The album was recorded at A.R.T. Studios, Sandra and
Michael Cretu's home studio in
Ibiza, Spain. The material showcased more mature sound, departing from Sandra's previous, up-tempo dance songs in favour of a more reflective and sophisticated style. Much of the material, especially the five-part track "The Journey", foreshadowed the sound of
Enigma, a
new-age music project that Michael and Sandra were working on during the making of the album.
Frank Peterson, who was the co-producer on the Enigma project, took up the role of co-writing some of the tracks on
Paintings in Yellow. The cover of
Wishful Thinking's "
Hiroshima" was released as the lead single in February 1990, becoming a top-five chart success in Germany and Switzerland. It was followed by two further singles in 1990, "
(Life May Be) A Big Insanity" and the ballad "
One More Night", which were moderately successful on the charts.
Paintings in Yellow became Sandra's highest-charting album in Germany at number four, in addition to a top-10 peak in Switzerland. The record has been
certified gold in Germany and France, and platinum in Switzerland. ==Critical reception==