YUKINE YANAGI


Yukine Yanagi, a Chinese-Japanese artist whose oil paintings delve deeply into the contemplation of natural forms, recently joined the "Painting from Unconventional Masterpieces" workshop series as the visiting artist. In her practice, the natural world is not simply observed, but felt. Her work emerges from an inner dialogue with elemental shapes and patterns, quietly unfolding layers of emotional and existential meaning. The tension between absence and presence, wonder and terror, runs through her paintings, suspending time in a space where form becomes language.

Below, you can discover her thoughts and artistic reflections from her time in my waterocolour workshops in a Q&A-style interview.



© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, made during the 'Painting from Unconventional Masterpieces

THE INTERVIEW 


What inspired you to join these workshops as the visiting artist, and what were your expectations beforehand?


I’ve been following Lucy’s work for awhile, and found myself deeply moved by her sensitivity in color and light to translate everyday scenarios and objects into something profound and intimate. I had taken her workshops in the past, and it is an honor to be able to return as a visiting artist. Her way of facilitating the workshop was familiar to me, and therefore I didn’t necessarily expect anything more or less than my previous experience: which was very positive. I joined her workshops to find new ways to challenge my practice and extend a sense of community beyond my immediate surroundings (I’m located on the East Coast, USA, while Lucy and many of the workshoppers are based in Edinburgh or London), and of course, to support an artist that I really admire.




© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, made during the 'Painting from Unconventional Masterpieces' workshop block.

How did these workshops contribute to your artistic growth and development?


I found myself in a new found love with watercolor as a ritual practice before making my oil painting work at the studio. There is a different kind of immediacy and risk-free




© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, (Stack, inspired by Lucy’s workshop)


Did the workshops provide a supportive and engaging environment for learning and creativity? If so, how?



Absolutely. Lucy is brilliant and so kind and sensitive, and really encourages a space that is safe for everyone to just paint alongside each other. We always end up chatting about all sorts of things in life as we paint. Lucy is also very honest and generous, which I deeply respect. So for her crits, she always tries to be understanding while constructive.



© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, made during the 'Painting from Unconventional Masterpieces' workshop block.

What aspects of the workshops did you find most enjoyable and rewarding?


I’m very happy because I wouldn’t have been able to meet all these lovely people that are located on the other side of the world.  I woke up very early at 5am on the days I attended the workshop to fit the time zone, and it really felt like some sort of secret society or something where everyone just really really cared about painting. And for these wee hours in the morning, nothing else really mattered. And that was beautiful. Then, I would go to my own studio feeling like I just lived another life and then keep painting, with an uplifted spirit–– which I find super important.



In what ways did the workshops help you overcome any creative challenges or obstacles you were facing?


Watercolor as a medium, and the influence of Lucy’s practice/teaching opened up a new interest for me in painting from life. This helps a lot when I get stuck in my more abstract-language based oil painting.




© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, made during the 'Painting from Unconventional Masterpieces’ workshop block.

How has your perspective or approach to your art practice changed as a result of participating in these workshops?

I’m definitely more excited to think about color in my work. And also sketching out some details before adding paint. Towards the end of the watercolors, I started treating them like oil paintings, but the surface was much less forgiving and I ended up with these muddy paintings that I honestly don’t mind, but also don’t really love. I plan to go back into them with gouache and colored pencils… for right now, they serve as both a reminder of how great it is to plan a little more before each painting, but also how to create problems for myself and then find new ways to fix it and rescue the surface. I’m definitely going to do more of both.






© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, (Muddy ones, unfinished)

Did you find the workshop content relevant and applicable to your artistic goals and interests?

Yes! I just really love painting. And I love conversing with others who really love painting.


What advice would you give to someone considering attending a similar workshop series?

Just be open. You can always learn more about the thing you are very passionate about. And it’s really great to learn directly from artists you admire, so you can also support their practice, as opposed to blindly supporting larger institutions.



Overall, how would you describe the impact of these workshops on your artistic journey?

Positive! These workshops inspire me to keep challenging myself through working with different mediums, as a way to continuously evolve my practice and understanding. And it also showed me how important it is to keep building community.




© 2024 Yukine Yanagi, made during the 'Painting from Unusual Masterpieces’ workshop block.