I Go, You Go, We All Go for Yupo!

Yupo is made from polypropylene pellets that are processed to form a sheet of very unique plastic. The surface is waterproof and has a super smooth bright white matte finish that is suitable for most painting mediums. It does not absorb the paint so it is very easy to wipe clean if desired. It is very durable as it will not stain or tear. Yupo is also acid-free and archival. As a synthetic paper, it is considered a green product, meaning it is made from renewable sources and is 100% recyclable. The fact that it is tree free makes it appealing to conservationists everywhere. Yupo was developed and is predominately used for the printing industry. It has the great ability to hold precise printing edges resulting in clear and clean graphics. This product, like so many others, was recognized by the art industry as a possible painting surface several years ago. However, until recently, Yupo was only used by a limited number of artist. These pioneering artists have successfully mastered the techniques needed to manipulate such a challenging surface.

George James is possibly the most well known Yupo artist. He paints mostly with watercolors and people seem to be his subject of choice. He uses several techniques such as tissue blotting, airbrush glazing, and also a squeegee to spread the paint across the Yupo surface. His paintings convey a very social and expressive message to the viewer. The colors are clean and set the mood for each work of art. George has several DVDs available to curious artists wanting to perfect their use of Yupo. His work is recognized throughout the world.

Another recognizable artist that has mastered the Yupo surface is Taylor Ikin. Taylor has been promoting Yupo as a green product since she started using it. She expresses her desire to be earth-friendly in her paintings hoping to encourage others to be conscious as well. Her artwork is well known in all areas of the country. She teaches workshops and also has several DVDs available as well. Her technique is mainly a layering process where brush strokes are visible and well planned. Students, fortunate enough to attend her workshop, come away with more than just an artistic understanding of techniques. They also leave with a consciousness of how we, as an artist, can lessen our footprint on the earth.

These and other artists are using every possible tool and most mediums to add texture and color to the Yupo surface. Traditional brushes, palette knives, art tissue paper, wire screens, rubbing alcohol and salt are all used to create wonderful and interesting paintings on Yupo. Several types of mediums, including watercolor, acrylic, pastel, collage, color pencil, crayon, and pen and ink can also be applied. Yupo is available in light, medium and heavy weights in the bright white finish, and also in the light and heavyweight translucent. It is produced in full sheets ranging in size from 20" x 26" to 26" x 40" and is also available in pads for smaller projects.

As more new materials and mediums become available, it is beneficial for us as an artist to take advantage of these new possibilities. Trying something new helps us to broaden our experience and knowledge of art in general. We are then able to appeal to a larger community of art fans. So always be on the lookout for those new and unusual uses for common materials around the house!

Happy Discoveries!