Tim Yanger: Gouache Paintings Honouring Rural Childhood Memories

Pia Diamandis -

Tim Yanger’s gouache paintings reminisce about simpler times. Each piece is bathed in warm summer light, depicting scenes such as the family cat, a glass of hot tea and flowers blooming in the neighbour’s yard. For Yanger, these paintings are about “unlocking childhood memories” to allow his viewers to recall simpler times when their priorities revolved around basic survival needs such as eating and sleeping while indulging in hobbies and play. 

Biggie the Cat Sunbathing in the Early Afternoon by Tim Yanger. Image courtesy of @tim_yangerart/Instagram.

These paintings serve as reminders for his mainly adult viewership to try and reimagine the world as they saw it as children. This means including play and rest into their daily routine in order to build and maintain mental resilience. This is why the gouache paintings by Tim Yanger are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of Good Health And Well-Being.

House at the Bara Basti Village, Kohima, Nagaland by Tim Yanger. Image courtesy of @tim_yangerart/Instagram.

Yanger’s paintings, which long for simpler times, can also be interpreted as depictions of life in the countryside. Understanding Society, a British household longitudinal study dedicated to observing how British society changes over time, has found that staying in rural areas benefits people's mental health and well-being. This mainly comes from abundant access to green space and higher air quality. However, the study also finds that factors such as the cost of living, local politics and a person’s economic status can instead create undesired mental well-being effects.

A Cup of Tea and a Slice of Lemon by Tim Yanger. Image courtesy of @tim_yangerart/Instagram.

Tim Yanger’s gouache paintings transport viewers to simpler, nostalgic moments of childhood, evoking a sense of peace and well-being. Through serene depictions of everyday scenes such as a homemade boxed lunch, Yanger invites his audience to reconnect with their inner child and the joys of play and rest. His work serves as a gentle reminder to prioritize mental resilience and well-being in daily life. These paintings also highlight the benefits of a slower, rural life, where connection with nature can enhance mental health.

Find out more about the gouache paintings that honour childhood experiences and other pieces by Tim Yanger on their website www.timyangerart.myshopify.com or Instagram @tim_yangerart.