Sarah Yantis

Sarah Yantis was born June 29, 1943, the oldest of four children, and raised in Fort Smith, Arkansas, by her father. She graduated from Mills College, a small women's liberal arts college in Oakland, California, in 1965 with a degree in Chemistry. She married and worked as a research assistant in organic chemistry for three years before "retiring" to raise her three children in Kansas City and act as a volunteer for various charitable organizations. In 1978, Sarah enrolled in drawing and painting classes at Harry Fredman Studios. She painted portraits for seven years, accepting many commissions until she decided, in 1985, to study with Bob Byerley, an accomplished still-life painter. She now concentrates her painting efforts in the area of still-life subjects. Her preferred style of painting is photorealism, but her subject matter varies from floral still-lifes to formal portraits. Her still-lifes are greatly influenced in both style and composition by her interest and background in organic chemistry. Most of her portrait work is done by commission. "My greatest delight was the discovery of an ability to draw and paint. My ability would have remained undiscovered without the excellent guidance and teaching I have had. I have been taught to "see" and have been shown techniques with which to capture what I see. I am continually challenged to express both what I see and what I want to be seen. I love color; I love texture; I love light's dramatic effects."