Breaking News: John Brosio Collars Ronald McDonald In Debut RUN

California artist John Brosio joins us for his debut RUN taking a jab at the infamous Ronald McDonald with Breaking News! For this RUN be sure to get there early as there will be 10 editions that come with a custom unique police artist sketch uniquely made by John Brosio for each order. Read on as Brosio breaks down the fast-food and fast-news inspired piece, gives us a look into his background and much more. . .

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1x: Tell us a little bit about this piece? Is there anything immediate you would like to highlight?
John Brosio: There is a small tradition in art of taking jabs at corporate mascots. Mickey Mouse is a big target, etc. Ronald McDonald is popular too and I thought I’d take a stab at it. Maybe do something a little more gravid with it.

1x: What materials were used to create this piece?
John Brosio: Oil paint on canvas. Very traditional materials.

1x: When was this piece created and how long did it take from start to finish?
John Brosio: Painting can be relatively easy. Ideas are the things that can be elusive. But once it came to mind it was done in about 3 weeks, on and off.

1x: Tell us a bit abut your process and how the idea and execution came about for this piece?
John Brosio: It is distilled from a whole range of stimuli. I was at first very influenced by the term “Breaking News.” That term is everywhere now and completely overused. News director larvae have learned that it turns heads and boosts ratings so “breaking news” opens almost every edition of local, televised news coverage. I had planned even on a small series of “Breaking News” paintings and that may still happen. I do have some other images in progress.
 Here we see an event that, in the planning, was much more spelled out. It used to be that this guy was going nuts, yelling, and raising an M16 over his head with police cars outside, etc.

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I even drew as much into the canvas and immediately changed it to what you see as I started painting. 
Fun as all of that may have been, this current image was immediately much more exciting and mysterious. Me, I have no idea what he is doing. For all I know this is the future and we are witness to the safest McDonald’s there has ever been with the ultimate executive taking ultimate responsibility. Seriously. Or there has been an attempted robbery and now the perpetrator is “off screen” and being forced to eat fifty Big Macs in five minutes. Or Ronald here has actually snapped. Some viewer too I am sure might immediately see some commentary about cholesterol, and the diets into which we have become socialized. 
It goes on.

There is also the horrible influence of mass shootings in the news. They always happen at places that are otherwise positive: schools, movie theaters, restaurants, etc. In my opinion they often have something to do with a kind of modern vanity, but I have not yet seen many write ups to that effect. True, I do not think this is a mass shooting, but something larger than what we see is definitely happening.
 Pictorially, I thought it quite significant for the viewer to be at some distance. Isolated. This makes things a bit more candid and sudden, and that worked very well in the end I think.

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Lastly, I want to say that I have no problem with McDonald’s. I rarely eat fast food anymore, but they sure run a tight ship. And I often hear great stories about their charity, Ronald McDonald House, which keeps families together when children are forced to seek medical care far from home. 
And I am not saying this to avoid some kind of legal action either. 
Just want to emphasize that I have no idea what is going on in this painting.

1x: What is unique about this piece?
John Brosio: I do not think that it is different. Many of my images differ from one another, but they all come from the same place, the same way I see the world.

1x: If you could take a guess, what is it about your work that you feel resonates with people?
John Brosio: I wish I knew! It is just nice to know that it is at times the same things that resonate with me and my inquiry.

1x: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
John Brosio: Emergency.

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Breaking News by John Brosio – Click To Purchase + Also Available w/ Custom Sketch!

1x: When did you first start making art?
John Brosio: As far back as I can remember.

1x: Do you remember what your first piece was?
John Brosio: Stabbing pencil holes through a piece of paper over pillows (that I ended up ruining.) I remember the art because I remember how much I was yelled at.

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1x: Which artists did you draw inspiration from early on?
John Brosio: Ray Harryhausen.

1x: Which artists inspire you now?
John Brosio: Oh, wow. It always changes of course. I am looking at Albert Pinkham Ryder, Frank Auerbach, and Justin Mortimer now and again. Sargent and his brushwork are always in there too of course.

1x: What would you say is your ideal environment like when working? Do you listen to music, watch movies etc.
John Brosio: Music and movies are good, but at a distance. I often listen to talk radio. It is live, goes some place, but is not overly sensational so as to distract.

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1x: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
John Brosio: This is hard. Hmm. JJ Abrams because I would be very very curious to see the results.

1x: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
John Brosio: Beethoven. I think that artist was further ahead of his time in his field than anyone has ever been. Some of the work is still quite progressive in my opinion. True, I am not a musician, but just even speaking with him might be enough.

1x: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
John Brosio: I have a head study by a former teacher of mine and it hangs still.

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1x: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
John Brosio: A nice hat.

1x: Any big shows or events coming up that you’d like to share?
John Brosio: I am slated to debut new work at the Los Angeles Art Show with Arcadia Contemporary Gallery in Los Angeles.

1x: Where else can people find you?
John Brosio: WebsiteInstagram @johnbrosioart – Facebook

-1xRUN