Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Feast of Evocations

To one, it’s a confederacy of marine organisms, a reef habitat teeming with bright, lustrous coral, pulsating jellyfish, and mysterious translucent beings. To another, it’s Georgia O’Keefe on mind-altering drugs, a mosaic of amazing orchid patterns pressed into congress with cellular silhouettes and the fibrous underbellies of wild mushroom caps. To still another, it’s a single living creature suspended malignantly from above, each astonishing aspect of its person networked to the others by fine vesicle-like filaments that might transmit blood, energy, or otherworldly intelligence. Whatever it is, I prefer to think of the art of Yellena James less as a Rorschach test and more as a skylight forcing open the closed mind. Can an artist go about depicting things this radically amorphous, albeit suggestive, and actually find a niche in the finicky world of gallery art? She can if she has the talent of Yellena James.

Our survey of Yellena’s work began, of course, with a piece that exemplified all the distinctive qualities of her style: the radiantly image-saturated, fittingly named Allusion. The artist, however, didn’t stop there. She fetes a festive gathering of mitochondrial revelers in Masquerade, infuses her Honeydew forest with a spectrum of summery pastels, loops up a swirling tempest in Cloudburst and celebrates simple Wonder with a print of the same name. One after another, her drawings delight us, and here’s one especially delightful “drawing” to top it off: the winner of today’s giveaway will win the Yellena James print of his or her choice, up to $20 in value. To enter, visit Yellena's Etsy Shop, then come back here to tell us about your favorite print. Wishing Willow subscribers earn an extra entry; be sure to let us know in a second post if you’re a subscriber. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 11/6/08. Best of Luck!

**We have a winner! Mommyhood is Thankless who said, "Allusion is my favorite I really love the detail! In the interest of making it look like I actually visited the etsy shop full or gorgeous art work, I also like Starlight and Maybe too! If I won, I seriously would have a rough time picking!"**

162 comments:

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

My favorite is candy.

=) melanie
http://melaniescrafts.blogspot.com
melanieadey at hotmail dot com

Jenn S. said...

I really like the Lush print.

Sky Farms said...

My favorite is Thistle. They are all so beautiful and lush looking!
I'm a subscriber!

mommyjen99 said...

My favorite print is the Gala - Print. Beautiful colors.
jen62728@aol.com

Tessa said...

Wow, gorgeous stuff! I love "tempt." :)

Tessa said...

I'm a subscriber. tm1224 (at) gmail (dot) com

Jen lleras said...

I like the linger print best!


jennifer.lleras@gmail.com

Unknown said...

"you and me" is my favourite

Unknown said...

i'm also a subscriber

Booklogged said...

My favorite is Allusion.

booklogged at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I really like the Maybe print.

lilnamekangelivy[at]aol[dot]com

janeh said...

Frolic is my favorite....

JACLYN said...

I really like the colors and design of Magic.

Dani' said...

I like Candy, it would look good in my bedroom.

Dani' said...

I am a subscriber solta(at)hotmaildotcom

Anonymous said...

i love the "cloudburst" print!

fertawert AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I like the Magic - Print

Jessica Y. said...

Wow, I love "No Name Parade-Limited Edition."

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15322446

jess^^^4002 [at] gmail [dot] com
(without the ^^^)

Jessica Y. said...

I'm a subscriber! :)

jess^^^4002 [at] gmail [dot] com
(without the ^^^)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

candy or allusion..count me in! mrs.mommyy@gmail.com

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

subscriber count me in! mrs.mommyy@gmail.com

Unknown said...

My favorite is Starlight

mverno said...

love the allusion print

Jaime said...

Allusion for sure is my favorite. It's very hard to choose!!

Emily said...

i love the mint gocco print!

Emily said...

& i am a subscriber!

eclaireanderson at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

This is one of my favorite etsy shops ever!

I'm going to say Allusion is my favorite but it's so hard to decide!

jamieislovely@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Also a subscriber!

jamieislovely@gmail.com

vboackle said...

i like the honeydew print.

judybrittle said...

I would really love the candy print. That's really pretty.hank you!
judybrittle at aol dot com

judybrittle said...

I'm a subscriber
judybrittle at aol dot com

ky2here said...

I really like these. I'll go with the Vessel print however it would be easy to select several runners up.

Anonymous said...

i love the maybe print. it's so beautiful!!! :)

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I like Yellena James's Thistle print,
which is very original and highly unusual!

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I am also a subscriber to Weeping Willow (whose name I love!), which offers us so many giveaways to make us feel special, and this is my extra entry.

Anna Lloyd said...

My favourite is honydew!

Anna Lloyd said...

I'm a subscriber!

Anonymous said...

My favorite is Someday!

jackson.pietsch@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Whoa! Vessel is so cool. I'm sure it's capillary-related, but somehow I see pills and mushrooms!

Anonymous said...

Subscriber!

Hanna said...

Hmm I think my favorite may be Allusion. So hard to choose between that and Magic.. I really wish she had a print of the rat picture she did, though!

Hanna said...

Also, I am a subscriber.

Unknown said...

wow, these are gorgeous!!! i like allusion the best, but it was a tough pick!!

autumn398 (at) yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the "You and Me" print!

Cindi ladybrit911@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

i pick candy!

texan_michael(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Sierra Martin-Persi said...

I think Tempt is my favorite. These would make really great fabrics.

Rockapink [at] aol.com

Susan said...

How cool. I like Breeze.

Anonymous said...

Wow, these are so impressive. I love Frolic.

courtpaige at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Fizz
Jaleigh78[at]aol[dot]com

Nicole said...

I like Thistle.

I can't recall if I'm a subscriber or not.

kaitlyn sullivan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kaitlyn sullivan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
kaitlyn sullivan said...

i love yellena's work. thank you for this giveaway!!

i love 'maybe.' it looks so classic, with such a great abstract twist!

(forgot to leave my email the first time.. oops)
kaitlynsullivan.art at gmail.com

kaitlyn sullivan said...

i am also a subscriber woop!

kaitlynsullivan.art at gmail.com

Karen said...

I like the thistle.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

toughturtles said...

Maybe - Print

kdkdkd said...

Wonderful shop, will add to my favorites on Etsy. I love the Lush - Print

Brenda McGowan said...

My current favorite is "Cloudburst". Great descriptions of her work :).
~Brenda

Anonymous said...

Wow - really cool artwork - I like "Birthday"

Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com

kmbennet said...

Love Candy!! Thanx for the contest.

Miss Spoken said...

Love, love, love the Maybe print. Flare is also quite beautiful.
gkstratos@yahoo.com

Ann said...

I love the "someday" print.
Thanks for the great giveaway!

ann dot guns at mac dot com

Ann said...

I'm a subscriber.

ann dot guns at mac dot com

MamaMy said...

Vessel - Print!!!

Melissa Villadiego said...

My favorite is Cloudburst. I love the all the curves and the muted colors.

~ Musings of a Glass Artist~

Jess said...

I love cloudburst - it's so lovely!

jessica.tuper{at}gmail.com

melissad.williams said...

I love Allusion!

Suz said...

I like Tempt.

txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com

Roxy said...

I love the You and Me - Print.

hockiemack@hotmail.com

littlelatina said...

Maybe is my fave

kygirl said...

Birthday is my pick

Tina12312 said...

My favorite is Shiver. Thank you!

Irit said...

I just love the Candy Print. The colors are so vivid.

iritca [at] gmail.com

Irit said...

I'm a subscriber.

iritca [at] gmail.com

Sue said...

Someday is beautiful!

Anonymous said...

thistle!

i am a subscriber. spidersonparade[at]gmail[dot]com

ecky said...

i like the candy print.
elkesten at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I love "Frolic" I like the pink background and all the fun shapes and designs

Anonymous said...

I love the Thistle Print!
Elaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca

Jeff said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jeff said...

Allusion...definitely.

vikingnorse [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I love the Fizz print
mitanari[at]yahoo.com

Jenna said...

I like the honeydew print

Aprilshowers said...

Lots of pretty ones. Thistle is my favorite.

Unknown said...

I love the Cloudburst Print - gorgeous!

imanoptimisticbeauty(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Unknown said...

Subscribed :O)

imanoptimisticbeauty(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Anonymous said...

My favorite is: Maybe - Print

Aunt Cindy said...

I love the pictures "Birthday"and "Magic". They are unusual but beautiful.

RE said...

Honeydew. Thanks!

Unknown said...

I like the Tempt print!

Anonymous said...

I really like the print called
Honeydew:)

cyclona66@aol.com

Caitlin at Salty Oat said...

I love Thistle. Thanks!

windycindy said...

Frolic is fabulous! Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I am subscribed. Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Allison said...

I've been eyeing "Thistle" for quite some time now. Fingers crossed!

formandfunctiondesign@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

Someday - Print

Unknown said...

i am a subscriber - my email is in my profile...

Jamie said...

I love the Candy print...beautiful!

jamie[dot]willett[at]charter[dot]net

janetfaye said...

I like Shiver - 5x7 print.

Thank you!

janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

shellydelight.etsy.com said...

my favorite print is thistle. I added her shop as a favorite. I am certain I will come back and buy. Excellent work!
Thanks for the opportunity to win!

Michelle
Shellydelight@gmail.com
Shellydelight.etsy.com

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work! My favorite print is Fizz.
-Terra
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Tonya said...

you and me is really neat

Heather said...

Cloudburst is lovely!
The colours of these prints are awsome, it was really hard to choose one print... they are all so beautiful!

Unknown said...

the breeze print is really beautiful. although all of these prints are VERY cool!!!!

aschrader85(at)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I like GALA.

Unknown said...

My favorite is Someday! Gorgeous!

Thanks for offering this wonderful giveaway! Good luck to everyone!

SuburbanGypsy
thesuburbangypsy [at] gmail [dot] com

Unknown said...

I am a subscriber :)

SuburbanGypsy
thesuburbangypsy [at] gmail [dot] com

AnnieRoso said...

My favorite is Candy!

makeetis said...

I like the Gala - Print. So pretty.. brewerchickey78@yahoo.com

Mommyhood is Thankless said...

Allusion is my favorite I really love the detail! In the interest of making it look like I actually visited the etsy shop full or gorgeous art work, I also like Starlight and Maybe too! If I won, I seriously would have a rought time picking!

mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com

Mommyhood is Thankless said...

I am a subscriber!

mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com
legacyofbrutalitysa{AT}gmail.com

Kari said...

linger print is my favorite!!!

Kari said...

Im a subscriber!!

malleycc said...

My favorite is Candy - 11x14 Print. I love the colors.

Meg said...

Sunday is where my heart is. Awesome print-thanks!

Anonymous said...

I adore the Maybe - Print!

heatheranne99@hotmail.com

debby said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
debby said...

Just got married, love Yellena's print, "You and Me".

Anonymous said...

Yellena is one of my favorite artists and I love everything but I don't have "Cloudburst" yet so that would be my choice.

:) Sara
harvey_sara[at]yahoo[dot]com

Fangirl Jen said...

I like "You and Me"

Fangirl Jen said...

I subscribe.

skytoucher said...

I like Breeze.

Smooshy said...

i like breeze too!

Unknown said...

My favorie is Candy.

Unknown said...

Alameda

Carolyn Sharkas said...

So pretty! I love so many of them but the one titled Someday, may be my favorite.

thanks for sharing

ceashark at aol dot com

Carolyn Sharkas said...

I'm a subscriber

ceashark at aol dot com

thanks again

toohotforturtle said...

I love the Thistle print

Twincere said...

I love the Maybe - Print
although I don't want my hair to look like that, LOL!

rosannepm said...

I like Allusion

Jolene said...

i like the lush print

Andreah said...

They are all great but I like the Frolic print the best. =)

andreastamps@roadrunner.com

Anonymous said...

I like the Maybe print. Thanks
erma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net

Xenia said...

So unique! It's a hard decision but I think Lush is my favorite.

Thanks!
xpsundell(at)gmail(dot)com

Brooke said...

I love You and Me

Anonymous said...

The colors and design of Magic are nice

Beat Black said...

yellena has been one of my favorites since before I started selling on Etsy. I love everything but this one is my definite favorite:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16918679

<3<3<3

Beat Black said...

I just signed up to become a subscriber :)

thanks!!

Barbara Bee said...

I really like Sunday. Thanks for the great giveaway.

3oink63moo484 (at) gmail(.)com

SeahorseLady said...

I really like her work. Starlight is my favorite print.
Thank you for the nice giveaway.

Patti said...

Love the Shiver print...

Patti said...

I also am a subscriber

37 Questions said...

I love Wonder. Thanks for a great giveaway!
jjdragonfly [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I like candy. Many thanks for this
chance to win.

Rockin' Mama said...

Birthday is my fav!

jasonncaryn at yahoo dot com

ldrnc2000 said...

The Honeydew print is cool! I would love to win! Thanks so much for the giveaway!

Roseann K. said...

I like the Someday print! Thanks!

Kirby McCauley said...

My favorite if Frolic although Candy comes in a very close second. I love this style it's so fun!

klp1965 said...

i love the Candy - 11x14 Print

Deb Anderson said...

Wow! Original and unique. I like!! Especially You and Me.

mommysweeps said...

like the candy and someday prints, very nice

Anonymous said...

Thistle

metrofmcat(aol)dotcom

Melissa B. said...

I like Candy best.

kayte71 said...

I LOVE You & Me!!
kaytewatts (at) aol (dot)com

Jennifer said...

I really like the candy and breeze prints, thanks for the giveaway!

mattandjen[at]gmail[dot]com

MaggieM said...

I love the "Allusion" print! What creative art work! Love it!

MaggieM said...

I am also a subscriber!

Unknown said...

The Gala-Print is my favorite. garrettsambo@aol.com

Helen said...

The Candy Print is my favorite.

Donna said...

I like the Masquerade-11x14 Print
donna444444@yahoo.com

Donna said...

I am a subscriber.
donna444444@yahoo.com

Valancia said...

Cloudburst and ty.
skyxsky27(at)gmail.com