The Art and Ramblings of James Yonkman

A Painting A Week, Week 7: Party Man

2011-04-04T23:54:00.000-05:00

Portrait of THE Party Man.
Hope you dig it. The angle of the photo distorts it a bit. I had to shoot it like that to avoid the glare off the fresh oil paint.

8x8 inch oil on canvas

A Painting A Week, Week 6: Still Life

2011-03-28T17:58:00.000-05:00

Chester is the perfect portrait subject. He will sit perfectly still indefinitely without any breaks and with minimal grousing. He does tell bad jokes the whole time however.

A Painting A Week, Week Five.0: Hans Bellmer Portrait- In Progress

2011-03-21T21:39:00.000-05:00

I decided I wanted to take my time with this one. Here is the under painting and part of the background.

A Painting A Week, Week Four: Red Light

2011-03-13T16:20:00.000-05:00

Here's the painting for week four. This is what sitting in traffic at the intersection by my house looks like.

I may have another painting to post this evening.
Any feedback is appreciated. Thanks!

A Painting A Week: Weak....Not this week.

2011-03-06T23:45:00.000-06:00

Sorry folks, no painting of the week. Life got in the way. I'll try to double up this week.
By the way, thanks to all that sent me pictures to paint. I'll send out messages as I paint them. If you want me to paint your portrait send me a message or leave a comment and I"ll get a pic from you.
Cheers!

A Painting A Week, Week Two: Gull

2011-02-27T22:20:00.000-06:00

Here it is...My painting for week two. The seventies called and want this painting back.

10 x 20in Oil on canvas.

A Painting A Week: week 1

2011-02-20T23:44:00.000-06:00

Here's the painting for week one.

6x6in oil on canvas.

A Painting A Week

2011-02-16T12:58:00.000-06:00

Monday I will be starting an exercise to sharpen my painting skills by completing a painting a week. Hopefully it will push me out of my comfort zone and loosen me up. I'll be posting them here every Sunday (starting 2/20/11) whether they are good, bad, or ugly so check back often. If you would like to participate in APAW (a painting a week) feel free to leave a comment and I'll link to your blog. All skill levels/ subject matter/ styles are welcome.
It should be fun!

Gulls in the Snow

2011-02-04T13:53:00.000-06:00

New Year In Port Aransas, Texas

2011-01-29T11:40:00.000-06:00

Random shots from vacation...

What a mouthful.

Bad Antique Mall Art and Crafts 2: Revenge of the Kitty Overlords and Their Doll Minion

2010-12-25T13:47:00.000-06:00

Kitty overlord portrait gallery:

That's not yarn...it's intestines.

All seeing, all knowing floating kitty head by Pee Wee. I am assuming not of Herman fame.

The painter must have let the kitty wear his glasses thus the distortio......right.

Baby Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Doll

While I'm not sure if this should fall in the bad craft category one thing is for certain:
I don't even know. I can however smell him cooking something and it smells like bad eggs.

Atheist Bus Signs In Fort Worth Texas

2010-12-03T13:06:00.006-06:00

The following video illustrates FOX4 news once again showing just how biased their brand of journalism is. In the first twenty seconds Heather Hays states her aversion to the ad campaign setting the tone for the interview. I take my hat off to Terry McDonald for keeping a cool head and a genial attitude through the interview despite the baited commentary by Hays.

(rejesus? really?)

I am an atheist. What a lot of people don't realize or refuse to acknowledge is that being an atheist does not mean that one does not have a sense of right and wrong. I live by this simple rule that has served me well:

Treat others as you would wish to be treated.

If everyone of every faith or non-faith went by this system of conduct instead of narrow religious or anti-religious dogma we would be no doubt living in a much more ethical and equitable society.
I have friends and a lot of family that are devout believers and it works for them. I don't judge them for their beliefs and they don't judge me for my lack of belief. Mutual love and respect are how we make it work.
As for the bus ads, if you don't like them turn away. They weren't meant for you.
The rest of us will continue to turn our head when we see sights such as this.

Happy New Year to you Mr. McDonald!

Bad Antique Mall Art and Crafts

2010-09-24T12:53:00.006-05:00

I frequent antique malls, flea markets and junk stores and I love it. You never know what you'll find. Except for one thing: bad art and crafts. It seems to be in abundance. We all have a friend, cousin, or acquaintance that produces something that they label as "art". I don't want to get too philosophical about what constitutes art. Everyone disagrees on that matter and getting any number of people to agree on anything is like herding cats. I'm just hoping you will enjoy looking at some of this stuff as much as I did. Did I buy any of it? No.

Let's get to it...

Portraits are supposed to capture the essence of the sitter....I'd say his essence is "eau de constipation"

What do you get the person that has everything? How about a crocheted demon frog towel ring? This could be why your child insists on wetting himself instead of using gramma's bathroom.

I think this falls in the so bad I almost bought it category. $25.00 was a bit steep though.

AHHMUURICA!!! F*$K YEAH!
Somewhere a Native American buried in an unmarked mass grave along the trail of tears is spinning with such a high-pitched whine; dingoes in Australia are perking their ears.

Quick update...

2010-09-14T20:57:00.002-05:00

I went up to Missouri to visit the parents, brother, sister-in-law and nephews over this past week. It was nice to get away. It gave me some time to think about where I'm going with my life and art.
I've spent most of my life trying to dull down the darkness in my artwork. It comes out naturally and I don't care to suppress it anymore. I'm not going to do anymore theme shows. I may enter a piece if it happens to fit the theme coincidentally or if it is for charity. I'm painting what I want from now on. I plan to do more blogging as well, though it will most likely be more pictorial in nature.
I realize I have been a ghost lately and am working on some more content for the blog. I'm working on a puppet for a friend (top priority), a book of illustrated short stories, a new series of portraits, and I'm in the process of planning another series of paintings that are completely out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with ideas that I dilute myself and find it hard to stay on task. I'm looking forward to sharpening my focus and getting some stuff done.

That's all for now. More this weekend.

Politicians

2010-07-02T20:56:00.004-05:00

What they care about:
1. Money
2. Power
3. Getting re-elected

What they will do to achieve these goals:
1. Lie
2. Fudge the truth
3. Sell their souls for campaign contributions
4. Ignore what is best for the people
5. Pretend everything is fine
6. Cater to corporate interests
7. Lie

We live in sad times.

Treasure

2010-05-10T22:53:00.004-05:00

I picked up this beauty at a yard sale this past weekend for $3. It works great, and is rock solid unlike the $40 crappy plastic mitre saw that broke on the second cut I made. Can we go back to making tools that last please?

They don't make them like this anymore. I'm pretty sure it's twice my age and will be here long after I'm able to use it.

Beauty

2010-04-21T12:29:00.005-05:00

Obsession with beauty... Pursuit of beauty... Narcissism... Commercial concept of beauty... That's what this painting represents to me.
A life spent in a quest for unobtainable perfection only yields a pretty picture atop your casket in the end.

Oil on wood panel. The frame is a restored cast brass frame.
10x13 inches framed

Read the fine print when entering art "contests".

2010-04-07T16:17:00.004-05:00

It appears that Paul Frank Industries is holding Art Attack! a sort of design contest. However, reading the rules page under the terms of use heading should be enough to keep you from entering. It reads as follows:

"Whether chosen as a winner or not I acknowledge that upon uploading my Submission I grant to Paul Frank Industries, Inc, and their affiliates, their successors, assigns and licensees ("Paul Frank") the unlimited and exclusive permission and assignment to distribute, publish, commercialize, exhibit, digitize, broadcast, display, modify, edit, and otherwise use the Submission, as well as my name, image and or any other matter incorporated into or associated with the Submission, on www.paulfrank.com or any other Paul Frank or associated Paul Frank website ("Website") or in any other manner, or on any product or media anywhere in the world in perpetuity without any expectation of compensation for any purpose including advertising, promoting or publicizing the Website, Paul Frank, and Paul Frank products and services.
I shall have no rights of approval and no claim (including, without limitation, claims based upon copyright, trademark, invasion of privacy, defamation, and right of publicity) arising out of any use, blurring, alteration, distortion, illusionary effect, or any use in any composite form of the Submission and the names, images, voices or any other matter incorporated in or associated with the Submission. I acknowledge that I waive all "moral" rights that I may have in and to Submission. Paul Frank Industries shall have no obligation to use any of the rights I grant. I represent that it is not necessary for Paul Frank Industries to pay any fees or any third party in connection with my granting of these rights to Paul Frank Industries."

Excerpt taken from: http://www.paulfrank.com/art_attack/rules

Just by entering you give up all right to your creation whether you win or not.
How is this not just a big intellectual property grab?

*edit*
They (Paul Frank Industries) have changed the terms of use paragraph since I posted this blog. It now reads as follows:

"Whether chosen as a winner or not I acknowledge that upon uploading my Submission I grant to Paul Frank Industries, Inc, and their affiliates, their successors, assigns and licensees ("Paul Frank") the unlimited and exclusive permission and assignment to use the Submission, as well as my name, image and or any other matter incorporated into or associated with the Submission, on www.paulfrank.com or any other Paul Frank or associated Paul Frank website ("Website") without any expectation of compensation for any purpose. I shall have no rights of approval and no claim (including, without limitation, claims based upon copyright, trademark, invasion of privacy, defamation, and right of publicity) arising out of any use, blurring, alteration, distortion, illusionary effect, or any use in any composite form of the Submission and the names, images, voices or any other matter incorporated in or associated with the Submission. I represent that it is not necessary for Paul Frank Industries to pay any fees or any third party in connection with my granting of these rights to Paul Frank Industries."

Excerpt taken from: http://www.paulfrank.com/art_attack/rules

Two, Three, 4.

2010-02-19T17:35:00.005-06:00

Here are some WaddleBots for you to check out. Honestly, I'm still trying to dig out of the hole I'm in from not having a working computer for several months. Anyhoo, let me know what you think.

Two: I adapted an old armed forces special weapons logo for the front.

Wall eyed radiological defense bot. HA!

Three: Inspired by some old buck rogers tin toys I saw at one of the antique shops I frequent. Love the way the raygun came out.

4: Metallic blue over pearl white paint inspired by the old Galaxie 500 I used to own. *sigh*

Plenty more art to come........

HURRY! HURRY!.....crap.....Missed it.

2009-08-26T12:47:00.009-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything mostly due to me working my butt off. I'm starting a new body of work that is very personal to me and frankly the details are a bitch. It's a more serious direction for me and is dredging up a lot of long suppressed memories and feelings from childhood. I guess it's my way of dealing with some things that I've been running from for most of my life.
In other news...

Here is a custom Mechtorian I made for a contest. I didn't pay close enough attention and missed the deadline as it was in Singapore. Oops, lesson learned. He is a combination of two mini Mechtorian vinyl toys by Doktor A and hand carved wood parts painted with acrylics. Enjoy!

*Yes, that's an eight ball shifter.*

Fizzy Blueberry Nirvana - Maine Root Blueberry Soda

2009-07-20T12:47:00.005-05:00

I have had a life long love affair with the blueberry. I'm not talking about that faux blueberry flavoring found in boo-berry cereal either. I'm talking about that sweet and clean taste of fresh blueberries. Muffins, pancakes, jellies, and jams or just washed and chilled, I'll take them any way I can get them. I have the same affinity for handcrafted sodas. When I laid eyes on Maine Root Blueberry Soda I knew I had to give it a shot, and I am so glad I did. After popping the cap, the just right scent of ripe berries drifted to my nose and I started getting excited. The head is creamy and ample giving the first sip an almost blueberry cream taste. It is simply sweet, avoiding the evils of high fructose corn syrup in favor of Organic Evaporated Cane Juice. Read more on it here. This gives it a super clean, refreshing finish. Everything is just right, beginning to end. Try it. Try it. Try it! Here is a link to the Maine Root website if you can't find it locally they sell it by the 12 pack. I can't wait to try the other flavors.

WaddleBot "one"

2009-06-22T08:16:00.005-05:00

Here's the first painted WaddleBot in the series. I went with a distressed vintage look. Muted blue and red on a cream background. I've decided to just go wherever these take me. If you like a particular style or look let me know. I love feedback.

March of The WaddleBots

2009-06-15T17:02:00.005-05:00

The robotic madness begins...

CameraBot (sold) is just the first of my robotic army. Also look for an upcoming contest to win your very own WaddleBot! Check back often!

WaddleBot LIVES!

2009-06-04T13:32:00.004-05:00

Work in progress of a toy I designed. I'm planning on making 30 of the little buggars. All will be hand painted and will be bundled with a 2 color print. Price and paint scheme to be determined. I will have figured more out by the end of the weekend. ZAAAAAAAAP!!!

p.s. Arms and head are posable.

Why You Shouldn't Rely On Wiki-anything as Fact or Even Good Advice

2009-05-12T12:30:00.004-05:00

A friend of mine sent the link below to me as a joke. The title is "How to Meet New People Without Being Creepy" and it is absolutely asinine. It smacks of being written by a popular teenager after taking an intro to sociology course. Of course it is well intended on some level, however misguided it may be. The perception of "creepy" is different person to person so how can you possibly identify specific traits that will label you as creepy? People that go against the grain are not creepy, seas of faceless clones TRYING to be like everyone else...now THAT'S creepy. Without the misfits, and social rejects there would be no scientific breakthroughs, visionary art, or out of the box thinking. Surgeons would still be operating with dirty hands, the world would not have the poetry of Emily Dickinson or Edgar Allen Poe nor the paintings of Van Gogh. On a purely social interaction level this how-to associates those perceived as creepy with serial killers, sociopaths, cult leaders (most of which are extremely charismatic), and child molesters. Once again....asinine.
If you think I'm off base on this, by all means please explain to me why I'm wrong. I'm not a sociologist nor do I play one on TV. I am a creepy loner that plays with ventriloquist dummies that doesn't give a squat what anyone thinks...what do I know?
http://www.wikihow.com/Meet-New-People-Without-Being-Creepy

Kick His Ass, Sea Bass! OR Food Equals LOVE!

2009-04-22T08:22:00.000-05:00

The chica and I went out to dinner this past weekend just for a change of pace. We don't go out much due to schedules, monetary reasons, and the fact that I'm a hermit. Seriously, if she didn't pull me out of the house on occasion, I would lose all skin pigmentation. I somewhat resemble a blind cave salamander at times. We went through the typical where do you want to go I don't care rig-a-ma-roll and eventually decided on Kathleen's Sky Diner in Dallas. I must explain that I seldom go out to eat anymore because typically I can taste a dish and tell you exactly what's in it and duplicate it in my own kitchen. Add that I actually enjoy cooking and... Well, why bother going out and paying more right?

At first upon entering the restaurant I was under whelmed. The appearance including the outside signage and the "flight" theme is a bit cheesy. We sat down near the windows at the front and I noticed that we were one of three occupied tables in the restaurant. This did not bode well with me at first but I quickly realized that it was only about 4:00pm on a Friday and other than the elderly only a hermit such as myself would be eating dinner at this time. I perused the menu for a bit and was delighted that there was a wonderful variety of dishes. I quickly settled on
Panko crusted Japanese sea bass with roasted poblano corn relish and cheese grits.

It was the best plate of food I've had in a restaurant in years. The fish was perfectly cooked and the poblano corn relish was a wonderful touch. The avocado seemed an odd addition with the fish but after a squeeze of lemon it all made sense together. The cheese grits were so good it made me want to roll around in them naked. The only thing I was not fond of was the roasted cauliflower. It just did not seem to belong on the plate. I tasted it expecting an interesting spice to bring it all together but it just tasted like dry cauliflower. Maybe it's an acquired taste. However, this is a minor side note as the fish and grits MORE than made up for the dry gym sock taste of the outcast vegetable. The portions were large as well and I had no problem getting to that pleasantly full feeling. We decided to take our desserts to go. Take my advice...you can't go wrong with the peppermint cake or the chunky apple cake with butterscotch sauce. (I'm drooling on the keyboard as I type)

If you are in Dallas I suggest checking this place out if you haven't ever been. It's worth every penny.

Now for something completely different...

2009-04-14T08:09:00.000-05:00

I carved this devil limber jack/dancing man toy from a mix of pine and poplar. Limber jacks were really popular in Appalachia in the late 1700's as toys and also as percussion instruments in folk music. He is hinged in the shoulders, knees and hips with pressure fit brass rod. I try to avoid mechanically made parts whenever possible while working on projects such as this one. My thoughts on this are that if you're going to make something completely by hand do it right. In my mind this is the only way to make something totally mine. That, or I'm a control freak...ok, so maybe it's a little of both. Below is an extremely poor quality video of him in action. I'm not the best operator, but you get the idea.

Zombie Jesus and a Plethora of Dum Dums

2009-04-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone had a pleasant zombie jesus day yesterday and didn't get their brains gnawed. The girlfriend and I had a nice evening cooking together and then slipped quietly into the unavoidable food coma that follows a gluttonous rampage such as ours. Our menu consisted of grilled chicken, grilled portabello mushrooms, grilled turkey bacon wrapped shrimp, crispy fried rosemary potatoes, and strawberry shortcake for dessert. We probably could have fed a small army with what we made but instead we chose the mine all mine route and ate ourselves into a stupor. This brings us to our lesson for the day: Don't grocery shop or menu plan when you're hungry.
It was worth the indigestion.

Dum dums are my new best friends. I quit smoking for various reasons health, finances, and the fact that I refuse to be a slave to anything. The fact that I get to eat all the hard candy I want wasn't a reason for quiting but is a very happy side effect. For me, dum dums are an ideal substitute for the oral fixation side of quiting. Mmmm...tasty.

Tomorrow: Folk Art!

Hello and Welcome To My Part of the Blogo-Sphereo-Tron-a-ma-thingy!

2009-04-08T12:14:00.000-05:00

Salutations!

In this shiny new Blogo-Sphereo-Tron-a-ma-thingy I plan to chart a daily progress of my line of thought. Most days I plan to stick to the mostly creative aspects such as sketches, various art projects, commissions, and design.

HOWEVER, I reserve the right at ANY time to completely de-rail the whole shebang (why don't more people use that word?) and go off on some nonsensical rabbit trail to some distant alternate universe where couch cushions are made of banana flavored Laffy Taffy and run-on sentences are the only way to write. I may review a book or two here and there or even rant about the price of sushi rice. Only time will tell. I do want whatever I may write to be as entertaining for you to read as it is for me to write. I'm sure it will be a train wreck, but it will be my train wreck. I hope you will join me for the ride.

Till next time,
J.