The painting was the backdrop for some of the most memorable scenes at the Double R Diner in Twin Peaks. And now it’s been identified!
“Spring Formal” was painted in 1958 by American visual artist Norman Yeckley (1914-1994). According to his biography on askART, Yeckley was:
“A painter of desert landscapes who lived primarily in California, Norman Yeckley was born in Douglas, Arizona, and raised in Arizona and California. In 1928, he settled with his family in Glendale, California. After graduating from high school, he studied at the Otis Art Institute and the Art Students League of Los Angeles where he was a student of Dana Bartlett.
In the 1930s, he began painting desert landscapes and by the 1940s, had gallery representation in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Palm Desert. The Donald Art Company of New York also reproduced a number of his oil paintings and sold them nationally. He remained a resident of Southern California and was active in the Glendale and Laguna Beach Art Association.”
To identify the painting, I made a smaller version of the image from the scene with Bobby and Major Briggs in Episode 2001. I then used Google’s image search which identified the painting as the scene with Gordon Cole and Shelly Johnson. I instead searched with the words, “desert painting.”
This time, the results returned a link to Donald-Art.com with the original Yeckley painting is currently being sold for $1,200. Interestingly, the site labeled the painting “Dessert [sic] Flowers.” Photos courtesy of Donald-Art.com.
The painting remained in the Double R Diner throughout seasons 1 and 2 of Twin Peaks. While watching Twin Peaks – Fire Walk With Me, I realized the painting was also found in the Roadhouse. I’m assuming it’s the same painting prop that was used in the series (the frame appears similar).
Perhaps the inclusion of the painting was foreshadowing the desert scenes in Season 3. Does anyone have a light for the Woodsman?
I have the same painting. My wif bought at a Thrift store in Edgewood NM. I am looking to sell it. Make me an offer. Alan