Rediscovered Art
Rediscovering the Lost Art of James Yale
Return often as artwork and their stories come to life
Throughout his career, James Yale produced and sold a remarkable body of work. Many of these pieces were delivered to their new owners without ever being photographed, leaving parts of his artistic legacy undocumented.
To properly honor and preserve the full scope of James’s contributions, we are creating a comprehensive catalog of his artwork. This archive will serve not only as a lasting record of his creative vision but also as a valuable resource for future generations.
We invite collectors and owners of James’s art to participate in this important endeavor. By submitting a photograph of your piece, along with any details or personal reflections you wish to share, you will play a vital role in helping us reconstruct and safeguard his artistic legacy.
Please use the form at the bottom of this page to contribute your images and information. Your participation is deeply appreciated and will ensure that James’s work continues to be recognized, remembered, and celebrated.
Check back often to see the new pieces that are "rediscovered", along with firsthand stories and interviews behind the artwork
Rachel Hawkins conversation about James’ Don Tyson Portrait
While Rachel Hawkins was here for the James Yale Legacy team’s interview, I asked her to talk about James’ portrait of Don Tyson. The Don Tyson portrait James had painted for himself. The only one who I wanted to talk with about this painting was Rachel Hawkins, from...
Chiron and His Muse
Melanie and I took a roundabout field trip on a gorgeous day to visit with artist William McNamara who lives in beauty near the Buffalo River on March 6, 2026. James had such admiration for Bill as a fellow artist, but THAT is not the only reason that I had cast my...
Self Portrait with Nautilus Shell – The Curator’s Process
“I never get to see the moment of your magic unfurling the original working drawings of James’. This one hasn’t been seen in over thirty years,“ I said to Matt Meers- curator, as we filmed this new discovery in process for today’s Rediscovered Art interview. “Just...
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette Presents…
The lost art of Jame Yale is a huge mystery, and I want to give a special thanks to the Arkansas-Democrat Gazette and nwaonline.com for believing in the James Yale Legacy Project, and for helping us reach out to a larger audience with this beautiful presentation and...
Princess of The Lake Drawing
Introduction to this week’s Rediscovery for the original working sketch of The Princess of the Lake that includes an interview with Kelli J Zumwalt, who traveled from Hot Springs, Arkansas to add another layer to the story of the Lost Artist of the Ozarks. This...
The Origin Story of The Water Nymph
The painting Water Nymph is the beginning of James and my love story. It's a longer campfire story that I will fill in at another time. I had originally created a 170 foot living mural on a called The Artery art gallery with 27 artists painting on 4x8 foot sign boards...
Due Date
People have been asking me how I choose each week’s Rediscovered Art post. It is sheer observation of who the Universe puts magically in front of me, whether in a Facebook message, a chance clue that pops up in James’ archives we are sorting through, or actually being...
John Corbin Goldsberry interview: Minstrel’s Tales
On November 19, 2025, the Legacy Project posted an interview with Tom Maringer of The Shire Post Mint. Tom was also the artisan behind Maringer Swords at the time James Yale came into his life. James was inspired by Tom’s artistry and joined him on creating original...
Notes from the Curator: New Rayaak Images Discovered
The Magic of Rayaak unfolds across time, starting as a waking vision from Cheryl Welch in 1996, and continues to be a catalyst for life, purpose and growth. When Cheryl sought out James to bring her vision to life, James believed his painting days were finished,...