Watercolors by Liana Yarckin: 2018

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Thankful for You!

Feeling quite thankful right now. I could not have dreamed of anything better than the amazing turn out for my trunk show at Stanley Korshak. It is truly thanks to you, to everyone that came out and supported me in every way. Last year at this time I was crying and thinking I had nothing to look forward to as I was about to turn 50 and my kids are leaving to college. Now, after preparing for and doing this show, the Adrenalin rush had me feeling like I was 25 and I can do anything!

As a mom of 3 boys, inundated with sports, sports, sports and nothing about tablescapes or what to wear, this was like a princess fairy tale for me! Spending time in a beautiful store with the most gorgeous fashion pieces, tying scarves in a variety of ways on peeps, being surrounded by girls, girls, girls all who have an appreciation for high end fashion and not one mention of “what’s the score.” The energy was amazing, crazy busy, I remember at the end, I realized there was music playing. One of my favorite things about the event was people asking if I would style their scarf on them so they could wear it out! Not having daughters, I have never had the opportunity to Such an honor!!!! There are a couple of video clips on my instagram that capture a bit of the vibe.

Having a show brings me out of my studio and into a sharing environment. An environment that I see as a celebration of the work that I have spent time and passion creating. And more importantly, a celebration of having you, collectors, friends, supporters - my motivators. Artists spend a lot of time in their studio alone. While this alone time is necessary for exploring and creating, and can be stimulating and even give a high, I am a people person and I very much need the show part of being an artist so I can get my fill on being with people, too. I strongly encourage that if you have an artist friend, go to their show, you have no idea how much you just being there means. Seeing my collectors and friends take the time to come celebrates and validates my work and connects it to the world outside of my studio. It gives my art purpose. And thanks to those of you who brought someone new to me.

A huge thank you goes to Stanley Korshak! Without their belief in me and allllllllll of their support in hosting me, none of us would have had this amazing experience. I learned a lot and am so invigorated for what’s to come!!!! My new goal is to be like Zandra Rhodes and doing fabulous trunk shows 30 years from now! I hope to see you there!!!!!

Love you and Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!

www.lianayarckin.com

Monday, November 5, 2018

Art & Fashion by Liana Yarckin

that's me sewing! See the video on instagram

Video on instagram or see at Stanley Korshak

I have been working so hard to make this show at Stanley Korshak special! I have surprises to be revealed at the show so you have to come and see or read about it later. One unique thing that I will be doing is custom painting to your specifications on my Love jackets!!! These have been a hit. My Love jackets feature one of my silk scarves (designed by me using my watercolors) on the back and then I can custom paint whatever you want wherever you want on the jacket. Some peeps have requested a heart or have given me artistic license to make theirs unique or even to paint the word,"hope" on it. I have a lot of things planned for Friday, including new original artworks, new scarf designs and some other surprises.

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Park Cities People article

Pink Love Jacket

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Liana Yarckin Honored with First Place

"Curiosity"

Liana Yarckin - Texas Visual Arts Association

So honored and proud to be recognized for my painting, "Curiosity," in the Texas Visual Arts Association. I worked hard on this painting specifically to have a good chance of competing and getting into a show. I have to tell you, the first show I entered this painting in, it did not get in. Of course, I was disappointed as I had really focused on my design, composition, mood, everything judges say that they are looking for when judging a competition. But, I believed in the painting. I really like the idea of the innocence and curiosity of the cat noticing it's shadow. I used my artistic license here - the cat was really playing with a pen on the floor, I left the pen out because I wanted the idea of someone noticing themselves and finding their self interesting. I love the perspective, it is dramatic. For those of you familiar with my work, you can see that I stepped out of my comfort zone and used a color palette that is much darker than my usual and favorite lights and brights. I worked very hard to add texture and movement in the dark background using paint colors that granulate and also a giant brush to aid me in dropping in color to add variety to the dark background instead of one giant flat color. You can see in the shadow that I used gradation to add interest. Starting with a green glow close to where I want the focal point to be and then going into a darker less intense color. There is a variety of line, both soft and hard edges. I put a glow of sunlight on the subject's back and head, the only place that color shows up to emphasize the focal point. Thank you judges of the TVAA competition for recognizing my effort!

The point is, if at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again. We have all heard our teachers and mentors say it is just that judge's opinion if your painting does not get in. If you believe in your piece, don't give up on it. Your passion and hard work will be seen by someone!

The show is hanging at the TVAA gallery at the Plazas of the Americas in downtown Dallas. If you are an artist, check out the TVAA, they are doing great things to help artists get seen!

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Monday, September 10, 2018

Full Circle - Liana Yarckin Watercolors at Stanley Korshak!

When I first came to Dallas for job interviews in 1993, my friend drove me up to this building on a Sunday morning and said "this is the new most exclusive store in Dallas." We looked in the front windows and imagined what it would be like to be able to shop there. As former architecture students pursuing a career in architecture we continued to talk about the uniqueness of the Rosewood project, the Crescent, and how magical it is. That weekend I did end up landing a job at WRA Architects and it was a loonnnnnng time before I ever returned to this beautiful store.

Fast forward to today, would you believe that this luxury goods store is hosting a trunk show for me?!?!!!!!!! Yes! on November 9. The team at Stanley Korshak has been great to work with giving me ideas and planning for a successful show for my debut. I cannot wait for you to see the new designs and products that have come out of our meetings. And Stanley Korshak even wants me to bring my original art!!!!!!! I cannot tell you what an honor this is, how excited I am and also butterflies in my stomach!

This could be you - shopping bag full of perfect gifts!

Thank you, thank you

Stanley Korshak

Please help make my debut successful by joining me on

Friday, November 9

11-2

Stanley Korshak

500 Crescent Court

Cedar Springs at Maple

Liana Yarckin Watercolors at Stanley Korshak

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Sunday, May 27, 2018

Liana on Love

Rose Gold Love

5x5 watercolor

This is the second attempt at writing this post. My intention is to love and forgive. Was it last year when I wrote about someone stopping me at the mall to thank me and encourage me to keep posting what I post? She said that with all of the negativity on the internet it is so refreshing to see my posts in her feed. She ended with, "you never know what someone has been going through and how your post may lift them up."

Sweet Love

Sold.

After 2 incidents where friends, (maybe they are not really friends) in a 4 week time period said in my presence and directly to me awful, ugly ethnic comments, I am prompted to doing my part in letting the world know it is not okay. In both incidents comments were directed to me and also other ethnic/minority groups unrelated to me. I can't tell you how intense the ugliness of those comments feel. It first goes into my heart, like a big wide blunt knife and then down to the pit of my stomach and stays there.

How can I be in 2018 and around people who would say such comments. Ethnic comments are ugly, disgusting and without social grace. It is the opposite of love. One person said that she thought she and her husband knew me well enough to joke with me about my ethnic background and my husband's religious background. There is nothing funny about degrading another ethnic group or religion that is not yours. She said something else must have happened to me to make me so sensitive about their jokes. No, I thought it was the ugliest of ugly. Is that what is coming from your heart? How can I be in your presence with such ugliness? And, yes, I have experienced something that makes me sensitive to degrading ethnic comments. I have experienced it since I was in 3rd grade and I am tired of it.

Big Love

22x22

A friend from a Scandanavian country didn't understand why would they even think of these things. She said, "why do they have to tie it back to your ethnicity? It is completely unrelated." I don't know. In an unrelated conversation, a friend recently told me, "you are so loved." And she is right! I am so blessed to have all of the true friends that I have from all over the world with different backgrounds. When I think of my friends, I am mostly connected by how they make me feel. I don't see color, ethnicity, religion, how much money they make, the things they own, I really am attracted to how I feel when I am with them. I will admit, I am a sucker for accents! I have been known to make friends with someone because I love their accent!

Peace, Joy, Love

5x5 watercolor

Back to the subject. Love, Brothers and Sisters, Love one Another. I looked this up, but, cannot find this exact quote online. I have had to hear it from somewhere. This is what the girl in the mall was saying. Love each other. If we all love each other, we will be able to forgive, overlook, tolerate, who knows, we may even brighten someone's day. Love, love, love. Without giving a lecture or scolding of any kind, if each of us always starts and comes from love, then we will avoid causing negativity to our brother. This is what I have learned from Dr. George Burriss. If we stay in love, then we will experience joy and peace. What more could you want? Everything else will follow.

love, love, love

Sold.

No matter where you are in the world, no matter what your religious or ethnic background is, we are all connected some way in this thing we call life. We all affect (impact) one another. Starting small, right here in your neighborhood, love your brother. Your brother is that person that does not look like you or may not even have your same religion. Embrace this and love him. I promise, good will come from it. You will be spreading goodness and love. You will feel good.

So I say to you, don't judge, love. Love. A man is a man is a man. My mom is a mom like all other moms, loving and wants the best for her children. That person across the street from you, wants the same as you for his children. Love them.

Come from a place of love in all that you do and say.

As Dr. Michael J. Sorrell said in his address at the St. Mark's Commencement, "it is your time to be special, go into the world and make a difference... be special by helping a community that needs you... have dinner with someone that doesn't look like you."

Loving your brother verses

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Saturday, April 28, 2018

Decorating: Gallery Walls/Hanging art Salon Style

I think we all have collected pieces of art over time. We buy a piece on vacation, a piece that sings to us, or we have inherited pieces from relatives or even family artists. If you are like me, I am running out of room to display my art. Not the art I paint, but, all of the art I have purchased over the years. I thought I would rotate pieces, but, time goes by and before you know it, it has been 10 years without rotating a single piece. Hence, hang art in "salon style."

To hang art in "Salon style" dates back to the 1600's when the French Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture would exhibit their students work. In order to show everyone's work, paintings were hung floor to ceiling and as close as possible. Later, in 1725, the exhibit was moved to the Salon Carré (Square Salon) of the royal palace known as the Louvre. Since then it has been referred to as the Salon and hanging many pieces of art together is known as "Salon style".

Of course I picked this photo because the

sofa and chairs grabbed me!!!

If you have plaster walls, here is a way

to hang your art, often seen in castles

and manor homes in England.

Salon style is a great way to

display your kids' art and makes

them feel good, too!

From Zaza Couture Home, Salon style was the

best solution for this long empty wall.

p.s. do you see my piece in the pic?

To see more ways to create your very own "Salon style" display in your home, visit my pinterest board. There is even a pin on how to hang art like Kate Spade.

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Sunday, April 22, 2018

Current Design Trends

I am sure you are noticing the color crush on blue. For the last 10 years, aqua seems to have been the trending color. While various light shades of aqua mixed with neutrals is still trending, I am noticing a new bold blue. From Peacock blue to a rich cobalt blue to navy, these deeper blues are appearing on everything from walls to cabinets to sofas.

As an artist who LOVES color, I want to show you how to use blue with it's complimentary color. Don't be afraid of purchasing my brightly colored watercolors, they go with the new blue!

Compliment, orange, warms up an all blue room!

Loving the magenta in the print on the right!

Wishing the print on the left had some

magenta to balance it out. Try this right now,
cover the print on the right with your hand,
look at the photo, this is the look and feel of
decorating with analogous colors (colors next
to each other on the color wheel). Now cover the
print on the left. Which feel do you like better?
Which way can you live everyday?