Yahel Yan: Communicating Through Color

*The Day you Left me I Won the Lotto*. Acrylic on canvas.

*Stubborn Love.* Acrylic & chalk on canvas.

*The Way You Make Me Feel.* Acrylic on canvas.

Website: www.yahelyan.com
Instagram: @yahel.yan.art

Yahel Yan's vibrant paintings are rooted in color and informed by her cultural background and upbringing in Mexico. Whether Yahel is working in the realm of abstraction and utilizing bold, energetic brush strokes, or creating detailed, photo-realistic paintings of chairs, one thing remains consistent - color and light and central to every piece.

How did your creative journey begin?

Pretty much since I was born. Ever since I was a little girl I have been very creative and interested in art. Being an artist runs in my family so I was encouraged from a young age to paint and create. I went to college for graphic design and worked for a few years making logos and presentation cards. When my children started going to school, I started taking painting classes, and ever since then, I have been dedicated to my art practice.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

When I am painting, I am expressing the feelings I carry whether they are subconscious or conscious. I take inspiration from the beauty and colors I am surrounded by and the inanimate objects that speak to me. I like to take pictures (especially of chairs) and used them as a starting point for new pieces. I am also often influenced by the music I am listening to when I paint. My cultural background and my upbringing in Mexico inform the bright and bold colors I am drawn to.

How has your work shifted and evolved?

As a multidisciplinary artist, I have experimented with many different mediums throughout the years. Each medium has allowed me to express myself in different ways and in doing so I have grown as an artist. I find that while there is no direct relationship between the work I create through the different mediums, they are also in communication with one another. Being a printmaker showed me how to see my work from different perspectives and how to problem-solve. As a painter, I learned to manipulate color to create the different feelings I aim to render. My art practice is constantly evolving based on my interest and fascets in life.

What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?

I usually start by setting up my diffuser with essential oils and playing music as a way to create an environment I want to work in. I stand in front of my canvas and begin a conversation, drawing lines and shapes and letting the feelings flow. I like to step back after a while and visualize what is taking place to make sure the aesthetics are in line with what I am trying to achieve, visually and emotionally. I work as long as I am able and return to the pieces after some hours and sometimes days or weeks.

When I first started painting I didn’t have a dedicated space so I was somewhat constrained by having to find the place and time to pain. I was eventually able to turn a room in my home into a studio which propelled my practice in an unforeseen manner. Having that special place allowed me to paint anytime I wanted which gave me great creative freedom and more time to work, increased my productivity. In addition to my home studio, I have a collective studio that I share with four great artists (and friends), F1VE art Studio and Gallery, which is now a second studio where I can paint, share ideas with my colleagues, and display my art.

Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?

Having had the opportunity to visit museums from a young age in different countries around the world allowed me to see great art in person and gain inspiration while also motivating me to pursue an art career. Taking classes further honed my understanding, love, and abilities which have helped me find my path and voice. More recently collaborating with my F1VE art colleges has further assisted in my growth and change, having what I call “critique on-demand” from trusted colleges has no doubt had a significant impact on my more recent pieces.

How has Instagram impacted your art career?

When I first started posting on Instagram I had no idea how far-reaching the connections I would make would be. Initially, I started posting my work in hopes of gaining exposure, what I found however was not only an audience but people to connect with. Over the years Instagram has allowed me to share my work and process, promote and sell my work, but most importantly it has led to developing friendships and exchanges with artists all around the world.

What are your future goals and aspirations?

I am hoping to continue to grow and evolve as an artist, innovating and exploring through my creative process, new expressions, and imagery to share with an ever-growing audience. Given my history with art, I have always aspired to have one of my works exhibited at a major art museum. I have recently been selected for temporary exhibits at two local art museums but the goal is to have a piece become part of the permanent collection at the Met, for example (a girl can dream, right?).

Guest UserMay 4, 2022