Known for his precise realism, Sean Yelland finds beauty in things that have "had a life." Here, he talks about his influences, his technical challenges, and why he chooses to paint the "old Toronto".
What were your first steps in the art world that eventually led you to study at OCAD?
I think I always knew I was going to be an artist, I just hadn't figured out my medium yet. When I got to OCA, I tried my hand at different things - jewelry making, illustration, photography, sculpture, lots of life drawing, collage - everything but painting! I started that after I left school.
Your biography mentions that you work from photographs. What do your paintings offer the viewer that a simple photograph cannot convey?
I add and subtract things from the photograph to make them my own, to say things that the photograph alone wouldn't say...to create a better composition, and to hint at narratives and create a mood or a feeling.
How do you choose your subjects? Is it the result of long urban explorations, or do you happen upon them by chance?
Both. I used to be a walker, but I'm still always keeping my eyes peeled for my next subject. Light plays a strong role in what I do, and I'll often go back to a location to capture a scene in better light.
You mostly paint what could be described as "Old Toronto" rather than the new condo towers seen everywhere. Do you consider your work a form of archiving or even historical research?
No, these are just the things that I am drawn to. I like things that have had a life, that may have once been the pride and joy of someone, but have now fallen into disrepair. I've always been into cars, the cars from my childhood tend to appear in my paintings, not only because of nostalgia, but most cars today are ugly and don't interest me! Often the places I've painted end up torn down or disappearing, so in that way I happen upon archiving by chance, which I like. I feel like the Toronto I love is being erased.
Your works are extremely precise. What is the main technical challenge you face, and how have you overcome it?
I've always had a bit of a shaky hand, so I use a mahl stick to steady my hand. It's great for doing straight lines.
Which artists, past or present, do you admire, and why?
One of the first artists that struck me was Jack Chambers. I can remember seeing his painting 401 towards London, No. 1 at the AGO when I was a kid, and it stuck with me. I guess I've always been attracted to realism. When I saw it again as an adult, it made me realize how much it had influenced my eye. I don't like his interiors as much, but his exterior landscapes blow me away! I didn't see his Victoria Hospital until I was an adult and it held me there for an hour...
Following your recent 2025 exhibition (The End of the Rainbow), what are you working on right now in your studio?
I have a show coming up in June at Madrona Gallery in Victoria, BC - a continuation of cityscapes, this time with some west coast inspiration!
To learn and see more of Sean Yelland's work: website + Instagram.
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