I had a thoroughly enjoyable conversation with iconic pop artist Ron English. Ron has been painting for the last 35 years. He was making street art before it was hip or cool, before that term had even been coined.
Back in the 80’s he was liberating billboards by altering their ads to highlight what the manufacturer didn’t want you to know. His billboard work famously brought about the end of Joe the camel, the cartoon character created by camel cigarettes to capture the pre-teen market.
Ron’s art is whimsical, satirical, and courageous. His skill level is high. He can oil paint with the best of them. As well as fine art he produces art books, art toys, and in the last couple of years he’s been creating satirical consumer products and placing them in supermarkets.
The time flew by, we talked about many thing, see the list below, yet we only scratched the surface of the huge body of work Ron has made, and the depths of the person.
Here are the main points of what we talk about:
- Being a ghost artist,
- Van Gogh,
- Jean-Michel Basquiat,
- Diane Arbus,
- Mark Dean Veca,
- Mark Ryden,
- Creative process,
- Rotocasting,
- Sucklord,
- Porn,
- Peter Saul,
- Art school,
- Art, death and immortality,
- The future,
- Climate change,
- Podcasting,
- Michelle Shocked,
- Most moving painting to make,
- Biggest artistic challenge,
- Tara McPherson,
- Gerhard Richter,
- Lincoln park, Gerhard Richter
- Washing the dishes,
- Passing on genetic code,
To find out more about Ron and his work
http://www.popaganda.com
Most moving painting to make . . .
One of Ron’s many painting of his children . . .
Thanks for listening!
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Music by The Argyle Pimps. Thanks lads.
Hi John, Could you provide more details on the documentary about van gogh from his descendants that live in New Zealand? I can’t find anything about it online? Many thanks, Sarah
Hello Sarah,
When I was chatting with Ron I thought I had seen the documentary on youtube but when I couldn’t find it i realised I had seen it on TV. I am continuing to search for it but as yet haven’t found it. Send me a link if you do find it and if I find it first I’ll post it here.