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 Yoka Yohanna - Her History
Born in Holland, Yoka immigrated to Canada with her family and began drawing and painting as a child without formal training, receiving her first portrait commission age twelve and continues to paint on commission. Her high school art teacher, world famous, wildlife artist Robert Bateman, encouraged her to enroll in the Ontario College of Art where she studied Material Arts, such as weaving and sculpture. Paul Duval, Canada’s renowned art critic, collector and author, became influential in the development of her early work, introducing her to a box of Windsor Newton watercolors and sable brushes. Her work evolved without any formal training.
Yoka has lived and worked in Toronto, Newfoundland, Canada, London, England, as well as New York and Malibu in the United States, both as an artist and a teacher. She is also accomplished in radio, modeling and television. Yoka was honored as Miss Dutch Canada, Miss Canadian Red Cross and continues to devote her talents to charity efforts. Yoka collaborated with her former husband, writing a cookbook, which she illustrated, called “The Newfoundland Gourmet.” They gave cooking classes in their home and on television.
Yoka’s extensive travel and lifelong international experiences have provided and expanded worldview, which influences and inspires her artistry. As a result, her work is coveted and appreciated by the general public as well as many exclusive private and corporate collectors. A trademark of Yoka’s artistry is sensitivity to the subject: she paints with love and light, with a unique ability to capture those special moments which are the very reason for the existence of painting and portraiture.
Since moving to Westlake Village in 2002, she has been on the Boards of Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks Art Association and a member of Channel Islands Art Center. Her paintings have won many show awards.
"1995 was the year I was in excruciating pain, crippled and in a wheelchair, the diagnosis was triple spinal fusion! Since birth, I had a defect in my lower back that weakened with age and stress on my 6-foot frame. Depressed and feeling defeated, I simply, yet profoundly, prayed to God. Subsequently, after many holistic attempts, I was led to a chiropractor, who uses a non-invasive technique. He told me, “You may never walk again.” I worked with my chiropractor for two years, gingerly placing my bones in alignment, and gradually, yet fearfully, I began to walk again. But the slightest wrong move would bring severe pain and yet another treatment. With fear, pain and frustration, again, I turned to God and cried, “What are You trying to tell me?” The message was clear: God had given me a talent as an artist and I was not fulfilling it. I believe God led me to Jorei healing, originating in Japan. Thn a miracle happened in my life, I was completely healed after three months! Besides being a full time healer, I have kept my commitment to paint as a self-employed artist. I paint everything for clients, from children, horses, favorite pets and family portraits, private homes, vibrant flowers, a Harley Davidson shown on the cover of “Biker Magazine.” as well as Western art paintings and celebrity portraits on Gibson guitars. One of my works is in a permanent Japanese museum collection.
Shows and Exhibitions
1973 One Woman Show, ALICE PECK GALLERY, Ontario, Canada;
1974 One Woman Show, SCARBOROUGH COLLEGE, Ontario, Canada;
1975 One Woman Show, ERINDALE, COLLEGE, Ontario, Canada;
1976 Exhibit, TORONTO OUTDOOR ART EXHIBIT, Toronto, Canada;
1977 One Woman Show, MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY ANNEX GALLERY,
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada;
1978 One Woman Show, ADMIRAL PITT'S HISTORICAL HOME, Newfoundland, Canada;
1979 One Woman Show, ART ASSOCIATION OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, Canada;
1979 One Woman Show, THE GALLERY OF ST. JOHN'S ARTS AND
CULTURE CENTER, Newfoundland, Canada;
1980 One Woman Show, ARTS AND CULTURE CENTER GALLERY,
Newfoundland, Canada;
1980 One Woman Show, GALLERY STUDIO 131, Newfoundland, Canada;
1981 One Woman Show, WALLACK GALLERY, Ottawa, Canada;
1982 One Woman Show, SPURREL' S GALLERY, Newfoundland, Canada;
1982 Co-authored and illustrated "The Newfoundland Gourmet" Cookbook,
1983 - 2003 Private and Corporate Commissions
1990 Exhibit, PALISADES ART SHOW, Pacific Palisades, California;
1990 Exhibit, "AFFAIRE IN THE GARDENS," Beverly Hills, California;
1996 Exhibit, SECOND STREET GALLERY, Santa Monica, California;
1997 Exhibit, SECOND STREET GALLERY, Santa Monica, California;
1998 Exhibit, PALM CANYON GALLERY, Palm Springs, California;
1999 Exhibit, MYCENIA GRAVIS FOUNDATION, L.A. California;
2000 Exhibit, PAWS LA FOUNDATION, L.A. California;
2001 Exhibit, PAWS LA FOUNDATION, L.A. California;
2001 Exhibit, ANIMAZING GALLERY, New York City, NY;
2001 Exhibit, GIBSON GUITARS, Dallas, TX;
2002 Private Commissions and Guitars;
2002 Exhibit, STUDIO CHANNEL ISLANDS ART CENTER, Camarillo, CA;
2002 Exhibit, L. A. EQUESTRIAN CENTER EXHIBIT, Los Angeles, CA;
2002 Exhibit, VENTURA FARMS 'RIDE-ON' CHARITY, Thousand Oaks, CA;
2002 Exhibit, CHANNEL ISLANDS ART CENTER, 'Open House Show;'
2003 Exhibit, WESTLAKE VILLAGE ART GUILD, Won 'Best in Show;'
2003 One Woman Show, GARDENS OF THE WORLD, Thousand Oaks, CA
In the Private Collections of ...
UNITED STATES
California
Beverly Hills
Sybil Brand, Philanthropist
Rhonda Fleming-Mann, Former Actress
Herb Chase, Editor for Sr. Life Newspaper
David Murdock, Ventura Farms, Los Angeles
Jerry Brent, Starkist Tuna
Richard Lewis, Retired CEO Accountants Overload
Sydney Omarr, World Renowned Astrologer & Author
Gene Autry Estate, Malibu
Art Emr, Film Producer, Writer, Photographer, Director
Wayne Hughes, Owner of Public Storage Mini Warehouses
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sachs, President of Marina Management
Free Arts for Abused Children
Mathilda Spaak, Trustee, Long Beach Hospital
New York City Texas
Lucia La Rocca Jerry MacDowell, Architect
CANADA
Toronto
Paul Duval, Art Critic, Collector, Author
William McAllister, Former Vice President of IT&T
Mr. and Mrs. Bram and Bluma Apel
Manitoba
Mr. and Mrs. George and Tanis Richardson
Newfoundland
Peter Bell, Art Critic, Writer
Peter Holden, Conductor, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver
Anne Mortifee, Singer, Songwriter
ENGLAND
David Gray, Conductor & Former Principal Horn, London Symphony Orchestra
FRANCE GERMANY JAPAN
Behar-Bannelier, Biologist Frank Schaich Mac Yasuda
HOLLAND
Delver, Bergen Tuinman
Middelbeek VanSwanenberg
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