Hey there kiddos! Ok, ok, I know I ain’t been so great lately in makin’ with the news page postin’. You gotta know I’m doin’ my best, but damn don’t those tic tocs fly by!! I mean here we are smack dab in the heart of Summerville and the last time I updated my news we were toolin’ thru Springtown! With no further doo-doo, lemme lay out the know for all them empty coconuts what need to be topped off…

            In early May I had my first solo painting gig at the fabulous MModern Gallery in Palm Springs. I copped a squat on a big steel bird ‘cause I just had to make THAT scene, jelly bean. The show was a blast, and how! I met a whole mess of great shirts n’ skirts at the show. A big hi-lite for me was jawin’ with fellow artists Lynne Naylor and Chris Reccardi! Crap-a-doodle-do!…I dig them cats like mad, dad! They made with much nice-nice regarding my paintings…The bigger they is, the nicer they is. There was also a swell Tiki event at the Caliente Tropics hotel that weekend hosted by Rory Snyder…Man, that clyde swings like sixteen! Thanks for makin’ with the Western hospitality Rory. I also met this real cool kitty from hepcat city by the name of Audrey…dig it, she was so charmin’ it’s alarmin! She digs the whole vintage vibe same as me and was nice enough to lay a stash of very wow mid-century cocktail napkins on me. I was stupefied!

Dig upon Audrey’s online radio show at www.luxuriamusic.com every Sunday from 2 to 4 pm (PST) She’ll for sure fill your sound boxes with the freshest Bossa Nova biscuits this side of the Rio Grande.

            In other news… my book, “Wildsville, the art of Derek Yaniger” is finally finished and I believe it’s about ready to ankle on over to the printer. My good friend Stuart Sandler (of the fab Font Diner) wrote up a right nice Forward for the book while I wrassled with the introduction. The target release is this fall so keep your peep-holes on hi-alert! This summer seems to be all about the Tiki Art shows…I wasn’t able to drop in on the Hukilau event in Ft. Lauderdale this year but I did manage to sling some paint for the Hukilau “fine art of Tiki” show. I went all artsy-cubist-Miro on that piece. It’s called “the Carver” and I believe it can be peeped at the Harold Golen Gallery in Miami.

Another show I just had to sling paint for was the DVA Gallery Anniversary tiki art show in Chicago. My painting, “Aloha from Hawaii” can be found on their website so go snatch it up for your own good self!

            What else I got stewin’? Well, still not sure if I’m gonna’ be makin’ with the San Diego ComicCon bit. Being in that monster sized show would be koo-koo with a capital koo, but I’m still on a waiting list and that clock is tickin’ louder than a tell-tale heart! Hopefully she’ll still happen, cap’n. One thing I do know for sure, I will be at the DragonCon show in Atlanta (Aug. 29-Sept. 1) So scout me out and swing by n’ say howdy, that is, if you’re able, Mabel. I’ll be doin’ sketches for folks and I’ll have a fresh hot batch of new serigraph for ya’ to paw thru.

            Did someone mention new serigraphs? My printer has been draggin the squeegee like…double time! For my upcomin’ gigs I should have 6 new screenprints lookin’ swell and ready to sell. Three of the images (One for the Road, My 3 Drunks, and Aloha from Hawaii) were recent paintings that I dug so deeply I just had to get ‘em printed up all pretty-like as serigraphs.

            Okay cats, now I gotta clue ya’ to a real bummer bring-down. Sadly, with all the other wild ponies I gotta’ ride, I ain’t gonna be able to do Tiki Oasis this year. It really bites the big weiner ‘cause I dig the hell outta’ that gig. I will, however, have the official Tiki Oasis 8 print available for sale at the show, so hotfoot it on over to the Falling CoCo’s booth and pork out some foldin’ green and git yerself one. Ask for Mean Gene and tell ‘em Derek sent ya’.

            Alright there cats n’ kitties, I can’t hang around here flappin’ my jaws all day, I gotta cut out and catch a way-out wagon to wigtown…you know, peel from the gig and catch you later, dig?

Spring has sprung like a madman in my neck -o- the woods! I dig this time of year, dad! I just love donnin’ the old birthday suit and running wild n’ free in them daffy-dils and two-lips! Nothin’ beats it! But, of course you gotta’ keep them peepers peeled ‘cause if your free-swingin naughty bits run smack-dab into a patch of itchy ivy, that’s like… dragsville to the maximum utmost! Take it from me…it’s a bad road to ride!

Ok…lemme drop the skinny on ya’…I’ve been busier than a one-armed chainsaw juggler! I’m finally finishin’ up the last of 17 paintings for next month’s solo gig at M Modern in Palm Springs. The opening is on Friday May 9^th and I hope to eyeball lots of you Derek art snobs schmoozin and boozin’ it up! There will be an after party at the Caliente Tropics followin’ the show so you just gotta drop in for that as wellsville! I’ve added lots of snaps of my new splatters on my paintings page so ankle on over and ogle away.

What does the future hold for me you ask? Well, since your askin’ all nice like I’ll lay it on ya’…I’ve got a couple more gallery gigs comin up this summer…the Harold Golen Gallery in Miami is holdin the Hukilau Art show sometime in early June (not sure of that exact date) and on June 21^st DVA gallery in Chicago is havin its annual tiki art show. And I hear tell from Holden at Tiki Farm that my Tiki Magazine Mug will be sent out to fellow artists to paint upon for DVA’s upcomin’ show as well. That is always a ding dong daddy so keep your radar tuned for that one!

Whenever I can steal some time from painting, I scratch out designs for my upcoming book “Wildsville…the Art of Derek Yaniger”. I’m makin’ with lots of new art for the book… front and back covers, endpapers, contents pages, and all like that there. Korero Books in London is the publisher and a bloody good bloke by the name of Yak is puttin’ together the layouts for the book. He sent me a fistful of spreads to peep and I gotta give it to ya straight…they swing like sixteen, and then some!

Alright…I hope all you hipsters are diggin’ a swingin’ spring… I gotta’ make like a banana and leave…so see ya’ real soon baboon!

What know daddy-o? The old Edison just lit up over my coconut…I didn’t post nary a word on the News Page the whole month of February! Time musta’ flown southlike for the winter…never enough tictocs on the grandpa clock when ya’ need ‘em…

Here we are already makin’ with the March bit and I just now snuck a minute to give ya the skinny-

The A.C.E. show (Atlanta Comics Expo) was a hoot AND a holler! Although it was like a flippin’ ghost town, complete with tumbleweeds, I still had a pretty good show. It was all about the sketches Lebowski! I was scratchin’ out sketches to beat the band for all kinds of cats!

And the hi-lite of the show by farsville was jawin’ with my next door neighbor the fabulous California-based artist Ragnar!! That cat is one solid Jackson and chocked full head to toe with talent to boot! He’s got a show comin up real soonlike at the MModern gallery in Palm Springs, so if you’re lucky enough to be within diggin’ distance on March 15 drop in and snatch up some Ragnar for your own-self and tell him Derek said howdy-

One other bit that I thought to be a gas at the A.C.E. show was an artist competition held as a fund-raiser for R.I.F. (like…readin’ is fun-damental man) a whole mess of talented cats and kittens slung paint on some KidRobot Munnys and Munny Mobiles. It was a blast seein’ ‘em at the show all together-like. I painted my mobile up like a crazy drunkster being controlled by the lil’ devil in his brain…heavy man, heavy! It was quite a chore makin’ with the drillin’, sandin, painting and occasional wig out, but once I stuck a fork in her she was well worth all the fussin’ n’ fuedin’! I didn’t win no trophy at the show but once my Munny hit the eBay charity auction them bidders lit up the boards and by the time the smoke cleared some cat from Fat City laid down a whole mess of beans for it! I was, of course, thrilled but not because I’m an insecure fink whose self-worth is all wrapped up in whether or not some Clyde or Wanda digs my work…no that ain’t it at all! It’s the kids what ain’t got books, man! I did it for the kids! Look at me an my philanthropic self!

Okay, now that I laid you out…it’s time for me to bury you! I just recently got me some news that nearly made me flip my lid! Them super-swell dads at Korero books in London (the same cats that just put out “Kustom Graphics” Dig It! they wanna’ make with the Derek Art book! 112 pages of just my crap-a-doodle doo! The working title is “Wildsville, the Art of Derek Yaniger”. I’ve been diggin’ thru all my art puttin’ together a way nice collection of my best bits for the book. It should be rollin’ off the presses sometime around fall of ’08. Now if that ain’t a humdumdinger from Dingersville then I’ll eat from my hat, cat!

Other than the jive I’ve already rolled out for ya… Nowadays I’m makin with the beaver-routine…slingin paint from the early brights to the dim darks trying to get ready for my M Modern solo painting show. The opening is May 9^th and by the looks of it I should have around 18 original pieces painted on ply as well as two gallery exclusive prints. So all you chicks and chucks just gotta help me spread the word…ya know, make with the town cryer bit and hip your ship! Hope to see a whole gaggle of you gators at the show, it’s sure to be a real gone gasser!!

Lastly, I got two new serigraphs ready to roll out at Mister Retro You just gots to fly by and focus your lamps on ‘em. 3 Mad Cats is reminiscent of the oh-so popular SOLD-OUT Beat print and Rummy McBoozer’s Goodtime Gizmo is my homage to the wacky ingenuity of the fun-lovin hipster. Both started out as paintings but now they are available as limited edition prints- get yours like…Nowsville!

Alright, that’s it… I gotta’ be’ gettin’ kitten. Latersville-

What know Daddy-O? Is you is or is you ain’t havin’ a happy New Year? I surely hope you is…

I got an invite most recent-like from the fabulous Nailors at the M Modern Gallery to take part in their 10^th Anniversary Tiki Art Show to be held in Palm Springs, CA on May 10^th. I’m as high as a hippy on payday ‘cause they asked me to be the featured artist! Like man…that’s one wild pony to ride! I mean I gotta’ slap paint to wood like my heels was on fire! I’ll have around 15 or 20 paintings framed and ready to hang as well as two limited-edition serigraphs exclusive to M Modern. They cracked the whip, now I gotta make the trip! I tell ya… my attic is a mess! I got so many ideas rollin’ around in my coconut, I don’t know which’ll fly and which’ll die, but it sure will be a blast and a half to figure it all out!

Also, I hear tell that the Cereal Killers book that I did the cover for will be seein’ the light of day real soon-like. It’s sure to be the maximum utmost! Dr. Viktor Von Kreep of 1313 Magazine notoriety is the ghoul headin’ up the gig. A little bat told me the book signing will be held at the fabulous Van Eaton Galleries in California along with an art show- the pages from the book will be available for sale as limited edition digital prints. I think the show will be held sometime in February. You just gotta drag your creepy carcass out for this one!!

Another book to keep your peepers peeled for is “Kustom Graphics: Hot Rods, Burlesque, and Rock n’ Roll.” published by Korero Books. I’m lucky enough to have 8 pages of my art in the book along with a whole slew of the best low-brow the globe gots to offer. You can get your biscuit snatchers on a copy at http://www.amazon.com.

If any of you hipsters are gonna be in the Atlanta area February 8^th-10^th hotfoot it downtown for the ATLANTA COMICS EXPO. The show will be held at the Sheraton. I’ll be there sellin’ prints and talkin’ shop with a whole mess of fellow artists-swing on by and see what’s buzzin, cousin! More know for your noggin can be found at http://www.atlantacomicsexpo.org

Dig this…In my last news post I clued ya’ to an upcomin’ art show that I was slingin’ paint for. The show was scheduled for Jan 12^th in Miami at the fabulous Harold Golen Gallery. But sadly, on Dec. 10^th a fire broke out and did a helluva lot of damage to the gallery. What a total bring-down! Hopefully the gallery will be up and running real soonlike. I hear tell the show will open as scheduled on the 12^th at a temporary space. Harold didn’t give me the skinny on where that space will be so peep his site to find out where. http://www.haroldgolengallery.com

Well, chicks n’ chucks, it’s almost that tic toc on the yearly clock… The fat man drops in and makes with the Ho Ho Ho bit so’s you and yours can cop a squat around the old yule shrub and lay into the boxes and bows like, no tomorrow-style! Hope all you hipsters dig a real gone holiday hoo-haw and latch onto a crazy new year!

At a local flea market I was lucky enough to get my grubby mitts on a copy of an Edd “Kookie” Byrnes 45 entitled “Yulesville”. It completely fried my wig!! It’s like…the night before Christmas bit but with a crazy beat vibe that’s all “Kookie”! Here’s the lyrics so’s you can lay it on your loved ones and dig a crazy cool yule! Enjoysville!

Hope all you cats n’ kittens had a super swell Turkey Day! I traveled back to Arkansas to jaw it up with my hillbilly cuzzins and throw a whole heap of vittles down my neck! Like… yumsville, I can still taste the muskrat gravy n’ possum pie!!

Looks like the rest of the year’s gonna be all about makin’ with the “fine art” jazz. I’ve got a show at the tip top of the new year in Miami at the Harold Golen Gallery.

But since I got the smog in the noggin, I keep forgettin’ to find out the exact date in January. Hopefully it’ll be near the endsville so’s I got plenty of time to make with the paints n’ brushes, ya dig? The show will feature me, Mitch O’ Connell, Kirsten Easthope, and Ewik. All them cats is way talented so it should be the show to peep! I’m plannin’ on snappin’ the whip and makin’ the trip so if yer able, bop on over and dump a little culture into your think box!

Me and my biz partner Stuart Sandler have a couple of projects stewin’ in the pot. We’re gonna produce a set of swanky high-ball glasses covered with koo-koo crazy Derekart! 4 glasses in a set with different designs on each glass. You hipsters will dig ‘em the most from coast to coast! Also, I’m startin’ to scratch out some art for a brand new clip art set called “The Castaway Kit”. It’ll be chocked full of Tiki-flavored images and fonts for you to use on your next clambake invitations… Don’t forget to send one to Ginger and Mary-Ann…Hubba, Hubba…Yowzah…..Now, you’re on my wavelength!

Well, I gotta get back to slingin’ paint for the upcoming art show… If I don’t get ‘em all done, I won’t be “well hung” in Miami………Like, wait man, I didn’t mean that like it sounded………….. See ya soon, baboon!

What have I got cookin’ these days? Well since yur askin’ all nice like I’ll tells ya… Right before I left for San Diego I finished up a crazy print design for the Pearl Hotel in San Francisco.

This classically designed mid-century hotel is gettin’ a facelift and re-openin’ real soon I hear.

Just a few days ago, I made with some nutty art for my friend Eric Rindal, APE guitarist extraordinaire. The art is for his old band, The Swingin’ Tikis.

I think he’s gonna be using it to advertise an upcomin’ reunion / benefit show. Hopefully, he’ll be slappin’ it on some T-shirts as well… Eric, I wear a large, just so’s ya know.

One other thing I’m really flipped about is the big Tiki Magazine art show Nov. 2. The show, to be held at San Diego’s tikiriffic Bali Hai, is entitled “Tiki Island at the Bali Hai”.

I’ll have at least 2 paintings in the show, and I just finished the final art for a limited-edition show print. You just gotta make it out for this one…It’s sure to be a hum-dum-dinger!!

Halloween is almost here and you just know I dig it the most! Dressin’ up like a goon and creepin’ out lil’ kiddies makes me happier than Bela at an all-you-can-eat blood bank!

So git on out and trick or treat it up, fellow freaks and I’ll catch ya on the flip-flop, baby pop!

What’s kickin’ chickens? Well, I think I’ve just about recovered from the West Coast tiki-lovin’ rum-soaked hootenanny that is the Tiki Oasis. As always it was a real gone gas! I met all kinds of great kittens and cats and reunited with some old friends from past years. Unlike last year, the room crawls were allowed ‘til the wee early brights so you just know a crazy scene ensued! I spent most of my after-hours samplin’ homemade concoctions from room parties and tryin’ to tag my friends with as many DerekArt stickers as possible. I had a blast actin’ like a real nimrod from Finksville! The kings of surf/exotica, the Blue Hawaiians played both Friday and Saturday night on the main stage and man, they completely fried my peanut! Crazy!

Had a great show, sold a whole heap of prints. The official Tiki Oasis 7 show print sold like flippin’ hotcakes! If you couldn’t make the Oasis gig, you just gotta hoof it on over to www.mrretro.com and get one for your own good self. And while your there, be sure to cast your peepers on the three other serigraphs that are brand spankin’ new.

I was also thrilled to the gills when I saw the Tiki Oasis 7 mug. (Designed by me and produced by them amazing cats at MunkTiki) She looked super swell I tells ya! They came in three mod colors and sold out the first night…hot diggity dog!

A very special thanky to the fabulous fez-masters of Fez-O-Rama! They debuted the VERY limited edition Derek fez, “The Royal Order of Hipsters” at the Oasis and I’m happy to say, sold a whole heapin’ mess of them crazy beanies. There’s not many left so if’n you wanna be a member of the way-out club that’s for hipsters only, swing on over to www.fez-o-rama.com and snatch ’em up.

One of the highlights of the Tiki Oasis had to be when my friend Ernest Keen made with the maximum nice-nice by givin’ me the coolest pencil drawing I ever did eyeball! Ya see…Ernie is an animator for The Simpsons and he was kind enough to draw me up a scene with a snoozin’ Homer gettin’ pranked royally by Bart n’ Lisa. I love it more than me own Mum… and I loves me Mum! I figure I can sell it on Ebay for at least 22 bucks… I kid, I love…I love, I kid!

Hey there chicks and chucks! If any of you cats out there in webland are gonna’ be in the San Diego area August 17th through the 19th, ya just gotta swing by the Tiki Oasis and say howdy! I’ll be there peddlin’ prints and swiggin a few fruity concoctions with my fellow tiki freaks.

The event will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel (formally the Hanalei Hotel). On Sunday the 19th the tiki vending area will be open to the public, so drop by and snatch up your very own official Tiki Oasis 7 event serigraph! A steal of a deal at the limited time show price of only 30 bucks! It’s only available from me at the Derek art hut, it’ll surely blast you straight into Modsville, man! I’ll also have a whole mess of other new prints for ya’ to peep.

You also gotta check out the far-out fez masters of Fez-O-Rama. They’re gonna be there with a VERY limited edition Derek fez! Only 25 of them cats will be available so if ya’ wanna be an exclusive member of the “Royal Order of Hipsters” act fast!

Also be on the lookout for the official Tiki Oasis 7 mod mug, designed by me and produced by the fabulous Muntiki. These mambo-sized mugs are sure to fly off the shelf so have your cabbage at the ready. Plant ya’ now, dig ya’ later!

I, with the help of my hepcat partner Stuart Sandler (of Font Diner fame) will be addin’ a whole mess of new products to the Mister Retro site. www.misterretro.com

In the hopper right now are:

1) 6 brand spankin’ new serigraphs

2) The Moai Munchkins (a swell set of 4 Easter Island mini mug shot glasses produced by the ginchiest of all mug makers, Tiki Farm)

3) A line of Derek barware sure to flip the wigs of all you solid hipsters

4) A very limited edition signed and numbered Derek fez from those way out daddys at Fez-O-Rama!

You can get your hands on one of those babies only at the Tiki Oasis in San Diego Aug. 16-18. Swing on by and holler “Howdy!” www.tikioasis.com