Yolanda Prinsloo Art Studio

About the Artist

Yolanda Prinsloo received a B.A. Fine Art and Education while under the tutelage of internationally renowned artist, Paul Emsley from the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Her work is collected in the US as well as internationally including in Australia, Norway and England. She grew up in apartheid South Africa where people faced great conflict and violence, as well as the absence of fundamental freedoms. Through the catharsis of Reconciliation, individuals delved into their own selves to see their history and that of mankind in order to understand each other. The focus of her art is on the mindful awareness of ourselves and others as we engage in our daily lives. An award winning artist, she has participated in several noted exhibitions including “Olympic Truce- Pieces for Peace” in Washington, DC; “Celebrate Freedom”, Civil Rights Museum, Memphis Tennessee; “Beijingplus 5 Symposium”, City University of New York.

Artist's Statement

Yolanda Prinsloo Artist Statement I grew up in apartheid South Africa, a police state at a time of suppressed freedom of speech and self-expression, which seeped into all veins of society. South Africans faced great conflict and violence, as well as the absence of fundamental freedoms. Through the catharsis of Reconciliation, individuals delved into their own selves to see their history and that of mankind in order to understand each other. Upon arriving in the United States, I was struck by society’s respect for an individual’s chosen path, which led to the acceptance of my own. My artistic expression began at this time and has flourished since. I paint primarily representational works with oil on canvas and board. I love oil paint because of its versatility and large window of drying time, which allows me to scrape and rework areas as well as blend colors to attain a desired effect. In my realistic paintings, I use a lot of observation, reflective light, and rich tones to create illusions of space, texture, and expression. A tremendous amount of thought goes into the preparation for these paintings. Portrait subjects and still life objects are studied to understand their essence and history, and composition and structure lines are strategically placed. In my portraits, the personality of the subject is captured with attention to detail in the eyes and mouth. This work is labor-intensive, often rendered with many layers of paint using smaller brushes to create depth, volume, and texture. My more spontaneous works involve rapid yet smooth brush strokes and blending techniques, which create a soft and soothing effect. To create the illusion of space, minimal structural lines are used with contrasting tones against the subtle and soft background. I work with natural color harmonies and their discords to create atmospheric and dreamy effects. Articulating boats and water have become a common vehicle of expression in my work, which has led to a journey of self-searching and self-discovery. Coincidentally, except for my African ancestors, everyone in my family arrived by ship across the seas so my very existence depended on vessels for travel across bodies of water. These paintings are serene and modern with simple lines and have an insightful play on color and space. The images are about our emotional and psychic need for space and time to become aware of our reality in a busy and demanding world. With no horizon, the viewer may feel like they are floating in a space of color, and the only solid object to view is a still boat. In turn, one is faced with the need to create a new paradigm of reality and to let go of what once was so tangible in order to accept the new uncertainty and focus on the boat – one’s hopes and dreams. I believe that art is a recording of our experiences - both individual and societal. Mindfulness and self-awareness have grown as movements in our society that speak to me and my process while creating artwork. Ultimately, my work is about my inner space, the quiet behind all my thoughts, and the solid belief that everything will work out.