the art of junkyard sam

TreeSpot (limited edition print) by Junkyard Sam @ Etsy.

While “searching for mushrooms” the other day, I discovered this great artist Junkyard Sam @ Etsy.

Even though I am very much attacted to Lowbrow Art, his work at first sight might not exactly be what I am more drawn to for it has a kind of “cleanliness” about it - probably due to the use of computer in the process as well as to the fact that Junkyard Sam used to work in the game industry - which might have deterred me a bit.

However, examining more carefully the works presented @ Etsy, I could not help but feel something compelling in his art. There is indeed definitely a universe here, a brand new world created and opening before us, for us to walk in and encounter strange creatures… And if you read Junkyard Sam’s introductory words which go :

Welcome to the land of “Tong Picnic”, a world where strange people befriend animals to travel across bizarre lands full of good citizens and scary monsters!

plus the titles of his works as well as the descriptions, you realize that although this universe might be unknown to you, it does exist to some and is indeed very real, since the land and the creatures that inhabit it all have names.

Meet T’nip Whirl :

A Portrait of T’nip Whirl (limited edition print).

I mentioned earlier the somewhat “clean” aspect of some of Junkyard Sam’s works and although I do think there is a universe unfolding here - the lights in the works are impressively great - I somehow think Junkyard Sam might still be a bit young in his art. By that I mean his work has a tremendous potential and he is definitely an artist I would like to follow for I truly believe his work will become really interesting and will acquire more depth in the years to come.

He has recently experimented with prints that he calls “Adventures in Red” and that are prominently - you guessed it - red, such as this Scholarly Duck and he is currently finishing a set of new works that are to be presented at Eclectix Gallery (El Cerrito, California) this Friday.

A couple of his works were exhibited there at the “Heart Attack” show which took place from 1st February to 3rd March. The show opening this Friday is entitled “Altarations”, it is a Group Show and takes place from 14 March to 20 April. I will try to post some images. I’m quite eager to see what Junkyard Sam will be showing actually !

Oh, and I nearly forgot to say, but I sent him a message through Etsy and he replied to me in the sweetest and most adorable manner…

The Golden Hour (limited edition print).

Junkyard Sam + his blog + his Etsy shop + his Flickr.
Eclectix Gallery

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