Yolanta Desjardins

Yolanta Desjardins has always had an appreciation for interesting and beautiful objects. While attending the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, Desjardins learned how to explore the beautiful images that appeal to her and record them with paint. “I would describe myself as a student of the visual language,” she said. Desjardins works in oil paint, as she loves how it feels and flows under her paintbrush.

Desjardins has not found anything to surpass nature’s inspiration, the ultimate muse for her work. “Nature—in all forms—always astounds, inspires and reveals her secrets at the appropriate time,” she said. “A trust develops between what I see, what is revealed and then executed through my hand. I have to accept my own interpretation and truth.”

Born in Germany, Desjardins splits her time between Sydney Australia and Antigonish, Nova Scotia. The highpoint of her career has been painting Australian poet A.D. Hope, whom Desjardins described as having a brilliant command of the English language. The portraits of AD Hope and Don Burke host of the Australian TV Gardening Show “Burke’s Backyard” for 20 years are now part of the National Library of Australia’s collection.

Her immediate goals include securing representation by a reputable gallery and painting to the very best of her abilities. “I don’t know where this journey will end,” she said of her creating. “It continually challenges and inspires me and is something that I cannot ignore, and I’m never satisfied with the outcome. It’s a never ending learning process.”

* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 16^th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.