Colorado Mineral Artist Safaa Yu (b. 1985)

Abstract

J about everyone is familiar with colored pencils. However, this medium was not widely accepted in the art world until near the end of the twentieth century. In fact, it was in 1990 when the Colored Pencil Art Society of America was founded. These pencils have become very popular—they are an easy art medium to take anywhere, and all you need is a pencil sharpener to continue with your art. This article presents the colored-pencil artwork of Safaa Yu of Littleton, Colorado. Yu’s given name is actually Zhuowei Yu, but most people in the mineral community know her as Safaa Yu. As a child growing up in China, she remembers spending hours in the rain on a pile of pebbles in a construction area, fascinated by the colorful and patterned stones. Years later, after public school was completed, Yu earned a degree in 2006 from Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics with a focus on international business. Her last year of study was part of an exchange program at Vienna University of Economics and Business (Wirtschaft Universität Wein). This is where Yu discovered the other side of stones: the myriad shapes and colors of crystals and minerals. The experience not only opened a door to a new focus for her art, but also compelled her to begin a mineral business, Mintang, LLC. For many years, this artist only used pencil and penand-ink to doodle and portray botanical subjects as well as “lady figure portraits in the ancient Chinese style.” Her art was mainly in black and white until 2020, when the world slowed down and most of us returned to old hobbies or tried something new that gave us comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic; so it was also with Safaa Yu. She says, “I have always been not confident of using colors of any kind, simply because I had not much experience working with them; but on the other hand, I know I love all colors, and I am very sensitive about them. So finally 2020 comes, and for a while I had some time to challenge myself a little by using colored pencils (Prismacolor brand). . . . As I [progress in my art], I really like to work with them and hopefully will explore more with colored pencils in the future. I always enjoy that focused and dedicated state when nothing else is in my way; after being a full-time businesswoman and mother, that [time] is so precious to me. Luckily, the business I am in is due to my biggest hobby—mineral collecting. I have been working with God’s most beautiful creations every day for the past fourteen years, and I am still super passionate about them. So, mineral specimens are the most familiar and always the first things to come to my mind when I pick up my pencils.” Surprisingly, Yu has not exhibited her work anywhere (as of late 2020), and this is the first time her art has been published. She also collects antique jewelry, especially in the Art Nouveau style, because she appreciates the fine workmanship it took to create the adornments. In addition, Yu likes to “travel and experience different food and culture . . . the world is full of surprises.” Safaa Yu can be contacted at [email protected].