Sevina Yates
About My Art
My works are a mixture of watercolour and gouache paints as I have found this is best for building up realistic layers on fur and feathers. On animals there are several layers of fur – each with a different function and I paint in layers to give a feeling of depth. with an understanding of each animal, where it lives and the way it is built. Snow leopards live I the highest mountains on Earth and their fur is soft, thick, and deep. I desire my paintings to convey a sense of the way an animal feels, soft harsh, thick, deep, fur you could sink your fingers into.
I have painted most subjects except portraits but have developed my paintings to move in the direction of wildlife and conservation.
Before I paint I bury myself in research gathering information on the animal and its environment, before observing the animal itself in the wild or captivity to ensure accuracy in my work. I do not paint animals I have not seen myself, if I have painted footprints in the snow, I have seen them. I have a vast photographic archive of background reference material and animals in myriad poses and couldn’t survive without my Nikon film camera and Canon digital SLR along with my sketchbook.
I listen to music as I paint, as a lot of artists do to get into a state of flow. I wait until I feel a tension before I paint as oriental artists do, it concentrates my mind and I produce better work. I like to focus on endangered species but with a trip to Switzerland to come this year I expect a few European birds and mammals will creep in.
I continue to be fascinated by Carl Brenders, Lee Kromschroeder and other wildlife artists and have learned my art by studying their work, whilst developing my own unique style.
Drama and light play a large part in some of my paintings to give impact, in others it is quietness that prevails, but in all, the animals and birds will speak for themselves.
If you would like to discuss anything with me please feel free. I am afraid I do not do commissions at present however if you are after a particular animal and I have a picture I may move painting it up my list. I reserve the right to take prints from any painting so requested, to dispose of as I so wish, before displaying it on my site.
Constructive feedback welcomed!
Take a look at...
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