TALENTED Ukrainian artist Yaroslav Yasenev held his first-ever oil painting workshop in the UK at the Old School, Fairfield, Warrington.
Yaroslav has been in the UK for about two years, but he has been teaching his love of art for over twelve years in Ukraine. Painting is in his DNA and now he is spreading his knowledge and skills in Warrington through Seasons Art Warrington classes at Warrington Sports Club in Walton.
A few weeks ago, he held his first exhibition of paintings in the Lymm ‘Art Gallery’ along with potter and comedian Jonny Vegas, who was showcasing some of his ceramics seen in a recent TV documentary.
At the weekend, Yaroslav staged two workshops. The first was on the theme of flowers in a vase, whilst the second was spread over two days, featuring yachts moored in a harbour at night.
Yaro began his classes with a brief introduction about the history of art and the differences between oil and acrylic. He is proficient in all art mediums, and his love and passion clearly came over during these two sessions and into his students’ hearts.
He admitted that he was as nervous starting this new venture which brought back memories of the nerves he had experienced when he started teaching twelve years ago as a newly qualified Master of Arts postgraduate.
His grasp of English is very good, and he has a very great sense of humour. English is one of his four languages. He thanked everyone for the warm welcome that he has experienced in the town which has been extended to his wife and young son, as well as other Ukrainians, especially in Culcheth and Lymm.
Geoff Settle, one of his students, said: “Yaro is a very talented painter and teacher, and his work is now sold internationally in the USA and European markets. I call him the Maestro, and he has developed everybody’s skills and techniques through demonstration and individual coaching when required. I learnt my watercolour painting from Penketh artist Sue Cartwright, but she has retired. The new classes have come along just at the right time for me.
“Yaro told me that his father has received three medals from the Pope as well as the Ukrainian state. He told me on Friday that his father tried to discourage him at first because a career in art was difficult and financially fraught. His dad even told him to take up accountancy because it paid well.
“This was a trick, to test his son by making him angry and it worked very well because he has been a professional artist ever since and works very hard to succeed. My father was a Chartered Accountant and wanted me to follow him. I think it’s a dad’s thing. Art is in Yaro’s family DNA; his father is about to open his umpteenth exhibition in the Ukraine, whilst his mother is staging her workshops.”
Yaro will be having his first one-man exhibition at the Art Gallery in Lymm in May, date to be announced but very well worth a visit and a treat.
