“I am a self taught artist living in Montreal, with wife, son, Boston Terrier, a cat & a 2nd kid around the corner. I do a lot of t-shirt designs for street wear brands of bands (mostly metal stuff) & my fine art production could be called “pop-surrealism”.” – Johnny Crap
1xRUN Thru Interview
Imperial Taco Ship by Jonathan Bergeron
1xRun: Is the original still for sale?
Johnny Crap: Original was sold.
1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?
Johnny Crap: April 2012
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Johnny Crap: It was done for a special event called UNO in Toronto in late April 2012, combining a pop up taco shop (La Carnita) & an art show featuring international & local artists. It was the perfect occasion for me to bring to life an idea I had for a long time to combine my interest for the dark side & my love of tacos.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Johnny Crap: It was done over a period of about 3 weeks but on & off, alternating with other pieces
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Johnny Crap: The Yoda Sauce.
1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?
Johnny Crap: Any taco or Dark Side lover should own that print.
1xRun: Describe the piece/print in one gut reaction word.
Johnny Crap: Fun.
1xRun: When did you first start making art?
Johnny Crap: I have always been drawing for as long as I can remember but it took me a long time to realize that it was the only way for me to be fulfilled.
1xRun: What was your first piece?
Johnny Crap: I used to do reproductions for my mother & aunts when I was a teenager, they would give me postcards or photos of paintings they wanted tone & I would do those for a bit of money.
1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?
Johnny Crap: Back then my favourite artist was Otto Dix, a German painter associated to the New Objectivity movement.
1xRun: What artists inspire you now?
Johnny Crap: I love Jason Edmiston‘s work, Martin Wittfooth as well as Ron English & Craola.
1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?
Johnny Crap: I listen to a mix of Black Metal, Hardcore, old blues, old hip-hop & neo-folk music.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?
Johnny Crap: I could name a few but if someone mentioned me as an artists they would like to to a collaboration with it might end up being awkward so I will not put anyone in that position. Haha.
1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?
Johnny Crap: Warhol so he could do a print series of my calavera dude.
1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?
Johnny Crap: I got a piece from Miss Van about 12 years ago. I will always keep it. It’s a redhead nurse, no way I’d get rid of that.
1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?
Johnny Crap: The last one I bought, I think, was the Martin Wittfooth piece & before that a Peter Ferguson painting. The Ferguson painting is my favourite in my small collection.
1xRun: What else do you have in the works?
Johnny Crap: I just did the Marvel Licensed show at G1988, my version of Iron Man. That was a fun one. I am part of the “”Botanica”” show curated by Scott Scheidly at Genome Gallery as well as “”Wasted””, a show curated by Dave MacDowell at WWA gallery, both in June. I will also be part of a very special group show at SDCC that I can’t talk about, haha, same with a G.I.Joe theme show in L.A. Other than that, I am also working on my Solo show in October, that one will happen at Galerie Yves Laroche, here in Montreal
1xRun: Where can everyone find you across the internette?
Johnny Crap: @JohnnyCrap on Facebook – Twitter – Tumblr – Instagram
– One X RUN dot com