Everyone loves a mystery, and as we approach the third year of the James Yale Legacy Project…this mystery is: The Case of the Missing 2000 pastels portraits created by James Yale.
Dear Art Detectives, I have been waiting patiently for the Universe to greenlight our next assignment in the Rediscovered Art of The Lost Artist of the Ozarks.
The original clue for our next adventure came from James. He told me that through the years he had done over 2000 portraits, and that in the early years, James could be found as a street artist at art fairs doing pastel portraits alongside his displayed art. This also includes commissioned portraits in pastel, conte and charcoal.
On February 11th, the door opened with an email from Sharon Simmons that read: I have 2 portraits of James’ original artwork. He painted my portrait and my husband’s in the 70s. They are framed in storage. I am happy to share this news with you as James and I were each painting at this time locally.
When we connected, Sharon said that she was ready to bring them back into her life again. Sharon then agreed to a delightful interview on February 27th, and to let us photograph the portraits.
Why do these portraits matter to the Legacy Project? I know many times James would receive emails or social media posts from you with regards to how much these portraits are still treasured in their families, and that these portraits of parents, children, aunts and uncles have been passed down to the next generations, and are still framed in living rooms
It is not only the pastel portraits we want to rediscover, but for YOU to tell us the story of your family member.
Some of these portraits may be in an attic and you may not even know that you have a James Yale artwork.
Like I said, Everyone loves a mystery…won’t you join us?
My gratitude to our growing Nancy Drew Crew,
– Charlotte Buchanan Yale
