California Double Take: Watercolors and Papercuts by Anselm and Daniela Yew 

Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture Presents

California Double Take: Watercolors and Papercuts by Anselm and Daniela Yew 

October 2026 – January 2027

Please join us for the artists’ reception on Sunday, October 11, from 3-5pm. 

The title of this exhibition carries a double meaning. On one level, it refers to two artists looking at the same California landscape and coming up with very different interpretations.

Anselm’s watercolors look at the big picture. His perception of California’s ecosystems leads him away from painting specific details and instead towards capturing an impression of the landscape through light and form.

Daniela looks very closely at the animals and plants in these ecosystems and interprets them in a realistic yet abstract style. Drawing inspiration from scientific illustrations, her aim is to be as accurate as possible while also exploring the artistic possibilities of her medium. 

The other double take is done by viewers themselves. From further away, Anselm’s watercolors might look like photographs but a closer look shows that they resolve into almost abstract shapes and brushwork. Daniela’s papercuts might be simple black and white drawings at first glance but reveal their three-dimensionality and intricate details when viewed closely.

 By presenting California through both perspectives – broad sweep and minute detail – the artists invite viewers to examine how they themselves perceive nature and inspire them to protect this amazing place we call home. 

Old Oak by Anselm Yew

Anselm Yew – Artist Statement 

Whether in the city, in nature, or in the overlapping spaces in-between, Anselm endeavors to capture the feeling of being in a particular place at a particular moment. His work is representational, but he strives to suggest realism through loose brushwork, unexpected shapes and shifts in color.

Great Horned Owl and Black Oak by Daniela Yew

Daniela Yew – Artist Statement

Using only paper and a knife to depict birds and plants in a manner reminiscent of traditional natural history illustrations is an artistic challenge. How much of the patterns, coloration and shape can be conveyed using this restrictive medium? Each papercut is created from a single sheet of paper. The image slowly emerges as pieces of paper are cut away, working from the inside out, until at last, the finished piece can be lifted up.  

About the Artists

Daniela Yew has exhibited at multiple venues in California including the Museum of Northern California Art, Helen Crocker Russell Library of Horticulture, FE Gallery Sacramento, The Studio Door San Diego, SFWA Gallery San Francisco, Faultline Gallery Oakland. She is a member of the Guild of American Papercutters and Art Span San Francisco.

Anselm has been a freelance illustrator for 25 years. To counterbalance the digital nature of his commercial work, he turned some years ago to watercolor and gouache as an outlet and vehicle for further creative exploration. His watercolors have been exhibited in several venues in the San Francisco Bay Area including Studio Gallery, Far Out Gallery, The Drawing Room, and West Portal Gallery.  He is a long-time participant at SF Open Studios and a member of Artspan.   

By presenting California through both perspectives – broad sweep and minute detail – the artists invite viewers to examine how they themselves perceive nature and inspire them to protect this amazing place we call home.