Watercolors by Liana Yarckin: New Paintings, New Face Masks, New Ideas

Dallas Skyline by Liana Yarckin

Hi everyone. Hope you are safe and well! I know I’ve had my days of feeling like I am trapped or like I don’t have freedom. I am encouraged by my fellow artist you have really embraced this time to improve on their talents.

A lot of exciting things have been happening in my studio. I’m thankful for all the commissions! It seems that one of the positives for me from this pandemic is, “I was looking at your website…“ Can you believe? I have never heard that said to me as many times in the last three months as I have during my entire art career! So if you’re an artist, post away! Everyone seems to be improving their home or their office spaces with art!

Prints available here

The images above were for a project for an office space. My client selected images that were already on my website and commissioned me to paint the Dallas skyline to add to their collection. We discussed the different options and decided on prints on canvas to be the best option. One reason was because some of the paintings had already sold and another reason was this gave us flexibility in final image sizes, plus feasibility. For example, look at the giant triptych on the back wall. Glowing Gallantly. I posted that original here years ago and you are even helped me name it! It is 11 x 14. But because of technology we were able to increase the size and manipulate the image on 3 canvases. The Dallas Skyline was created using one of my favorite techniques, pouring.

Our smile is our best feature. Wear a pretty mask!

Order your mask here

Masks - I was never intending on getting in the mask making business. You know, I’m a silk scarf kind of girl. But, my customers kept asking me. I started with six designs on masks. That resulted with customers asking for more designs. I purchased one for myself and then realized I needed a mask in a different color to go with my outfit that I was wearing to my son’s graduation. Honestly, I kept thinking this wearing a mask was going to go away in three weeks back in April and May. Now I see wearing a mask as part of my outfit and most importantly a way to express myself. If I have to wear something across my face, then I want it to be something that’s going to make other people smile.

P.s. Jennifer Munoz asked to show my masks on two of her t.v. segments!!!

18x20 watercolor by Liana Yarckin

Between commissions, I’ve had time to experiment with other mediums and within watercolor. I’ve started some new psychedelic butterfly/insect designs. Some have sold the second I posted on Instagram which is affirming. By the way, if you ever want a good price on a painting, the time to ask me is within the first minute of posting. So not professional, but I am so in the moment that I always get a below market price when someone comments, “I want that! How much is it?“ I’m just happy that I connected with somebody instantly and I’m ready to send it out into the world to that person.

I chose to put this blue and white kaleidoscope here because I absolutely love it! It is so dramatic and would be just perfect framed floating in a white frame. Who out there has the perfect spot for this painting?

Texas Proud items by Liana Yarckin

The Texas painting in the back is an example of my mixed media that I am working on now. That is acrylic, collage, graphite on wood panel. Working in this medium has been interesting and stimulating to me because it’s more about the texture and the overall feel of the painting. It’s also more of a reactionary process which is so out of the box for me. For some that might be easy, but, for me it is challenging to free myself up without a plan. I did complete a commission using this process at the giant size of 48 x 48”. I welcome more challenges at this large size.

I would love to hear from you. What are you doing during this time? Do you feel like you have extra time to learn something new or are you actually busier trying to accommodate this new situation? What adjustments have you made? What things do you like that have come out of this pandemic? Me, I love doing my exercise class on zoom! It saves time not having to drive there and back.

I do miss seeing my friends and I know my art class misses painting together. Zoom isn’t the same as in person. Social media and direct messages do help me feel like I’m in contact with the outside world. Thank you to everyone who is always commenting and replying to my posts on Instagram and Facebook.