Home Portrait for a Gift

Good news, Shirly Cohn of Allie Beth Allman just picked this home portrait up for her client. She is going to give it to them as a closing gift.  Her client is moving back to South America so now they will have this painting to always remember their time in Dallas.  


This home was built in 1937 in true Dilbeck style. It is featured in the book, "Great American Suburbs". Shirly was very proud that it sold before making it to market above market value.


I thoroughly enjoyed painting this unique home with the wonderful landscaping.  Yes, I did embellish the flowers a little.  


Thanks for visiting me!  Say hi to me on Facebook, Liana Yarckin Watercolors.

A Day of Giving

This past weekend was a busy one.  Saturday I worked with my son's Cub Scout troop on getting their Art pin.  They were required to talk to a local artist about the different occupations in the art field as well as do a variety of art projects.  I had watercolors, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, oil pastels and clay for them to use with the different projects.  Some of the boys couldn't wait to paint at an easel while others wanted to do the clay first.  We lucked out with great weather and did the whole project outside.

Then after the Cub Scouts left, I headed over to Northpark Mall for The Great Adventure Hunt benefiting Childcaregroup of Dallas.  It was a scavenger hunt in the mall.  The theme was Paris.  Childcaregroup had 4 artists painting on easels at the water/information stations.  It was a great experience.  I worked on the two above paintings.  One, a street cafe to go into my cafe series and the other with the Eiffel Tower.  As you can see, they are still stapled to the boards, I need add the finishing touches.  This would be my first time to paint in public as a "feature" so to speak.  At first, I was uncomfortable with the thought of people watching me paint and what it would be like.  But, it turned out to be just fine.  Everyone was interested and the children especially made me very comfortable.  I am pleased with how the street cafe painting is coming out.  The setting of stopping to answer observers questions and having my focus divided made my painting more spontaneous and loose - you know, what I am always striving for.

Thank you for visiting.  I just posted several commissions I am working on on my Liana Yarckin Watercolors Facebook page.  Home portraits in the pencil phase and several watercolors of other subjects.  They all have May deadlines so I need to get to work!

Digital Editing & Watercolor

Many of you know that my first solo show held at City Cafe was more than I ever imagined or expected.  Michele, Karim and the entire staff at City Cafe were just wonderful and I felt like I was part of the City Cafe Family.   I wanted to thank them and express my deepest appreciation.  Michele had mentioned that he wanted to talk to me about a painting of City Cafe because he had seen my Home Portraits.  I thought I would surprise him with a painting of City Cafe as a thank you gift.

The photos of City Cafe are above.  I wanted to capture the essence of "City Cafe", not document the location of their lease.  Knowing Michele, I knew that he would be okay with me using my artistic license.  Using Corel Photopaint, I merged, cut and paste, erased several photos to get an image that showed the front door to City Cafe with the outdoor seating.  I moved the valet stand over, too, because when I am driving by on Lover's Lane, that valet umbrella grabs my eye and says, "We are open".  I basically removed the things that were not "City Cafe" like the giant columns and the staircase going to the businesses above.

I hope you like the way I interpreted the photos.  Of course, City Cafe was very gracious when I presented them with the painting.

If I did not already mention in a previous post, consider showing your work in a restaurant or coffee shop.  The exposure and experience has been great.  Make sure to have cards with contact information available, too.

Have a good week!  Please visit me on Facebook for the latest pictures!

p.s.  I had a nice little surprise last week. Cardsdirect contacted me to buy the license for the last painting I posted!  I didn't even know they read my blog.

Amen Corner

Amen Corner a.k.a. 12th Hole

11x14

I couldn't wait to post this with the Masters just happening this past weekend.  For Pat's Monday class, we  could paint a golf course if we wanted.  Not being a golfer, I had no interest, but, then catching a glimpse of the Masters on the T.V., I changed my mind.  The images they were showing of Augusta golf course were just amazing.  My poor husband, while he was trying to enjoy to tournament, I would rewind, pause and take pictures of the scenery.  This is an image I caught on T.V.  I used my artistic license to embellish the azaleas which had bloomed early this year.  What I was most interested in were the reflections in the water.  The sun is right behind the trees to the right of the bridge.  I am just now noticing that the blue sky is not showing up as I thought.  I will go back and look at the original now and see if I need to correct that.  The blue in the water is true to how the sky looked.

Hope everyone had a great Easter / Passover.  Thank you for taking the time to email me or comment.  I truly appreciate it!

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