Resin Art with Artist Gigi Yazye

We made a special request for this young and highly talented artist to share her unique resin art creations with us.

Although notoriously known as a temperamental medium, Gigi is one of the very few artists who has mastered the art of creating with resin.

Here is an exclusive interview with our artist of the season.

Gigi Yazye was born in Brazil and fell in love with Australia when she came to finish her MBA in 2004. Having started her career as a graphic designer, Gigi moved to Marketing a few years after.

Tell us about your journey and how you got started with making these incredible resin art

“After eight years living by myself in Sydney, I met my now-husband. He is a French guy and we met when he was backpacking in Australia.

We met at the train station (I am so glad smartphones didn’t exist at that time, or we would have missed each other!). Fast forward another six years, we got married and had a beautiful boy”.

Although it was the most magical time of my life, I needed to find myself, needed to look after myself and embrace challenges other than raising a child. I love my boy more than my life, but I needed something more to grow me.

My husband suggested that – given my creative background – I looked into painting. After researching different styles, mediums and techniques, I stumbled upon Jeanne Rhea’s, Mitch Goble’s and Bruce Riley’s resin work. I fell in love although knowing it was a challenging medium. But with correct technique, it will turn out amazing.

After spending six months researching and learning about this incredible medium, I knew right away that it was my specialty. The fluidity and transparency of resin is perfect to create seascapes and for those who were beach lovers, it was relatable.

Being raised in the big concrete jungle of São Paulo, it was easy to be seduced by the Australian beaches. I enjoy painting the diversity of their colours and there’s still so much to explore.

You’ve got a unique style when working with resins, what gives you an edge?

Initially, I strove to paint realistic seascape paintings although it has become a common theme among artists. I felt I needed to translate the beach differently – a balance between realistic and abstract. This is my edge.

I worked on my “lacing” technique, which is the foamy white effect that gives the idea of a seascape painting. But the biggest change for me was deciding to work with resin. It required me to stop controlling and dictating where colours and effects were meant to be and allow it to take its natural form. Very much a natural process, so after adopting this approach, I am so much happier with the results.

I also love the different effects achieved by mixing different inks and pigments onto resin, or simply applying inks on top of resin, at different curing times.

It’s like chemistry, and I love the endless opportunities to create something new.

Resin is quite a messy medium, where plastic waste can dominate the artist’s studio. I’m conscious of the environment, as I draw inspiration from it.

So, it was clear to me that I had to adopt materials to minimise that plastic waste. I use silicone cups, spatulas and drop sheets, and I am waiting to get my hands on an environmentally friendly resin, that isn’t petroleum based.

Resin manufacturers still have a lot of room for improvement, including helping artists dispose correctly and promoting ways to minimise waste.

Tell us about your current project, business or upcoming work

I spent a long-time painting in a blue palette. Although it looks “just blue”, I can see 100 shades of blue, so it’s never tiring for me.

But something changed in the last six months.

I have a baby boy, and being a working mum means not much time to exercise. I decided to wake up as early as I could and run on the beach. It was the only way I could look after myself.

I started this new routine in the middle of winter, when it was still quite dark. For this reason, I got to see the most magnificent sunrises.

Not just that, I discovered a world I didn’t know existed! The beach is vibrant and full of locals by 5am. Early shift workers, trainers, bike riders, swimmers, surfers, young mothers and fathers pushing their strollers, photographers… It was incredible!

I felt the need to bring those sunrise colours onto my paintings and incorporate a variety of colours. It was important for me to move away from the blue palette, but still represent the beach and to give justice to one of Nature’s best works – the Australian coastline.

What inspires you as an artist and where do you see your work taking you in the near coming future?

Being on social media means I can reach a wider audience, including other artists. Most young resin artists get quickly obsessed with this medium. I strive to inspire these young artists by sharing some of my struggles, achievements, and concerns – for instance, the widespread use of inadequate safety materials. It is common to see tutorials where the correct respirators and nitrile gloves are not used.

I also share the sentiment behind every piece, and how sensorial stimulations like music and exercise can help “free” someone’s style. After all it’s called fluid art, it’s meant to have little control.

My last year’s resolution was to set up a proper website to promote and sell my art, and that is one goal ticked off my list!

Next year’s resolution is to have a solo exhibition with a few large paintings, and have more time to do my commissions – which is the type of projects I really love! I absolutely have the best time working with clients and designers to make their ideas a reality.

In January 2019 I am participating on my first Art Market in Kirribilli, Sydney. It will be a way to test a few painting ideas and gather feedback from the public. So, I will showcase a variety of painting styles (all seascape, of course) and take it from there.

I am currently working with several interior designers and creating larger pieces that are packed with details. People can find all my work and the behind the scenes on my Instagram.

We also have a supportive Facebook group you can join click here.

Share It You Legend