Artist's Statement

I work in series b ecause I find it impossible to say all that needs to be said in one image. Each painting reveals more about the subject I am working with and I discover more each time I start looking at a different aspect. It is like a friendship developing over time rather than trying to tell a life story on a first date.

My paintings are thick and lush with layers of paint applied one over
another. The technique resembles woodcut reduction printmaking as much as traditional oil painting. The images are built up using shapes of color to define the motif through the negative space.

The Flower Series shown on this website focuses on the floral still life arrangement not so much because I like flowers but because they are naturally unique and make exquisite patterns. I was trained with an abstract expressionist sensibility and consider my paintings to be abstracts because they are more about paint, color, shape, and application than about subject or motif. However, I do work from life. I feel working from a still life and responding to the information provided therein is more honest, uncontrived, and ultimately more exciting than battling the canvas one on one.

Exhibitions (*solo and group shows)

2005
*Tulips, Platanos Cocina Latina, San Francisco
Melt 2005, The Art Explosion, San Francisco
Artspan Art Auction, California Modern, San Francisco

2004
Hearts in San Francisco, Castro & Market Streets
Melt 2004, The Art Explosion, San Francisco

2003
*Alisa Hotel, San Francisco
*Roses, Cafe Que Tal, San Francisco
*Roses, Platanos Cocina Latina, San Francisco
*Spring Forward, Loft Gallery, San Francisco
Artspan Art Auction, The Canvas Gallery, San Francisco

2002
*Flower Series, EOS Restaurant, San Francisco CA
Artspan Art Auction, The Canvas Gallery, San Francisco CA

2001
Candies and Fruit Que Tal Cafe, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

2000
Tails of the City Microsoft SF Metreon Center, San Francisco CA
*Still Life with Salt Water Taffy 101 Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1999
Spring Forward, Fall Back Gap Corporation Headquarters Gallery, San Francisco CA
*Narrative Paintings Cowboys and Angels, San Francisco CA
*Figurative Paintings 2223 Restaurant, San Francisco
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1998
Summer Salon Lawrence Hultberg Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1997
Clothed in Memory Joseph Chowning Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1996
*Windmills Dava Dava Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1995
*Domestic Icons Wren and Culpeper Gallery, San Francisco CA
SomArts Annual Group Exhibition, San Francisco CA

1994
Small Works Arts Benicia Gallery Benicia CA
Standing Room Only Northlight, Gallery, Los Angeles CA
Countdown 2000 1078 Gallery Chico CA
Gallery 92 Coastal Arts Museum, Half Moon Bay CA

1993
*Rooms and Patterns University YWCA Gallery, Berkeley CA
Showcase 93 Beaverton Arts Council, Beaverton OR
Earth Water Sky Second Story Studios, Seattle WA

1992
*Selected Monotypes Beaverton Arts Council, Beaverton OR

1991
*Bernal Hill (not so)Secret (site specific installation) San Francisco CA
*Yosemite Garden (site specific installation) Groveland CA

1987
Grass Frame (site specific installation) collaboration with artist Charles Fadel
*Senior Exhibition Kate Lewis Gallery Greenville NC

Background

Melissa Yarbrough attended The School of Art at East Carolina University, where she received a BFA in Painting. She lives and works in San Francisco.

Features and Publications

Featured Artist at iTheo.com, August 2000
In-Sites Magazine, Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center monthly, January 1999
Artweek Clothed in Memory at Joseph Chowning Gallery, by Alicia Miller, October 1997
Metropolitan Clothed in Memory at Joseph Chowning Gallery, September 1997

Teaching Experience

2000
de Young Museum Artist Studio. An Artist’s workshop at the de Young Museum in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This workshop is designed to let the public observe and discuss art with the artist in a workshop environment.

1997-2000
Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center in San Francisco, life drawing workshop. I taught students how draw the human figure using a live model.

1994-1995
California Crafts Museum in San Francisco, a public outreach and exhibition guide. I created a variety of programs to familiarize the public with craft as art.