Dennis Yost
Massachusetts, USA, Sphynx, pastel, 48 x 48" (124 x 124 cm)
My Inspiration
I am a self-taught artist. My interest, is in super photorealism. My goal is making each one of my portraits come alive with realism. I use a kaleidoscope of colors to bring the eyes to the next level of beauty. I work in various mediums such as graphite, charcoal and pastel. My latest pieces are all largescale pastels, and my inspiration for cats stems from a longtime loving companion, Asia, a Bengal cat I had for almost 12 years. I want to show my artwork as a center piece that reflects the spirit and relationship that I had with Asia, and this inspires me to create my work.
My Working Process
I use the grid method for transferring my images to a much larger scale. I got this idea from an artist named Chuck Close, whom I admire very much. The grid method can be a fairly intensive process, especially if you’re transferring the image to a larger scale. I choose this method for precision and accuracy. Sometimes when I’m in my studio at work, I need to dim my lighting and take a few steps back to see the contrasts that are enhanced in subdued lighting. This gives me clarity of vision, so I can see the subtle details of the piece I’m working on. Most of my recent work is all done in soft pastel. I then use a hard pastel pencil for most of my intricate details. I also use a magnifying glass to enhance the details of the photograph. This allows me to get the superphotorealism I’m after.
My Design Strategy
My design strategy is very simple. I don’t get involved with compositions, fancy designs or ideas. I’m a very straightforward man, and artist. However, I am interested in other elements: harmony, balance, creating the illusion of space, making the color sing, etc. If the image needs to be changed or manipulated I do give myself artistic license by changing the tone, hue, contrast. If
I need to, I’ll make as many changes as the art requires to get the desired effect I’m after. I never let hard and fast rules get in the way of me creating a spectacular piece of art.
Contact Details
Email: dennisyost3@gmail.com