Robots and Donuts: The Art of Eric Joyner

by Eric Joyner

In the years following World War II one of the major exports from Japan wasn't cars or electronic equipment, but toys, specifically tin toys. Crafted in the shapes of submarines, planes, trains, cars and horses, one of the most popular motifs were toy robots. Constructed in virtually every shape imaginable from the 1940s throughout the 1960s, these toys are fondly remembered by collectors today, and ranged in appearance from horror to science fictional characters. Today, these toys are not only fondly remembered by collectors but are being recreated for a whole new generation!

Capturing this period in history became a passion of painter Eric Joyner's, and in Robots and Donuts he celebrates this forgotten era in a series of whimsical, thoughtful, sometimes tragic but always stunning paintings depicting mechanical men and women inspired by the designs of those toy tin machines, often in outlandish and impossible settings. And almost always, with donuts. (Why? Well, who doesn't love donuts?) This book also features a look into Joyner's painting style as well as a glimpse at some of his other non-robot themed artwork.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2007

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like robots and/or donuts . . . it's pretty obvious that you NEED THIS BOOK!















This arrived in the mail yesterday.

It made for a super-sweet Valentine's Day.

[Mir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not state the obvious, but: how much you enjoy this book will depend heavily on how much you like paintings of robots, often accompanied by donuts.



Although in fact I'm not especially into either, and I still quite liked this. For me personally, it was an added enjoyment that first, Joyner is from my part of the world and I recognized many of the California locations and landscapes; and second, that he clearly grew up with many of the same dorky sci-fi influences like Star Trek and Buck Rogers.



But Joyner is also, like most artists, influenced by the art of the past, particularly NC Wyeth, Van Gogh, Dali, and I thought I spotted a Hopper homage in the scene of the robot being stood up at the bar.


Inspired by one of Wyeth's pirate scenes.

The book itself is technically good, with large, high quality reproductions and pertinent but not excessive text.


Musical pairing: Ben Folds Five - Do It Anyway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFsRX...

[Walt O'Hara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collected Works of Eric Joyner (to date) as portrayed in a giant picture book by Dark Horse Press with some essay work by the artist. And what work it is! Page after page of Eric Joyner's epic whimsy about the tintype robots made in Japan in the Post World War II era marvelously brought to life and animated in all sorts of bizarre situations. In almost every picture, the humble glazed doughnut makes an appearance, either as the object of a ring toss game, part of the architecture, or just "there" in the mise-on-scene, as a prop. My two favorites are THE FINAL BLOW, which departs from tintype robots and features the two eponymous robots from ROCK-EM-SOCK-EM ROBOTS (a game from my childhood) and transports them into a 1950s vintage noir style boxing painting. The other favorite is ROBOT ALONE IN BAR, which features the Robot from Lost in Space, alone.. in a bar. With a donut in front of it. The implication being the Robot is lonely, or has been stood up on a date, perhaps. It's that crazy juxtaposition of our reality and this loony Robot and Doughnut reality of Mr. Joyner's that gives this series of painting such a relaxed, wonderful charm. I am happy to have picked up the Complete Robots and Donuts book, it is an addictive browse (I hesitate to use the word "read" here, it's a picture book). In any event, a visit to Mr. Joyner's world of cheap robots and sugary snacks comes highly recommended.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

on hoopla, lovely art I've enjoyed and now i'm obsessed with robots

[Jess Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely random and beautiful- even the glazed donuts are beautiful. Very worth a look.

[Steph Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book was so flipping inspiring. Lesson learned: why don't I spend more time sketching and doing color studies of paintings I feel so invested in? Need to try that out on the piece I need to start in studio.

[Miss Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

The forward to this book is cute. Read it. Weird. Book of Art by Eric Joyner. He has a new book coming out that I hope our library system order.

[John Weagly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know much about art, but I know what I like - and I LOVE the work of Eric Joyner.

[Joshlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hilarious overview of the work of one of our most inventive modern artists.