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Yeon Joo Lee
UNITED STATES
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“I think cooking and painting are quite similar. It is always about the satisfaction and happiness at the end.”
Yeon is someone who loves to cook. It is not the artistic element of the entreés’ presentations nor the focus on the taste that appeals to her core. Instead, it is the everlasting image of a family sitting down to feast on a table filled to the brim with her utmost love and care that brings her joy.
Italian Journey | Acrylic
$30,000
"Italian Journey" is a representation of my perception based on my experience exploring Italy. With each of the cities exuding its own artistic nature, I gathered the influential personas and designed it like a kaleidoscope, constantly circulating wonders.
The preparation can be cumbersome at times, but the empathetic connection that she feels with a family and the culminated happiness that is gained throughout the hearty meal has always been worth her efforts.
Balloon Trail | Acrylic
$20,000
Balloon Trail is inspired by "Island in the Sky" at Canyonlands National Park. It was a sight to behold and constantly made me wonder how the island truly looks from the sky. I sculpted the balloons that I would ride in to gaze at the island from multiple perspectives while time passed by.
Yeon’s artistic statement as a painter can be seen in a similar light. As she raises her spatula to heal and alleviate the stress from our incessant struggles to attain happiness, she raises her paintbrush to deliver a sense of bliss and at least a temporary moment of peace for the families that she has not met yet.
“I find the reward for my hard work in the smiles of the viewers, who find happiness in my paintings.”
If the innocence that resides in her paintings chimes in with the viewing families and improves their day, she would feel delighted and humbled to paint once more onto a new canvas. It is the happiness of the human capability of crafting and designing timeless and historic buildings that inspires her to seek out tradition and the beauty that surrounds history.
Cactus Splendor | Acrylic
$15,000
After passing by numerous amounts of cacti during my trip to Arizona, there was one supreme leader who demanded my attention. Reaching up to 40 feet tall with an age of 140, the cactus exuded an aura similar to an old, stubborn soul with incomprehensible charisma. Each flower on the old boy that boomed with energy in the desert felt like an oasis, a paradise within its own community of plants and animals. The painting depicts the Saguaro’s protective hug toward his sanctum of peace and beauty.
"My art comes from what I treasure every day. The camellia petals that fall to the ground bloom as if there is a firefly glowing on each petal with a gentle frost. Every morning, I am greeted with the luminescent magenta accompanied by the evergreen Cypress trees as I tend my garden. The cotton flowers present their effervescent and elegant body to the sun, promising warmth amidst the rain of pink and purple."
Camellia | Acrylic
$12,500
She treasures this opportunity to the fullest extent, as her past has unfortunately denied her access to art as a field due to family and financial reasons. Ever since then, the thought of holding a brush alone pained her soul and so she deterred herself away from art as a whole.
“It is my spectators, and how they reciprocate to my work, that drives me to create new work each time.”
"I fill my canvas with a careful consideration of colors, not for the sake of art, but for the sake of a positive mental attitude."
The emotions that have accumulated throughout these years made her understand that she should encourage her two sons to chase their dreams no matter what. Ironically, they asked back why she was not chasing after her own dreams of being an artist.
Whistle | Acrylic
$7,500
I painted "Whistle" for my son. There was a day when he was recording his whistles and inspired me with an incessant blend of colors and emotion. Such a delicate sound conversing with the other instruments created a sonic atmosphere that could not be described in words.
Without hesitation, her sons gifted her a new easel, an assortment of paintbrushes, acrylic paint, and a large canvas. She has been painting her dreams and fantasies ever since then, and to this day she still claims that she has decades left before her eyes grow weary.
Bison's Honeymoon | Acrylic
$15,000
Yellowstone is truly a paradise. With the honey-flavored moonlight shining down upon the rich flower field, the bison couple gazes upon us with eyes filled with comfort and happiness. And so, these magnificent creatures make their way onto my canvas as the protagonists, peacefully eating away to their hearts' content near Yellowstone Lake.
Her recipes for the coloration and ideas also stem from travel. On one hand, there is a size of magnitude that can be felt gazing far into the canyons of Yellowstone and Grand Canyon. Mother nature is always a delight to witness and inspires a sense of awe.
The butterflies continue to fly and dance in the sky, their delicate wings working in perfect harmony as they move through the air. It's a breathtaking sight and one that fills us with a sense of wonder and joy. Each butterfly is a unique individual, with its own distinct patterns and colors, but they come together as one; forming a beautiful mosaic of life. They seem to move with a sense of purpose, gathering nectar from the flowers and spreading pollen as they go. And yet, despite their busy work, they still find time to revel in the beauty of the world around them, soaring and twirling through the air with carefree abandon. It's a truly inspiring sight and one that fills our hearts with a sense of hope and possibility.
Kaleidoscope | Acrylic on Canvas
$27,000
“It took me so long to rekindle with my passion and I don’t plan to stop any time soon."
A Moment Beyond 2 | Acrylic
$4,500
I wanted to remind myself of the moment of peace, so I came to visit once more. Here, I place my easel and paint over the canvas. Perhaps I am the little girl who rode the swing filled with flowers and grew up to be an artist. The sky is still freshly green, and the tree is still dressed in violet. The earth, ever so friendly, has invited another butterfly to enjoy its peace. I find comfort and beauty in this magical place.
The heavy landscapes that supersede her limited vision and the ineffable emotions behind each traveling experience all constantly alter and improve her paintbrush’s comprehension when deliberating the sauce and its flavor of art.
“My Pavilion” is the result of two unforgettable experiences from my travels. The first was during a clear evening at Joshua Tree National Park, where the stars shone brightly and the Milky Way was visible in the sky. Despite the beauty of the scene, I was unable to fully appreciate it because I couldn't capture the expanse of the night sky with my naked eyes. The second experience occurred while exploring Rome's Pantheon, a marvel of architecture with pillars reaching toward the top. In my pavilion, I can enjoy the endless stars and lean on one of the Pantheon's magnificent pillars, all while reliving these two beautiful memories.
Pavilion | Acrylic on Canvas
$20,000
She always aims to serve with a fresh taste and a benign symphony of chromatic colors on a plate called a canvas. "Through the medium of painting, the duet of serenity and bounty can be present, making her thankful to be able to hold a paintbrush and express without end.
What’s Your Name? | Acrylic on Canvas
$20,000
A few years ago, I traveled with my husband to a small town in Italy called Cinque Terre, where this artwork’s initial idea was born. I’ve decided to combine the Cinque Terre scenery with the beautiful Rialto Beach near the old lighthouse on the coast of Big Sur, California. There are two small children enjoying the view that I’ve enjoyed so much, with the charismatic pelicans flying off into the distance. When listening closely, I can hear the shy boy ask the little girl, "What's your name?" It seems like they have met for the first time today.
“I serve my artworks with a sprinkle of wanderlust and sweet aroma of love.”
Yeon Joo Lee
@yeonjlart
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