Robert Yonke: Painter and Bluegrass Musician

Bluegrass, a hearty mixture of country, folk, jazz and ragtime, is the focus of artist Robert Yonke. During the summer months, when Robert is not painting in his Western Maryland studio, it’s likely he can be found playing in jam sessions with fellow bluegrass musicians in the area. He has translated his love of bluegrass to canvas with The Bluegrass Collection, a series of watercolors “inspired by the people, places and legends of bluegrass music.” My dialogue with Robert for Indie Mosaic Music.

Indie Mosaic Music: Of the 15 pieces in The Bluegrass Collection, which was the most challenging and why?
Robert Yonke: It's hard to say that any [one] of the pieces was more challenging than the others. None of the paintings in the group were done as a commission. Consequently, they took their own direction and I followed, knowing that I could stop at any point that I considered the painting to be complete. Art produced as a commission is more challenging because I have to work to someone else's expectations or standards . . . which may or may not coincide with my own. I don't believe that I'm alone in this view and that’s why commissions cost more and/or some artists just won’t do them.

(IMM): Are you continuing to add to the Collection? If so, what piece are you currently working on?
(Robert): Yes, continuously. The Web site shows 15 in the collection, but I have done many more that are in different places, collections, galleries, etc. This is an area that holds a lot of good subject matter, whether it is individual musicians, groups or another subject that somehow links to this genre. A long time ago, I was counseled to stick to a narrow subject area(s) and it seems that with my daughter Becky’s marketing talents we have been able to establish a niche. As far as I can see, I'll stick with it.

(IMM): Being a musician (mandolin, guitar and violin player), how does that influence your work as a visual artist?
(Robert): I'm sure it does. Part of the influence is in my knowing the gestures of a bluegrass musician. I know how the instruments are held, how a hand is angled when picking a stringed instrument or bowing a fiddle. I'm also aware of the dynamics of groups in a jam or on stage and I'm sure that some of that shows in the art. Also, the choice of subject matter and titling of many of my pieces after classic bluegrass songs also springs from this.

(IMM): Who is your favorite bluegrass musician and why?
(Robert): That's a tough one. There are so many truly talented people in this genre who do it more for love than money. If that sounds like I'm avoiding the issue, I am. Do I have a favorite that stands way, way above the rest? I don't.

(IMM): What is it about painting with watercolor that you enjoy?
(Robert): Every painting has a degree of surprise in it that breeds a spontaneity that is hard to find in other media.

(IMM): What project did you complete for the 2008 International Bluegrass Music Association -- World of Bluegrass?
(Robert): I did a watercolor painting of a bluegrass group kind of waiting off stage, ready to go on. This art was used as the central graphic element in their promotional materials and collateral event printed matter. This includes advertising, a poster, the award show program, marketing materials, etc.

(IMM): Describe your work environment: do you work most often in a studio space or outside; do you like to play music while you are painting?
(Robert): Well, I almost never work on a painting outside of my studio. I'm uncomfortable working with an audience and my experiences have been that painting on location will attract one, so I don't do it. My studio requirements are simple, so my studios in Pittsburgh and Swanton, Maryland, are kind of simple. I have a painting area, a matte cutting and framing area, a drawing board for sketching and various cabinets for storing painting supplies and paper. I also have source files sorted by subject. Most of my sourcing is done with a digital camera and the source photos are stored on a hard drive. I display these on my computer screen and have a sketch board positioned so that I can do rough drawings while viewing the screen. I like to work from photographs, but they have to be mine. Sometimes, I will use a client’s for a commission, but I'd rather shoot my own because I know I'll get the angles and related things I'll want.

(IMM): For the fun of it, here's a non-music/art related question: What's your favorite movie and why?
(Robert): The only movie I've seen in the last 25 years is Polar Express when I took the grandkids to see it. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I do enjoy The Deadliest Catch.