Artistic Background

My mother, Ruth Yatchman, an artist and art instructor, was most well known for her porcelain painting. She had a very strong presence in the national and international China Painting community and helped this art form gain public recognition. I was a ceramic apprentice with J. T. Abernathy in Ann Arbor, MI. JT’s work is housed in more than 23 museums across the United States, he turns 100 this year and is still making pots. I followed in his footsteps and became a clay artist.  In the 1990’s  I changed from 3D to 2D.  I received a BFA in painting from the UW,  where I was privileged to be able to study with Michael Spafford and Michael Daily.  I have been painting and teaching art ever since, most recently parent-toddler clay classes, art to challenged youth in Seattle public schools and assorted fine art classes at my local Senior Center.  Art-related extracurricular activities include hosting an open life drawing session at my loft, meeting with a group of artists weekly to draw each others’ portraits.

I work primarily with inks, latex paint, acrylic paint and  pastels. My work is often segmented into parts: diptychs, triptychs and quartets. My work is often informed by nature and was especially nature driven during our recent covid times. My art often can speak to the duality in life. I frequently combine representational work with abstract work. I will often contrast a print against a painting. I will take  black and white and juxtapose that against vibrant colours. My images can provide occasions for contemplating the unity that underlies all things which at first can seem disparate.