I love the challenge of coming up with the most clever costume and I must say my baby was the only Sensei Wu.  If you want to see my husband and I in Halloween attire, you will have to go to my facebook page.

Finally, today, I got to paint for 5 straight hours!  I went to Pat Kochan's class and spent the day creating and working with spirit cards.  The second photo shows my painting before I cut it up into several 4x6 spirit cards.  We used a method explained by Douglas Walton.  Fill a page with abstract marks and strokes in varying sizes, colors and shapes.  Then use a 4x6 mat to map out the rectangles all over the back.  Cut out.  Then select one of the spirit cards to create the underpainting of a painting.  I will post the cut up spirit cards and the final painting next post.  

Flowers from a Friend - this painting was inspired by a gorgeous bouquet of flowers I saw at a friend's house.  Yes, I started taking photos of the bright peonies, roses and pink hydrangeas.  I couldn't resist.  

Oh!  I forgot the biggest news.  I casually mentioned to someone that the SWS (Southwestern Watercolor Society) should have a facebook page..... well that is what has consumed my time.  You are looking at the new SWS Facebook Chair.  Note:  be careful what you mention.  All kidding aside, I am very excited to be a part of this project with the SWS.  I hope you will all show your support by "liking" the Southwestern Watercolor Society Facebook page!  Please pass it on to all of your watercolor friends.  Big thanks!!!!!!!

Have a great week.  Check back for the finished painting from the spirit card.

More City Scenes

Summer Stroll

11x14

by Liana Yarckin

Value Studies

I hope everyone is enjoying their fall.  I am certainly enjoying this cool weather.  I almost went plein air painting today, but, the building I wanted to paint is in shade now.  I had to get out there earlier to have some sun on it.

Above is a painting I did with my new goal of capturing sunlight.  I think I need to make the shadow of the railing a little darker, but, right now I am in love with light colors and the way they mix together.  However, I do believe with the building in the back being so dark, I need to darken the shadow to make it work.  The photo was a sidewalk in Maui.  The ocean is just to the left of the painting.  Can you believe I left that out?

I posted a group of 4x6 value studies as well.  These are helping me to keep my focus on value.  I always start doing them and then I get to anxious and just skip and jump right into the painting. But, this time around, I am going to try to stay focus on a value study for every painting. 

In closing, here is a fantastic Chihuly Sculpture.  Right now there is a Chihuly exhibit at the Dallas Arboretum.  It is amazing.  Go soon, it is well worth it.  I enjoy it as much in the day as at night.  Oh, and my 5th and 6th grade boys loved it.  They took so many photos and posted them on Instagram.  They asked if we could go again.  You know that was music to my ears!!!!

Tom Francesconi Workshop

Figure Study

by Liana Yarckin

Late Lunch

by Liana Yarckin

Call me last minute Liana.  I lucked out and got to take Tom Francesconi's workshop at the last minute.  I knew I wanted to take it earlier in the fall, but, I thought my schedule was too busy so I did not sign up.  Then, the morning before the workshop I emailed asking if there was a spot for me, if so it was meant to be.  I was so happy to open the response with the words, "it was meant to be, we had a cancellation."  

Not only is Tom an awesome artist, he is really a great teacher.  The light bulb went off for me so many times in his 3 day workshop.  The above two paintings I did in his class.  I had a lot of "likes" on Late Lunch on my facebook page, less on the figure study.  Ironically, the figure study is what sings to me and what I am striving towards.  My husband asked why do I want to paint like that.  I am really attracted to the light in the painting.  My eyes keep moving around completing the picture in my head and never getting tired of the things I see.  

I do like Late Lunch, too, however, in comparison to the figure study above it, my eye just keeps going to the figure study.  Do you have any thoughts?  Which one are you drawn to, if any?

Have a great week.  I appreciate eveyone's thoughts and emails.  

Dallas Scenes and a nice surprise

Bridge at Exall Lake

11x14

by Liana Yarckin

How lucky was I?  My preschooler did not have school on this past Monday.  As I drove him to his friend's house, I saw a group of artists painting on Lakeside.  After dropping off my child, I went back to talk to the artists.  I asked them if I could please paint with them, it was a gorgeous breezy day and painting alone is so lonely.  I blew off my errands and ran home to get my supplies.  

Not bragging, but, I am so pleased with my painting - it is the fruit of plein air painting.  What I love about plein air, aside from being outdoors, is that you have to be quick as the sun is moving and the scene is changing.  I feel like even in plein air value studies, the feeling of the scene is captured.  This painting sings to me and encourages me to want the feeling of this result more.  So calling all Dallas artists, who wants to plein air paint on Fridays?

The surprise for me.  I knew I was going to be one of the artists in the book, Visual Language I, 2012.  When I went to the website and previewed the book, look what I found!  My painting is on the inside cover page of the book!!!!!!  If you want to see it, press here and go to page 4 of the preview.

Thank you to everyone for your continued support and encouragement, both artists and friends.  I feel like I have had so many blessings, one of the blessings is you.  Connecting and sharing with you is the reward.  Have a great week!

Beach Scenes by Liana Yarckin

A September Morning

11x14 watercolor

Here is something a little different from my usual bright colors.  I took this photo in Cape Cod.  We were boarding the ferry to go to Nantucket on a cool, dreary morning.  I was attracted to the size of this boat and how strong it looked on this morning in the rain.  I did use masking so that I could have freedom with the background.  I may try this technique again, but, instead of masking I will try to scrape out the ropes and lift where the poles of the boat are.  

SWS 49th Annual Juried Member Show

Linda Franklin
Second Place

Mary Emerson
Edgar A. Whitney Award

Pat Kochan
Carolyn Hollabaugh BAC Award

Just some of the paintings in the show

Me and my mom

Last Saturday evening was the Southwestern Watercolor Society's 49th Annual Juried Member Reception.  The show is running until October 19, the gallery is open everyday except Sunday.

I already mentioned in a previous post that the paintings are really amazing.  Artists from Florida to California entered.  The reception was very crowded and there were so many artists friends to talk to and to meet.  I didn't take any photos until after the reception when it was almost empty.  The painting on top by Linda Franklin is my absolute favorite.  LOVE these colors and the pattern makes my eyes want to keep looking all around the painting.  Some small world tidbits:  

all 3 of my watercolor teachers won awards, that would be:

Jane Jones, Naomi Brotherton and Pat Kochan

I was reunited with a long lost painting pal, Mary Emerson.  She had talked me into 

taking my first week long workshop out of town with Ken Hosmer.  AND I bought the first

painting she ever sold!  It is still hanging in my house.  When I saw her name on the painting, I wondered if it was the same Mary Emerson.  She looks the same and she remembered me.

My dear artist friend, Anne Beletic was in the show, too.  We had met at a workshop long ago.  Then she recognized me at the playground when our children were just toddlers.  It turned out that our kids would go to school together to this day.

I do love this art community that I am so fortunate to be a part of.  My mom got to come to the show because she happened to be in town.  She is an artist, too.  I am so glad I got to share this with her.  My sweet little 4 year old fell asleep in the car and slept through the entire event despite how noisy it was.  When we got home he asked, "Are we going to the art show?"

More pics from the art show.

Sisters and their dog - in progress

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Yesterday morning I woke up to wet sidewalks and cloudy sky which brought a giddiness to me.  Yes, I was thrilled it was raining.  I don't know why, but, when it rains it seems that everyone kind of slows down.  For me, that means I can stay in my pajamas and paint all day.  

Above is a portrait of two sisters with their dog - in progress.  It is on a 22x30 full sheet of watercolor paper.  It is hard to get a decent photo when the paper is so large.  Also, the wells of the warping paper create shadows onto itself.  I have a long ways to go on this portrait.  When I work on portraits, I like to go slow and step back for a day or so.  The tiniest change in color or value can make such a difference, either good or bad.  In this case, I am not happy with the cheek lines on the little girl on the right.  I am so disappointed with it I don't know what to do.  Portrait artists out there, help.  My other issue is, I don't know what the background color should be.  Usually, it develops on its own if I don't have an idea before painting.  This time, there is so much background and a long ways to go.  I welcome all suggestions.

Have a great week and stop by to see me at the SWS Art Show this Saturday if you are in the area.  

Art Reception

I hope all is well with you.  I dropped off my painting last Saturday for the Southwestern Watercolor Society's 49th Annual Exhibit and was literally blown away by the amazing paintings lining the floor waiting to be hung.  It was a juried competition so I am very excited that my painting was accepted in to the show.  

You are all invited to the reception

Saturday, September 22

6:30-8:30

Plano Family Arts

4017 Preston Road

I know it is far away for most Dallasites, if you happen to be in the area, come celebrate with me!  I promise you, you will be very impressed with the level of art at this show.  My mom and little 4 year old will be there, too, as well as all of the artists in the show.

Even if you cannot make it, I do appreciate your constant support at the local Dallas shows, the referrals from you and your comments here, on facebook and via email.  The biggest reward to me is the connection my paintings make between us.

Have a fabulous weekend!

City Scapes by Liana Yarckin

The Marquee

11x14

Happy back to school!  One week for me.  Hopefully, I can get into a good painting routine again.

I have been wanting to paint this image since it was under renovation.  I have photos of it with cranes and construction workers thinking I would paint it back then.  The Village Theatre located in Highland Park Village was always a theater, but, with the renovation, they created a super glam place for a night out.  First, the marquee (actually for the restaurant and bar named, The Marquee) was turned into a glamorous viewing deck or pedestal if you will.  When you are walking in the village you look up and see a crowd of people encased in the glass railings, smartly dressed, having cocktails and enjoying each other and the view.  It makes me want to go up there immediately.  So that's why I say a pedestal.  It feels like a throw back to old Hollywood, beautiful people with martini glasses in hand, standing up there to be seen and admired by the pedestrians below.  Another way I can describe it, is the idea of climbing out your window and making a cozy little space on top of a flat roof.  It's found space, a viewing deck or one's private getaway.  

Please don't misinterpret my description, when you live in Dallas, away from the ocean, the mountains, tall palms or tall pines, you have to make the best of what you have.  Architecture, getting dressed up and sitting on a marquee could be that mountain top sometimes.  

This painting has inspired me to want to paint plein air around town.  So any Dallas artists reading this, please contact me.  I want to put a plein air group together to paint once a week. 

Have a great Labor Day to my American readers!  

Beach Scenes by artist Liana Yarckin

22x30

original watercolor

by Liana Yarckin

I had so much fun painting the last group of seals that I painted another seal.  We saw this little guy in Chatham Harbor.  He and his 5 or 6 buddies were having fun swimming for the morning crowd.  An hour and a half had gone by before we knew it watching them.  They would come mostly on their backs and show their bellies to the sun.  It was really relaxing watching them swim and float with such ease.  The water was truly clear so that you really could see their bodies in the water.

So.... what should I name this painting?  Do you have an idea?  Morning Swim, Cool Waters, Self Reflection?  This painting makes me think of the cold water that I have dipped in only briefly.  Because the water is so clear, it always tempts me to go in, but, it is soooooo cold.  It is refreshing, but, I always stay in for under 5 minutes.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts on titles and the painting!

Beach Scenes by artist Liana Yarckin

King of the Bell Buoy

15x22

My son and I were so lucky to get to spend some time in Newport Beach with his best buddy from school.  Aside from the mild temperatures, enjoying everything alfresco, walking on Balboa Island (I took tons of pics. for paintings of these charming streets), hanging out with good friends and dinner on the beach, we were so lucky to see these seals.  Some friends took us on a boat ride all around the marina.  The highlight of our boat ride for not only our little ones, but, I think it brought out the child in all of us, was riding out to the bell buoy to see these seals.  We were able to get very close and hang out for a bit to watch these cute guys swim and hang out on the bell buoy.  I cannot say that they were sunbathing.  There was such a thick mist in the air.  They call it June Glooms and it was still hanging around on this morning even though it was mid July.

From the artist's point of view, although the original photo shows the entire bell buoy with several seals and even a seal swimming in the water, I focused on this group of seals for this painting.  I did want to keep enough of the buoy in so that those familiar with the area would know exactly where this was when they see it and also, I liked the contrast of these wild creatures on this hard man made structure.  

I painted the seals with quinacquidone gold, yellow ochre, brown madder, french ultramarine blue, cobalt blue and a mixture of permanent rose and Winsor Blue.  The red in the buoy has about 5 different shades of orange to red.  This painting is twice the size of most of my paintings.  I felt like the size was necessary for the subject.  I did enjoy having a larger area of paper to mix my colors on.  In addition, I did use a 1 1/2" flat brush for most of the painting.  

Thanks for visiting and / or thank you to my email subscribers for taking the time to read my thoughts and emailing me yours.

Home Portraits by Liana Yarckin

11x14 watercolor

by Liana Yarckin

11x14 watercolor 

by Liana Yarckin

Above are two house portraits I did in May and forgot to post.  The painting on top was commissioned as a gift for her husband's 50th birthday.  The timing was perfect because they had just completed renovating this home using "green building".  This means the home is environmentally responsible and resource efficient.  Aside from being friendly to the environment, the materials used and the HVAC system both protect and improve the occupants' health and productivity. 

The painting on the bottom was commissioned for a Mother's Day gift.  This house is the definition of charming.  It truly is one of my most favorite homes.  I love all of the details, the stone work, the windows, the iron window boxes, the gorgeous ironwork on the door and then the perfect lavender and white petunias overflowing in the window boxes.  

If you would like to commission your home, vacation home or a gift, please contact me for details.  I offer 11x14 watercolors or 8x10 pen and inks at reasonable prices.  To see a  collection of home portraits by me, visit my Facebook page or website.

Have a great week!

Conch Shell Abstraction Complete

Conch Shell

16x20 watercolor

by Liana Yarckin

 Painting Area one day on vacation

A lobster roll from J.T.'s Seafood, check out that claw

I finally finished the conch shell abstraction.  It was a fun and liberating experience.  Finishing it in my studio got me lost in the zone.  I continued painting in the grid with gradations, then at a stopping point, I noticed it was two equals - water and shell.  I decided to work on the shell so that it would pop out as the star.  I left the white strips because they reminded me of the sunlight reflections in the water.  I was trying to show a conch shell in beautiful clear moving water like the water in Turks and Caicos where it is so aqua, yet, see through to many several feet below.  Several shades of aqua blue with white sand far below and reflections of bright sunlight.  Please read my last post to get the full story of the abstraction process.

I am thrilled that we got to go on our annual Cape Cod trip to visit my husband's family.  Normally, we stay for a long time and I get to crank out a bunch of paintings, but, this year we did things a little different.  With my kids at camp, my husband and I went to Montreal.  This was such a fantastic trip.  The highlight was riding the rental bikes that are on every corner all over to see the sites.  We were lucky to eat delicious French food and go to the comedy festival that happened to be in town.  Then we drove to Maine to pick our kids up from camp.  Our road trip included stops in Burlington, VT and Kennebunkport, ME before ending up at the Cape.  So in other words, I had a blast, but, did very little painting.

I had to post a pic of a lobster roll from J.T.'s Seafood because of the last post from photos taken the previous summer.  I promise I am not on commission or an owner of J.T.'s, but, take a look at that lobster claw.  The best lobster roll I had this trip was at The Colony in Kennebunkport, though.  

Despite not painting much, I took several photos of cafes, sailboats, flowers and anything that made me say, "ooh, i want to paint that."  Where are your summer travels taking you?  If it is summer in your parts of the woods, that is. 

As always, thanks for visiting and your comments and thoughts make me smile.

Cafes from Cape Cod and Dallas

Lobster Rolls at JT's Seafood

11x14 watercolor

by Liana Yarckin

Selected for the Artists of Texas Fourth Annual Show:

Lunch in the West End

11x14 watercolor

by Liana Yarckin

buy here

No matter what the temperature is outside, everyone always enjoys a meal with friends alfresco.  Here are two more paintings for my cafe series.  In order to be considered for my cafe series, umbrellas are key!  Umbrellas or a trellis of vines.  


The painting on top is of JT's Seafood.  They have the best lobster rolls.  I first saw the umbrellas and crowds of people when we were driving by on Route 6A several years ago.  The traffic was heavy and traveling at a good pace that it was difficult to get my husband to turn the car around so I could take some photos.  Photos would have to wait for another summer.  I found my way back to Route 6A and took photos of JT's and the much photographed Brewster General Store.  Little did I know that we would end up spending time in Brewster for the next two summers.  Now I have several photos of JT's from all angles taken while we waited for our food.  It is funny how things in life can make a full circle.


Lunch in the West End is inspired by the West End in Dallas.  The West End is a popular place for tourists to go when visiting Dallas.  A nice little walking area in Downtown full of restaurants, shops and live entertainment.  I really liked the shadows coming around the building here.  The red brick arch marks the entrance of the West End.

PLEASE VOTE FOR OUR FELLOW BLOGGER FRIEND

My dear blogger friend, Sandra Busby, has a chance for her painting Sherlock to be on the cover of the art catalogue, Ken Bromley Art Supply.  Sandra is such a talented artist and has a wonderful series of teddy bear paintings.  Here is Sherlock:

To vote: click on this link , Sandra's name is right under the picture.  It would make a darling cover.

Abstraction Study

work in progress 

by Liana Yarckin

I am working on this abstraction of a conch shell using a fracturing technique.  I have been wanting to create paintings of these conch shells that my husband and sons picked from the ocean floor a few years ago.  They are giant and heavy, but, it reminds me of the conch shell my grandparents had in their home long ago in which they used as a door stop.  I was just a toddler and my aunt and grandparents would hold it to my ear and tell me, "if you hold this to your ear, you can hear the ocean."  I think they would even say that, "so even if you are not at the ocean, with this shell, you can always hear the ocean."  Unless that is something I have made up now as an adult.  


I decided to do this abstraction for several reasons.  One, I wanted to capture or remind the viewer of the clear blue moving water in which the shell was found.  Two, isn't their a famous conch shell painting?  Just of the conch shell in the middle of the page.  I googled it, but, could not find it.  If you know which painting I am talking about, please let me know.


About the technique, first I drew the shell using mine as a model.  Then I used one of Pat Kochan's templates to create the abstract pattern over the shell.  She has several templates to chose from, but, when I saw this one, it felt right.  I feel like it echoes both shell and moving water.  We will see where this goes.  So far it has been both fun and challenging to paint.


Thanks for visiting and for your thoughts!  Have a great week wherever you are.

Latest Painting and a Bit of Good News

Days of Innocence

11x14

Here is a painting of where I wish I was.  On the beach with my feet in the sand, the hot sun feeling good because of the ocean breeze and the sound of the waves!  Instead, for the time I am in hot, hot, hot Dallas trying to stay cool and hanging out with my kiddos.  My precious little one did get a hold of a piece of 300lb. watercolor paper that I was going to paint on next.  He colored ninjas on one side and a force field on the other side!!!!  


For the painting above, I created the image from a photo of the two girls playing in the sand at the Dallas Arboretum.  I had the trees and shrubs drawn, but, I couldn't bring myself to paint the greens.  So I decided to turn it into the beach.


Buy Here

Accepted into the Southwestern Watercolor Society 49th Annual Juried Exhibit

The big, exciting news is, I found out that Summer has Arrived (above) was accepted into the SWS Annual Juried Exhibit!!!!  If you read Carrie Waller's interview with me, one of my goals was to be accepted into a juried show.  I cannot believe I got in.  I am honored and feel so justified and inspired to paint, paint, paint!  I realize the other side of the coin is that it is just one person's opinion and if it were a different juror, maybe, my painting would not have gotten in.  But, either way, it shows how this artist (me), can be made so happy if just one person likes her work.  There is no "Buy It" button here because I kind of want to hang on it to it for now.  


If you would like to see the other selected paintings for the show, visit here.  One of my favorites is the alligator on the second page, but, I have a lot of favorites.  The physical exhibit will be in September.  I will post details for it closer to the date.  


Try to stay cool where you are.  And thank you all so much for your encouraging words!

Beach Scenes by Liana Yarckin

Pelican Sunbathing

detail

 Pelican Sunbathing

15x22

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Photo by Ophelia Kehoe

I started this painting in March and then had some real fun with it this past Tuesday!  The painting is inspired by the photo which was taken by my Aunt.  It is a pelican on a boat in Corpus Christi.

I was kind of uninterested with how my first wash came out.  I knew I needed to get darker behind the pelican.  I liked the reflections in the water, too.  I do not know how it entered my head but, I turned the painting sideways and started dripping various shades of blue paint onto the painting.  I had wax paper over the pelican to protect it from the running paint.  This was so much fun!  I like the way it came out. I truly felt like I was playing.  I like the cropped version.  The beauty of framing, you can have the mat cut to show whatever you want.

Thank you for all of your comments and emails for the last post on the water lily.  I have started a drawing for another painting inspired by a newspaper ad.  It has a boat in a marsh, however, I am adding lilly pads!

Water Lily by Artist Liana Yarckin

Water Lily I

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Every time I see water lilies, I stop and take photos for a painting one day.  Well, here is the first watercolor I do from my photos.  This came about from Pat Kochan's class.  We were approaching abstracts  by applying a grid or some other type of pattern to our painting.  I created a random grid and one of my water lily photos.  I did not paint in the water because at the moment, I really like the white of the paper.  The painting is very bright in person compared to how it looks on my computer screen.

Let me hear from you.  Do you have any thoughts on this painting - done or should I paint the water?  What are you painting?

Hope you are staying cool where you are.

Liana Yarckin - Cafe Series

Lunch at Angel Tube Stop

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It has been busy, busy, busy with the kids out of school for summer.  Fun, but, busy with little time to paint, much less keep up with all of the business side promoting one's art.

Here is number 11 in the Cafe Series.  I am really liking the color mingling going on in the right corner of the picture.  By doing this series, I am getting less afraid of painting crowds of people.  The photo that inspired this painting is from 2001.  I have stacks of photos of cafe scenes, street scenes and crowds of people that I have been saving for the day I had the courage to paint them.

I will mention that I have been frustrated with the quality of my images on the computer.  I am using the same camera, but, I switched to a Mac in December.  I feel like iPhoto is not keeping accurate color or sharpness that is the actual photo.  When I look at my posts before December, I feel that the quality of the pictures is so much closer to the real life image.  Does anyone have thoughts or advice on this?

Stay cool and please check back to see a new subject I just finished painting - it is NOT a cafe scene!

p.s.  I am exhibiting in 2 shows right now:  One Gallery and Manske Library.  These are group shows and the collections are quiet interesting.