Interview with Eric Joyner

Arrested Motion recently had the chance to sit and chat with artist Eric Joyner as he prepares for the opening of his latest solo show at the Corey Helford Gallery in Culver City, California. Amongst other topics, we get a better understanding of Eric’s inspirations, background, and why he paints robot and donuts in his works. Joyner’s show officially opens this Saturday, August 14th. A snippet of the interview can be found below.

We know this must be a question asked for every interview but we can’t resist. Why the robots and donuts (although cupcakes are introduced for this show)?

When I decided to become a gallery artist some 10 years ago, I made a rule for myself that I would only paint things I like. I started with tin robots around 1999 because they met the criteria of me liking them, and had been collecting them since the mid 1980’s. Also, it was cost-effective… no need to hire models or rent costumes. The donuts were added in 2002. I had been getting a bit bored just painting robots & started to try and think of what to add. Then while watching the movie Pleasantville, I was inspired by the scene where Jeff Daniels paints a still-life of donuts. This, in combination of being a big fan of Wayne Thiebaud, donuts, and the fact that the combination made no sense, I started the painting “Glazed” the next morning.

Are donuts actually our favorite food and do you collect tin robots? Or are they just reserved for your art?

Donuts are really great but I need other types of food as well. I like the various food groups equally. I started collecting tin robots while in art school… my friends & I would go to the San Mateo County fairgrounds annual vintage collectible shows as well as other shows. I have maybe 50 now… mostly the re-issued ones though.

For some reason, your work almost has a Norman Rockwell feel to it even though your subject matter is completely different. Are we completely off base or was he an inspiration for you? What other artists do you feel has influenced you, if at all?

When I was a kid I did have a Rockwell book… I liked it a lot. Almost everything about it. But I was not thinking about Rockwell when I became an artist…. by that time, I was more interested in Frazetta, J.Jones, N.C. Wyeth, The Brandywine artists, Andy Warhol & National Lampoon magazine.

The interview in its entirety can be read here.