Yupo Techniques Series – Featured Artist – Andy Mathis
My own endeavors in using Yupo as a primary canvas has inspired me to feature several outstanding artists who use it on a regular basis.
Yupo Techniques Series, Featured Artist – Andy Mathis
Andy Mathis is an outstanding watercolorist and a signature member of the Georgia Watercolor Society. His work is fluid and charming. Intense and delicate. Radiant with light and lush with shadow. There’s no doubt his mastery of watercolors on Yupo is noteworthy.
He’s been working with watercolors since this early 90s and he enjoys the endlessly expressive nature of the medium. He says of his work “I strive to create paintings that are both interesting to view and technically challenging. Watercolor is my favorite medium. I love when colors bleed together with transparent luminosity. I would describe my style as “loose with a bit of restraint”- combining fluidity and detail together.” That sense of open fluidity with a controlled hand are what make his works so inviting and refreshing.
Green Apples on Yupo is a fine example of his work on Yupo. The light seems to dance across the surface of the bowl and richly enhances the apples, giving them a feel that’s at once figurative–yet incredibly detailed. I liked how his brush strokes brought out the best in Yupo’s sleek surface, invoking the watery “slide” effects with great results.
For Pretty Girl 2, Calico Cat on Yupo–he captures a momentary pause in the sunlight,
before the furry cat rushes off in a ball of movement. The light, sparse layers and fuzzy edges remind us that she is a fountain of activity, with time for reflection. The Yupo lends its crips white background nicely to this piece and Andy’s ability to layer active, subtle color is outstanding.
Yupo paper gives the artist a chance to work with liquid color on a non-absorbent surface. This allows the artist to push and pull the watercolor in ways they don’t normally flow. Andy can use these unique blending techniques (along with his other techniques) to create a sense of color movement that’s not quite like anything regular paper can handle.
If you’d like to see more of Andy’s outstanding watercolor works, be sure to check out the links below. He’s an outstanding watercolorist (and Yupo should use his art to advertise their pads and boards!).
