Eric Yahnker: Mixing Light & Dark Using Art

What does Mother Teresa, a bag of Cheetos and a Tyrannosaurus Rex have in common? All of these items,  have been included in an Eric Yahnker piece. Yahnker is a contemporary artist and former animator and journalist based in California. His main medium is charcoal and most recently colored pencils. Despite using such simple tools, Yahnker’s drawings are astoundingly detailed and vibrant. That detail can be attributed to his willingness to dedicate any amount  of time it takes to his work.

“I remember being the only person left in the studio at 4am, once again, because as per usual, the director had left me saying, “See you tomorrow, I’m sure the scene will be great,” said Yahkner in an interview with ItDrewItself.com. “There I was putting way more sweat and blood into it than I’d ever get out of it and I suddenly realized, what if I put in this many hours into myself as I put in for these bastards? I still have the same work ethic, but now I’m doing it for me instead of them.” Yahnker said he knew he could draw when he was admitted into the University of Southern California but he didn’t think it would be his career although he did consider a political cartooning career. “I didn’t even know art school existed. I know it sounds crazy to say,” said Yahnker to Juxtapoz.com. “That’s why I went into journalism, because it was an interesting thing. I didn’t know until I got into college that there was a place for it.” He ended up at the California Institute of the Arts, where he got his Fine Art degree. After he graduated, he landed a job producing animated skits that appear as extras for Seinfield’s DVD set.

Yahnker did not like the direction of the animation industry and that caused him to have to make a choice. “I still have a love for animation, but I really wanted to draw and it became pretty clear the animation industry was heading toward a 3D and Flash overhaul, and I was either going to have to trade in my pencil and paper for a keyboard and mouse or dole out hand-jobs at the bus depot,” he said to TheVine.com. “I opted for hand jobs.” There is a lot of diversity in Yahnker’s work. Many artists feel the need to choose between serious or lighthearted subject matters but he is able to combine darker subjects with an air of comedy. He is also a fan of including pop culture references and puns in his work. One of his most popular drawings features Mother Theresa smoking a cigar. Another features two nude young women with a smiley face plastered on their behinds.

“You try to educate yourself everyday on something serious, so you can have comedic things to say about it. To be original in comedy is to respond to serious things,” said Yahnker. Yahnker’s drawings are commonly large and that is something that is done on purpose. He wants to send a message to viewers. He wants their undivided attention.

“I’ve definitely got a thing for bigness. The loudest guy at the table may get his point heard, but the biggest guy gets his point made. Just the sheer act of being imposing focuses attention,” he said. Despite his penchant for large pieces, Yahkner seems to have a talent that can be seen in any size.

–Ashleigh Atwell