In Studio with Yana Beylinson: Painting like stepping into a clear healing stream.
Investigating themes of spirituality and our connection to the divine, painter Yana Beylinson dives deep into the botanical complexities of floral composition, employing the immediacy and ephemeral nature of live subjects as a catalyst for purposeful and focused action without the interference of daily distractions. Beylinson is particularly interested in the study of light and its interaction with surfaces both opaque and translucent. From this perspective, colors and shapes become independent entities, equal to the physical subject matter she represents. This multi-faceted approach allows Beylinson multiple access points into the invisible world of the spirit.
In a studio conversation with the artist Yana Beylinson who resides in Brooklyn, NJ whose favorite space in the world is her studio which is in her pool house with a lot of light and space. We talked about her New Year rituals, her typical day in her studio, how she plans her artistic practice for the new year and lot more.
1. How are you setting up your studio for the New Year?
My studio will remain the same as it is now. It is set up in our pool house and refitted for this purpose. I have windows on two sides, a lot of light, and enough wall space and storage. It is my favorite space in the world, and I wouldn’t change it one bit!
2. What is one ritual or thing that you do at the beginning of the New Year in your studio?
Hmmm, maybe I need to establish some fun New Year rituals. I always tally up my accounting for the year. I’ve been collecting images for my vision board, and I plan to print some out and put them on my wall in January. I am a daily meditator, so I will say thank you for 2023 around Winter Solstice and will do a fresh meditation welcoming 2024.
3. Looking at last year what is the work that you are most proud of?
I feel happy with the Dutch series of paintings I completed in 2023. “Maria” feels especially successful. It was painted in one day, and it has the freshness and the energy that are very important to me, together with the control of values and the general composition.
4. What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?
I wake up early and have breakfast with my family. After my younger son leaves for school, I make a fresh cup of tea and walk to my studio. This is a sacred space for me, and I enter it as such, with reverence and gratitude. The building was a pool house in our backyard which I refitted to be a proper artist studio, with a good light, white walls, and an abundance of good energy. After checking my emails I make a plan for the day. If it is a painting day, I sit down in front of the painting in progress and think about the next step. I light up my favorite incense and put on devotional music (Deva Premal is my favorite). I go into painting like stepping into a clear healing stream. I keep working until 4 pm when my son comes back from school. Then I redirect to the second portion of my day: we go to his activities or a park, have dinner, and walk the dog. I usually come back to my studio later in the evening to clean up and to put my painting to bed – which means resolving the edges that are too hard. Since I work wet into wet, it needs to be done sooner rather than later. On my teaching days, I don’t paint and devote all of my time and energy to my students. I teach on Zoom with private students, with a unique approach for every person.
5. Could you share the studio spaces you work from? Is it your kitchen table or a fancy studio? How has your creative process evolved?
My studio is set in our pool house converted for the purpose. It is a lovely building with plenty of natural light, looking over our backyard. I am surrounded by nature, and I observe the change of seasons, the growth of plants, and the movements of animals from my studio windows. I manifested my studio space, and it truly became my touchstone, my special sacred space. My work and my process went through a total transformation after we moved to this house. I now approach my art with increased professionalism and fearlessness, experiencing a positive transformation in my artistic journey.
6. How are you setting up the tone for your studio practice this new year?
As I approach the new year, I’m evaluating and refining my studio practice. Currently, my routine involves painting, teaching, handling administrative tasks, and engaging in reading and research. To enhance my practice, I aim to allocate more dedicated time to painting and intensify my focus to foster improvement and productivity.
7. A favorite book you like to read?
I am a voracious reader, and there are so many books that I admire. Among my top favorites are The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami and The Magus by John Fowles. I also love the work of Susanna Clarke, Margaret Atwood, Emily St John Mandel, and many others.
8. Can we sneak in your current artwork on your table?
Currently, I am working on a very atypical work for me – a landscape. This is a semi-imagined cross-seasonal view meant to be more metaphysical than realistic.
9. How do you take your studio practice beyond your studio?
My artistic practice integrates into every facet of my life. Whether I’m traveling, doing household chores like laundry, or cooking, I am continually developing my work. Above all, my artistic journey is intricately intertwined with my meditation practice. These two spiritual endeavors mutually nourish and enhance each other, contributing to the enrichment and expansion of my life.
10. How would you describe the year 2023 for your studio practice?
My artistic practice is constantly evolving. In 2023, I was already established in my current studio, with all the necessary changes made. It was a wonderfully productive year filled with teaching, speaking, painting, and painting some more! Through my spiritual practice, I continued to lift layers of conditioning and discover my authentic voice. I’ve developed the Dutch series, and now am starting on a new body of work, Realms Unseen.
11. How do you overcome a creative block and let the creative juices flow?
I experience occasional bouts of depression, a not-uncommon challenge among creative people. These periods become significant obstacles to my productivity, as my energy levels plummet, making it difficult to paint. Recognizing this as a signal to pause and recharge, I take proactive measures. I incorporate yoga and meditation into my routine, spend time in nature, maximize exposure to natural sunlight (especially in the Northeast during winter), and occasionally take time off work to allow myself much-needed rest and self-nurturing.
12. The first piece of art you made while working here in this studio.
The first painting that I started in my new studio is still underway, 2.5 years in development. This is not continuous since I work on several paintings at the same time, giving myself time to recharge between the paintings if something is not quite working. The painting is tentatively titled “White Sun”, the current stage of it is enclosed.
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