Art & Life with Yuko Yabuki

Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuko Yabuki.

Yuko, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I am a self-taught artist who has made a lot of detours to reach where I am at now. It has been a wild experience!

I started out as a graphic designer after two years of study at an art college in Tokyo. I chose that path back then because it seemed like a more realistic choice to become financially independent vs. just trying to be a painter. My main interests then were fashion and music, so that’s where I focused on finding my clients. However, soon after I started to feel dull working in such a commercial world. I quickly lost my interest to continue as a graphic designer, and I knew something had to be changed. So I moved to the United States to renew my path. Leaving the design world in Japan was tough, simply because it paid too well to leave. Without forcing such a drastic change to a totally new world, I don’t think I could have done it.

Starting my new life in the U.S.A was quite an adventure! It brought many challenges with having to adopt a new language and adapt to a new culture. I was not sure how to begin my new artist life, so I started out by showing my paintings in cafes, restaurants, bars, hair salons, and nightclubs. Those places became my playground. Hanging out with musicians taught me a lot about emotion and movement of energy. I took the challenge of anything that came my way. I painted big, large-scale paintings for warehouse art shows, and I even made clothing and did a few fashion shows along with my painting shows. I also learned how to tattoo and joined a live painting event at a major tattoo convention for the last ten years. Now I’ve settled down to only painting and focus on showing my pieces with galleries and eventually in museums. I’ve learned from my artist peers, but without any real art teachers, everything in my art life has been live and learned. So many detours may seem like a waste of time to many people’s eyes, but everything I have experienced up until now has made my art what it is and given it the depth that it deserves. I truly appreciate everyone who has touched my life.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My artwork is mostly two dimensional. I paint in metaphysical themes addressing the duality of life and the beauty and formation of the world we are living in. It is also the hybrid of east meets west, light, and shadows.

In my process, I find the subject during my daydreams. It is called “visionary art” which is different from painting subjects that exist in front of our physical eyes. When an image strikes me, I sketch it on paper as accurately as I remember and then refine into outline. Sometimes it grows as a drawing and sometimes into painting. Symbolism is often used to connect with the viewer as visual language. Every piece has own story behind of it.

Making and exhibiting art is how I communicate. I want to share what is in my mind, which is often more accurate than my words. I like my art to be inspirational as encouragement to people and a guide for a deeper connection to view themselves in.

I am also fascinated by the idea of my art to keep traveling among people and time. In that way, even after ceasing to exist in this world physically, my spirit will keep traveling to inspire people who I’ve never actually met. If my creation can touch the viewer’s heart, move their thoughts and emotions, and detox their soul, I call it a success.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
I am usually the one who takes advice from other artists, if I will advise something, it will be for younger artists.

Don’t be afraid express whatever and however you want to express while you are still free from making income out of art, that practice will let you understand who you are and form exactly what kind of artist you will become.

If you could afford to learn from art university, it is a good place to learn traditional skills which will be your backbone, also it is a good place to find many colleagues to establish yourself among them. However, if you can’t afford to do so, that is not the end of the world, go to see many arts as possible and train your senses, learn with your eyes. Every artist is different, you are the only one who could bring your art into this world, so don’t compare yourself to others and discouraged. If you continue to practice and work hard, you will find your own way to your success, don’t give up. You have to be the first believer of yourself and your own pathfinder.

Appreciate any support and people who love and purchase your creations.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My work can be viewed online on my Instagram page www.instagram.com/yukoyabuki666, on Facebook www.facebook.com/yuko.yabuki.7, and on my website www.YukoYabuki.com where I also have giclée prints of my work available for purchase. I normally post what I am working on, updates on social media about any upcoming shows and public studio openings.

My art studio is located in Phoenix in the Grand Avenue Arts District. My next studio opening will be Saturday, November 10th during the Grand Avenue Arts Festival.

For those who are serious about viewing my original work or purchasing prints in person, I am always happy to make appointments for personal studio visits, please shoot me a message via Instagram or Facebook.

There are also two annual group shows where my latest work can be seen; “Chaos Theory” at Legend City in Phoenix First Friday in every October and the “Conjoined” show In Los Angeles at Copro Gallery in every January.

For those who can’t afford to purchase my work, but still wish to support it, following me, interacting, and sharing through social media goes a long way and is always much appreciated!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.yukoyabuki.com
• Email: yyabuki@hotmail.com
• Instagram: yukoyabuki666
• Facebook: yuko.yabuki.7
• Twitter: yukoyabuki

Image Credit:
Portrait photo by Dayvid LeMmon

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