Featured Artist: The Artsy Shark Blog! Feb 9 2012 Check it out: http://www.artsyshark.com/2012/02/09/featured-artist-april-lacheur/ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Artist Profile: Yapes Paints
Fraser Valley Pulse Blog, March 28 2011~ http://fraservalleypulse.com/features-fun/artist-profile-yapes-paints/
On a bright Saturday afternoon, sun streams through the window
onto the large canvas propped on an easel. While conventionality
suggests one might find a beret-wearing, palette-holding artist working
here, this day finds Yapes Paints’
April Lacheur sprawled on the paint-splattered floor, doing ink work on
a long wood “canvas.” As her relaxed approach indicates, Lacheur—like
her art—is anything but conventional.
Best known for her whimsical and unique tree paintings, Lacheur leans
over her latest piece—which features cherry blossom trees amid a
colourful cityscape—adding touches with her skillful hand. “I love
painting trees because their shape and branches are free,” she says. “I
can paint them freely, and they turn out the way I want.”The self-taught Lacheur first took her artistic pursuits seriously in
2007, the year she established Yapes Paints. Her signature piece, Life
Roots—a three-foot by four-foot piece painted that same year—hangs in
Moksana Yoga Studio in Victoria, where she lived for seven years before
settling in White Rock in 2010. “I love that the painting that means so
much to me is in a good space,” says Lacheur. “It symbolizes when I
truly decided to become an artist.”
Long before she sold her first work, Lacheur painted countless pieces
for enjoyment—and to give as gifts. “I was always good at art, so it’s
been a long process,” she says. “But I still consider myself an artist
who is learning and developing.”
That means she’s always exploring new mediums, like her current
collaboration with her boyfriend, who makes jewelry as a hobby: four
pieces featuring reclaimed metal. “He was working on some leaf-shaped
earrings, and held up a metal leaf next to the tree,” she says. “I loved
it.”
When she’s not painting, Lacheur works as a registered nurse; studio
time provides a creative outlet to offset what can be a stressful job.
“I really value that,” she says. “It’s challenging to balance time, and
sometimes I struggle to get into the studio and paint, but I’m taking my
artistic pursuits seriously.”
Less serious is the choice of her unusual business name, which sprang
from the childhood nickname bestowed on her by her brother. “Ape” soon
became “Apes” and in university, the moniker morphed to “Yapes” and
stuck. “Yapes Paints expresses what I do,” she says.
In addition to her original art, Lacheur also makes cards and prints
that fit every budget—and wall space. “Painting for me is a positive
experience,” she says. “People appreciate something that is bright and
happy and positive.”
Originally from Ontario, now living in the Prairies, I miss
having giant maple trees, oak trees and lush, leafy green-ness out my
windows. Maybe that’s why I love the artwork of April Lacheur so much!
Her fluid, colourful, graphic trees are immediately recognizable as her
work. A self-taught artist, she also works part-time as a nurse, which I
think is a lovely way to combine the best of both the sciences and
artistic disciplines. April works mostly with acrylics, but often adds
textural elements to her pieces including fabric or metal. Deriving
inspiration from the natural world around her and from her travels, her
pieces are bright and bold and, I think, reflect the joy she gets from
painting.
April also works with Shi Studio,
a Victoria-based contemporary jewellery design studio, to make some
wonderfully bold and gorgeous wearable art using her images printed on
canvas. A few of my favourites currently showcased on YapesPaints.com:
Yapes Paints April Lacheur Interview from the 'Make it' Blog Sept 28 2010 ~www.makeitproductions.com
Yapes Paints What will you be selling at Make It? Original acrylic paintings, Matted prints, canvas prints, art cards, handpainted journals and 2011 calendars:>
As a painter, your style is unique and recognizable (which is a very good thing!) How are you able to differentiate yourself? I appreciate you saying that! Its certainly something most artist strive for and I have to admit its has just sort of happened for me! The style I paint in is one that is unique and has evolved over time. I am self taught and therefore my style has developed from hours spent in my studio experimenting.. trust me not ALL of my paitings turn out.. lol. Im really just painting how I love to and it turns out that people like it… yeah!. I certainly think as an artist it is important to paint what and how you love to so your passion is evident in the end product.
Do you sell in galleries as well shows? What are some of the differences and what do you prefer? I started off my showing my work in resturants and cafes and still do. This is actually a great way to have your work seen. In a gallery, only a certain group of people will see your work. In a cafe there is such a diverse group of people viewing your work. They may not go into the cafe intending to look for or buy art, but if the art speaks to them they will remember it and maybe even buy it. I was shocked when i first started at how many people will actually purchase art from a cafe or resturant! I prefer to do art markets and shows over gallery shows because I get to meet the people who are looking at my work and explain the process and peice. Im a peole person and love chatting. I think this really helps with sales as well. People want to know the person and story behind the art, it makes it more meaningful. Having said all that I have also shown my work in galleries this type of exposure. I think its important to take advantage of as many ways as possible for people to see more work.
Artist moving to White Rock comox Valley Record Newspaper, May 11 2010 Since arriving two years ago in the Comox Valley, artist April Lacheur has felt nothing but love and support from Comox Valley residents.
Sadly, Lacheur will say goodbye to the Valley in the near future. She and her partner will move to White Rock, where her partner will pursue a new job and they can be closer to their families.
Lacheur says she has thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the incredibly diverse and talented artist community here in the Valley and wants to thank everyone for being so welcoming and encouraging. She will truly miss the natural beauty and uniqueness of the Comox Valley that has been so inspiring.
She will do her last show in the Comox Valley on the May long weekend when she will participate in the Arts in Bloom Festival at Kitty Coleman Woodland Gardens. The combination of the incredible scenery and beautiful art makes it one of Lacheur’s favourite events.
Lacheur will continue to carry her work at Uranus gifts and the Kingfisher Resort. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Yapes Paints – Interview with April Lacheur Portobello West Blog March 22 2010 ~ www.portobellowest.com
We’re going to go in depth with April Lacheur and find out the person behind the art.
How did you develop your art style? Or rather, how do nature and your surroundings inspire you? I often get comments that my art style is both unique and recognizable. I am quite thankful for this because essentially I am just painting what and how I like. I am passionate about my work and I think this shows in my pieces. I have been painting since i was a kid and my style is one that has developed naturally. I am a lover of the outdoors, especially trees! as you might be able to tell from my work (lol). I get called the Tree Girl a lot! My partner Renato and I get outside as much as we can and living on Vancouver Island has really given us tons of opportunities to explore beautiful places! We have also lived in Asia, Australia and New Zealand which has also inspired my work.
What was your first ‘real’ painting, and why did you paint it? Hmm.. That’s a tough question. I have done paintings as gifts for family and friends for as long as I can remember. Being able to give gifts that are handmade has always been something I love to do! Some of my friends have some pretty old paintings from me that are pretty funny actually…. and they STILL display them on their walls.. so sweet:>
When did you know that your paintings were more than just a hobby? In 2007 I was offered the opportunity to display my work at a restaurant called ‘Blighty’s Bistro’ in Victoria. I was super nervous to show my work in public but I was pleasantly surprised by the out come! Over the 6 months I had my work there I sold 12 paintings… I thought to myself…. hmm.. perhaps i am on to something!?
What painting and when was your first big break? The painting that was the first to draw the most attention is one titled ’Life Roots’ It’s a large 2.5×4ft painting of a tree with a yellow background and lots of intricate roots and branches. There is tons of meaning in this piece and it seems to strike a lot of people. I painted it in 2007 and to this day it is still one that I sell the most prints and cards of.. its my signature piece :>
Would you ever leave nursing to become a full time artist? When i first started my business ‘Yapes Paints’ in 2008 I was working full time as an RN in post open heart surgery. It was a stressful job and painting was a nice balance for me. I decided to get out of working in the hospital and work in the community which gave me a chance to work more closely with individual clients and their families as opposed to machines. My art started to take off and I was able to start working casually. I have been working a few days a week as an RN in the community in Courtenay mostly looking after palliative clients dying at home. Yes, this work can be sad but also incredibly rewarding and inspiring. I have learned to value my life and value the time I get to spend painting.. it is truly a gift! Of course my dream is to be able to make a good living as an artist, but I think I would like to continue nursing even just a few times a month. Working with clients at vulnerable times in their lives is where some of my inspiration comes from so they really go hand in hand.
What’s in store for the future? Oh if we only had a crystal ball! lol. I’m planning to continue to develop my business and focus more on the Vancouver market! There are a lot of opportunities here and lots of people who really appreciate art and hand made things! I’m also planning to take my work outside of BC. There are a lot of great shows in places like Calgary and Toronto that would open up a whole new audience for me.
Would like to our readers to know anything else about you? (ie. future showings, appearances, general information about yourself ect.) I often get asked “where did you get the name Yapes Paints?”. Well.. Yapes is my nickname.. started as Ape, to Apes then to Yapes.. its the name lots of my friends and family call me… and what does Yapes do?.. well she paints!.. its a statement.. Yapes Paints!.. it was sort of a surprise to people at first since I am a nurse and not an art school grad… Yapes Paints is a simple way to say what I love to do.. lol!
I will be at the Portobello West Season Opener March 27 and 28 with original paintings, prints, cards, painted purses and my new hand painted journals!! I’m really looking forward to it.. it’s always a ton of fun and lots great people.. oh and I always want to buy everything i see.. so many talented people in Vancouver!.. it’s so great to be a part of it all!
So that’s the end of the interview with April Lacheur. You can see more of her art at her website or as she said, at the Portobello West market this Saturday and Sunday