Meet Shirley Yvette Coppet | Abstract Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shirley Yvette Coppet and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shirley Yvette, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
*I Am My Own Perfect* I read those words somewhere, can’t remember where, but that affirmation has come to be the best words that a person can abide by. Just the thought that I actually consider myself perfect is something I wish that I could have related to in my teen years, because not being invited to the “it crowd” kinda lowered my self confidence. When I entered the military I also learned the life lesson: Believe in yourself and you will go far. Now I’m a wife, mother, 20yr Army Veteran, and a self taught artist.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After retiring from the Army, I dabbled in real estate and worked as a weapons instructor. With much more free time on my hands I eventually gained a passion for creating abstract paintings. It started out as a hobby and now I create commissioned art pieces and participate in art shows/events to showcase and sell my artwork. Abstract art is about feeling and emotions to me so my creative process begins with choosing the right size canvas based on how I’m feeling at that moment, then the mood has to be set with the right music (my playlist is a vibe), and lastly the lighting of a candle for a stress free environment. My process happens at any time of the day. There are times when I may work on a piece during normal business hours or I may feel an urge to paint at 3am. The most exciting part of what I do, outside of when I find a medium that I have not used before and seeing how I can use it with my acrylics, is when my paintings really speak to others. It’s so fulfilling to be able to put my emotions and feelings into something that others can enjoy while feeling their own connections to the paintings.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Roswell, GA because it has a hub of galleries and 1920 Tavern because the food is great.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I must shout out my husband and kids for believing in me and supporting my passion. They welcome all of my paintings with open arms into their spaces when I run out of storage or when I become their interior decorator at times. They also keep me motivated and provide inspiration when I run into an artist block; low on creative juices.
Second, I want to shout out my best friend Zorana Sifford that is also an artist. She supports and motivates me all while being a doctor, mother, wife, friend, and artist herself. Her artwork ranges from mixed media paintings to hip hop musician portraits.

Finally, I want to shout out Chris Van Loan Sr. for connecting me to the Artlifting community. Artlifting is an organization that helps Vets with disabilities put their art out into the universe. Chris shared my name with them after seeing some of my work in a Facebook group called Black Abstract Artists.

Instagram: @yvettesartforthesoul

Linkedin: Shirley Yvette Coppet

Facebook: Yvette’s Art For The soul

Other: Shirley.coppet@gmail.com 912-312-4289