An homage to artist Shelly Thorstensen who was one of our amazing visiting artists during this fellowship. Her unique composition in her print work is one of the defining features that I tried to emulate with this piece.

Viola Yu
Digital Illustration

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo. 

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

One of many in a series I call ‘Blooming Brains’. Each brain sagittal brain slice is hand-cut from mylar sheets and arranged in different orientations for each photo. In this particular one, the brain slices are arranged in the correct order from front to back of the brain.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Portrait of the Brain’ is a simple painting of a cut sheep brain.

Viola Yu
Oil on Mylar

In this painting the foreground is an oil painting of the different components you can see in a cut sheep brain and the background is done in alcohol inks.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink and Oil on Mylar

Using alcohol ink and rubbing alcohol I tried to emulate the different cells. 

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Dreamscape’ an emotive piece that illustrates how certain dreams can explode inside your brain as you sleep.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Jaws: Behind the Scenes’ shows a dogfish shark’s head dissected to show the cranial nerves and brain.

Viola Yu
Ink and Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Synapse’ shows an artistic rendition of neuron synapses.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Geode’ highlighting the beautiful rock-like cells (at least to me).

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

Part of series (‘X-ray the Brain) of seemingly similar to Rorschach tests (inkblot test) but with the intention of leading the viewers to see x-rays of brains splayed out.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

Part of series (‘X-ray the Brain’) of seemingly similar to Rorschach tests (inkblot test) but with the intention of leading the viewers to see x-rays of brains splayed out.

Viola Yu
Alcohol Ink on Mylar

The acrylic paint portion symbolizes the active portions of the brain as you might see during an MRI scan.

Viola Yu
Acrylic Paint and Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Infected’ has the acrylic paint showing similar to how an oil spill will spread and devastate an aquatic ecosystem, how a disease can do the same to human body.

Viola Yu
Acrylic Paint and Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Just One Slice Please’~ Oil painting from life of a dissected sheep brain.

Viola Yu
Oil on Wood Panel

‘Get my Best Side’ ~ Gouache paintings and graphite drawings of a sheep brain from various angles done from life.

Viola Yu
Gouache and Graphite on Mixed Media Paper

‘Brain in a Bag’~ Graphite drawing done from life of a sheep brain in a bag. 

Viola Yu
Graphite on Mixed Media Paper

‘What’s on your Mind?’ ~ Sliced sheep brain illustration.

Viola Yu
Ink and Alcohol Ink on Mylar

‘Full Cavity Search’~ Dissected fetal pig.

Viola Yu
Ink and Alcohol Ink on Mylar