Today we’d like to introduce you to Beverly Yankwitt.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been drawn to art since I was a child but I decided against a career in art choosing one that was more financially reliable. I received my BS degree in Medical Technology from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I worked in that capacity for over 30 years. Then in 2006 I joined my husband as a financial advisor and certified financial planner at Merrill Lynch from where I retired. I didn’t return seriously to art until about 25 years ago when I started taking classes at the Visual Arts Center, our local art center. I started out doing representational painting but when challenged to do abstract work in one of my classes, I found it to be exciting and never boring. I haven’t turned back to realistic work. I started teaching abstract art at the Visual Art Center in Punta Gorda about 12 years ago and I love it. I consider this my third career and its the best one yet!
I’m very involved in the arts on the state level and the national level. I am a past president of the Florida Watercolor Society and remain on the board as the Trade Show Director for the annual Convention and Trade Show. I am also on the board of the National Watercolor Society serving as Education Director responsible for organizing the workshops online and in-person throughout the year.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started to get serious about my art I set goals for myself starting with attainable goals locally such as getting my work accepted into local juried shows, then winning awards in those shows. As these things started to happen I expanded to include regional shows, then state shows and now national shows. There have been a lot of rejections over the years but I kept trying. Although I still get rejections I am now a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the International Society of Experimental Arts, the Southern Watercolor Society and the Suncoast Watercolor Society. To achieve this designation an artist has to be accepted into three of their exhibitions which means you are one of one hundred artists accepted out of 600 to over 800 entries.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a non-objective abstract artist meaning that my work has nothing realistic in it. I don’t use a photo reference or even start with a plan in mind. I begin with mark making and scribbles on my paper. I usually work on watercolor paper using fluid acrylic paints. After that first step of mark making, I begin to add paint always checking for the elements of design; value, contrast, balance, shape and color. If any of them appear off, I work to correct it turning my paper in all directions until I’m satisfied with the result. To me, having a color strategy using a limited color palette is important. I also like structure in my abstracts so they feel cohesive. I don’t know what sets me apart form others but people often tell me they can always recognize my work so I guess I have a distinctive voice. I hope that I’m also known for my use of color.
What’s next?
I have one more watercolor organization, the American Watercolor Society, for which I would like to get a signature designation. I’ve been accepted one time and need to get in two more times. I’m in a co-op gallery, Sea Grape Gallery in Punta Gorda, but I would like to find additional galleries to represent my work. I plan to continue teaching and improving my artistic skills.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bevyankwittart.com
- Instagram: Art by Bev Yankwitt
- Facebook: Art by Bev Yankwitt
