Artists Explore YUPO®’s Possibilities
July 9, 2021FROM THE ARTISTS.
YUPO®’s unbelievable quality can transform any work of art into a masterpiece. The ultra-smooth, non-porous, and non-absorbent canvas gives artists the flexibility to work in several different mediums to achieve unique and creative results. Yet every artist exploits these advantages differently, exposing the many possibilities of YUPO® paper.
Read about different artists’ experiences and techniques using YUPO®.
Jaide Fox
What’s your style of work and why do you use YUPO® to help accomplish your style?
I use alcohol inks on YUPO® to create abstract floral and landscape pieces.
YUPO® is the best medium for alcohol ink because it is non-porous and allows the ink to flow naturally across its surface.
How did you discover YUPO® and what was your first experience with it like?
I first discovered YUPO® when I was just starting with alcohol inks. Alcohol ink was a newer medium in mainstream art and I had primarily worked on tiles. I often wasn’t sure how to display tiles, but YUPO® allowed me to finish and frame my pieces, which then created marketable gallery artwork. The beauty of YUPO® is that if I didn’t like what I created, I could flood the YUPO® paper with alcohol, wipe away with a paper towel, and start all over again!
What do you do with your finished pieces?
My favorite finished pieces are usually sealed with Kamar Varnish and then placed either in a frame behind a mat and glass, or packaged in a clear plastic sleeve backed with foam core. If I create a piece that I don’t think will sell, I cut it into pieces to create unique jewelry or art cards.
Which YUPO® is your go-to?
I always turn to Legion 74lb YUPO® paper as my standard. However, the heavyweight YUPO® paper is great as well because you can use heat tools such as blow dryers or heat guns to control the evaporation of the alcohol, which creates different effects in the ink. If you use these tools, make sure to use the heavyweight or you may find the paper to melt or warp from too much heat exposure.
Any advice for first time YUPO® users?
Don’t hold back! Don’t be afraid to put your first blobs of ink on the paper and move it around, because you can always wipe it away if you don’t like what you did!
Arleigh Wood
What’s your style of work and why do you use YUPO® to help accomplish your style?
My current Series of work is called “Flux and Floe”, in reference to the spontaneous nature of alcohol ink/YUPO® paper medium. This series depicts imaginary landscapes that could be terrestrial, celestial or aquatic (or all three). Images of glaciers (ice floes), waterfalls, constellations, remote island cabins and forests fill many of the paintings. I love using YUPO® paper because the inks sit directly on the surface and retain a vibrancy and texture unlike watercolour or any other paper. Brushes and paint move smoothly and fluidly over the paper.
How did you discover YUPO® and what was your first experience with it like?
I had been hearing about YUPO® for many years but never had a chance to try it. It all seemed very mysterious. I started watching some videos online about the many ways you can paint on YUPO® and decided to try it for myself. At first I used the translucent paper and layered the ink paintings over photographs which created an interesting effect. You have less control with alcohol inks on YUPO® and this was freeing after working on a very precise Geometric acrylic painting Series. This process was more meditative and unplanned, well-suited for my state of mind during the pandemic.
What do you do with your finished pieces?
I frame the finished pieces as is or cut up the YUPO® paper and use it in a mixed media collage.
Which YUPO® is your go-to?
I love the translucent YUPO®, Opus brand stone paper and the YUPO® medium.
Any advice for first time YUPO® users?
Use inks in a ventilated space and use an organic vapours mask for prolonged use.
Miriam Aroeste
What is your style of work and why do you use YUPO® to help accomplish your style?
The work I do is abstract, non representational paintings. I work in different mediums and in the last few years I have been particularly happy using YUPO® for all my wet media work because YUPO® is an acrylic non-porous surface that allows me to achieve the results I want.
How did you discover YUPO® and what was your first experience with it like?
I discovered YUPO® a few years ago at Opus. Somebody at the store was helping me find some paper for a project and mentioned YUPO® as an interesting surface to work on. My first experience was totally experimental so it took me some time to get familiar with YUPO® and all the potential it has. YUPO® is versatile and you can use any medium on YUPO®.
Any advice for first time users?
Clean the YUPO® surface with alcohol before starting to work on it.
Amber Powell
What is your style of work and why do you use YUPO® to help accomplish your style?
I do small drawings using graphite, watercolour and felt pens. These drawings were created during the beginning of the pandemic, one a day. I call them ‘my cooties’. I love the smooth surface quality of YUPO® and love playing with the mediums on the surface.
What do you do with your finished pieces?
These drawings are free floating in the frame and attached with translucent hangers to hold the drawings in place. They are on display in an exhibition at Headbones Gallery in Vernon, BC until August 2nd, 2021.
Which YUPO® is your go-to?
I used YUPO® translucent paper for this series.
Any advice for first time users?
I would suggest new users to experiment and have fun.
IG @berpowell
Kristi Bruce
What’s your style of work and why do you use YUPO® to help accomplish your style?
I try to create beautiful, intuitive, and colourful artwork that is otherworldly and meditative to look at. I use alcohol ink, stencils, acrylic paint, pencil, and pen on YUPO® paper. YUPO® has helped me achieve the look and style I was striving for. I am very happy with the quality and versatility of it for my art making.
How did you discover YUPO® and what was your first experience with it like?
I first came across YUPO® when experimenting with alcohol inks. I love YUPO® because it has a very smooth surface that is non-absorbent and produces a vibrant finish when colour is applied to it. The act of artmaking is more important to me than the final product; it has to be fun. I love the process of applying the alcohol ink onto the YUPO® paper; the ink pools on the surface, slowly expanding while the colours blend into each other to create interesting organic shapes. There is so much room to experiment, and because YUPO® is a fairly new product it’s exciting trying out all kinds of materials on it.
Which YUPO® is your go-to?
I like to use the white 11 x 14, 74 LB sheets for the smaller work and the 26 x 40 sheets for larger work which I mount on board. I just bought the round 12-inch pad of YUPO® paper and I can’t wait to get started.
What do you do with your finished pieces?
When I am experimenting with the alcohol ink I might not like the whole image, so I cut out the parts that I find interesting and make them into collage. I glue the cut pieces onto a clean sheet and then mount it on board. I then use Art Resin to finish the piece. Right now, I am working on building a series called “Journey Through the Rainbow to the Other Side”.
Any advice for first time YUPO® users?
My advice for first time users of YUPO® paper is to have fun and experiment. YUPO® is great to try things out on because it is very durable and versatile. Both sides can be used, and because it is non-absorbent a lot can be erased or washed off and the paper can be used again. I also like that YUPO® doesn’t buckle like traditional watercolor paper if too much liquid is applied. Also, if you are using tape, it peels off without lifting any paper away with it.
