Patti Yunker

Brief History

Aviation – If I live a long time this won’t have been the major part of my life but right now, it is!  Initially a flight instructor, various adventures flying freight, and ultimately a corporate pilot – which made me want to do something else so I followed a dream and got and education in fine art.

Education – Bachelor of Science in History – concentrating in pre-Columbian and Native American history
Bachelor of Fine Arts – concentrating on drawing
Both from Wayne State University in Detroit

I have shown my work in galleries in the greater Detroit area and Port Huron.

About my work.  I tend to be a story teller with a paint brush.  The background of most of my paintings and drawings is fairly sparse as I don’t see them as pictures as much as a comment about something and I want the viewer focused on that.  They are almost always about something – more philosophical – not political (necessarily).  A common theme often refers to the fragility of life, or the inconsistencies, beauty, and/or ridiculousness I see around me.  I often use symbolism. For example, pearls represent, of course, wisdom – but, also, the beauty that can come from pain.  Pearls shine differently than many things; they look as though they’re lit from within and they’re round – the shape of least resistance – so they can “go with the flow” very easily.  I like those characteristics in people, as well.  The subjects/objects of my paintings and drawings are things I see as precious and important and so I try use them to tell a story or make a comment.  I have collected some odd “dead things” that I paint.  This is not to be morbid and I try not to paint them in a morbid manner.  It is to say, “Here is a small creature who lived and shouldn’t be thought of as insignificant.” They represent all living things that have arrived and left and I find dignity and beauty in that cycle.  Sometimes I paint just because I see something that strikes me as beautiful and I think it should be appreciated.  I leaf, a lost glove, a bone – and my inner voice says, “Don’t just walk by, don’t miss this, either there’s a story here or it’s time to just pause and enjoy what is around you.” If I feel I have the right, I will gather it up and put it somewhere in my studio for a future “comment” – my studio is a shameless mess!