1xRun Thru Interview
Captain Caption by Ron English
1xRun: Tell us a little bit about this piece, is the original still for sale?
Ron English: This piece is an homage to the creators of comic books. The background is based on the ads in the back pages of comic books. I always saw the comic book ads as points of departure for a child’s imagination. There was always a vagueness as to what the actual product was. Surely you weren’t going to receive a working submarine for $3.99, nor would Seamonkeys turn out to be magical creatures that would wave to you from the elaborate castles they would erect in your fishbowl, that is not without a heavy dose of imagination. The central character is a super hero whose power is imagination. His big brain is a comic thought bubble. The piece plays with the idea of the creator, not the muscle man in tights he has created, as the real superhero. There is no original per se, but it is based some original drawings I did for the piece. This piece was designed specifically to be a silkscreen print.
1xRun: Was this piece part of a recent theme, series or show that you had? If so how did it fit into that given grouping?
Ron English: I use comics a lot in my work, usually in the backgrounds as a sort of underlying story that gives context to the main image.
1xRun: When was this piece created and with what materials?
Ron English: The concept was created in January/February of 2014 and these prints were made using silk screened ink on fine art paper.
1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?
Ron English: I drew the elements in pen and ink in the style of comic book art. The colors were created on separate screens,
allowing for a little off registration to mimic a classic comic book printing.
1xRun: How long did the piece take?
Ron English: Not sure. Maybe 50 hours, probably more. Time flies when you’re having fun.
1xRun: What is unique about this piece?
Ron English: It’s a reflective moment for an adult to look back on childhood.
1xRun: Why should people buy this print?
Ron English: They should buy it if they think it’s something they would like in their lives, if it’s something that would offer a little inspiration.
Because they like it.
1xRun: Describe the piece in one gut reaction word.
Ron English: Imagination is humanity’s real superpower.
1xRun: This will be your first year joining the Pow Wow Hawaii family, who are some of the artists you’re really excited to see painting out there? Anybody you’d personally like to collaborate with if the opportunity presented itself?
Ron English: I love them all. A couple I am already friends with. I’m open to whatever opportunity presents itself. It would be pretty cool.
1xRun: Will this be your first time heading to Hawaii? what are you most looking forward to this year?
Ron English: Yep, this will be my first time out to Hawaii. My sister lives in Hawaii and my mother is also coming out to join in the fun, so of course I am looking forward to that. Everyone raves about Hawaii, would be nice to see what all the fuss is about.
1xRun: Do you have any plans for your wall out there or are you just going to improvise it when you get there?
Ron English: Yes, I want to paint dolphins playing poker. My brother and sister in law have been going to Hawaii every year for 30 years and have been trying to get me to come and paint dolphins playing poker there.
1xRun: You’ve been staying crazy busy per usual, bring us up to speed on some of the walls you’ve been doing lately?
Ron English: Last year I did Spain, Italy, LA and New York. Nothing this year. Too cold.
1xRun: How did 2013 wrap up for you?
Ron English: Spent most of the year getting ready for this year. I have two new books, some new toys and a clothing line later this spring that took up a lot of 2013 getting ready.
1xRun: Aside from Pow Wow 2014, what are your plans for the New Year?
Ron English: Right now I’m getting ready for a show in Hong Kong. After that I don’t really have any plans. I’ll just wait and see if any opportunities present themselves.
1xRun: Anything you’d like to add that we didn’t touch on?
Ron English: I consider myself pretty damn lucky to get to do this. It seemed to be “in the cards”.
1xRun: Where else can people find you?
Ron English: Website – Facebook @Ron English Presents Popaganda – Twitter + Instagram @RonEnglishArt
-1xRUN