Spinner

Ron Hawkins Paints Portraits of Artists From Amy Winehouse to Jay-Z


Ron Hawkins' alphabet of rock and pop star paintings -- A is for Amy Winehouse, J is for Michael Jackson, Z is for Robert Zimmerman (er, B was already in use) -- are currently on display at Toronto's Drake Hotel General Store. The solo musician and former Lowest of the Low frontman is also multi-tasking, with four concert dates at the Queen West venue alongside the art project.

"The first time it was mounted it was 26, the full alphabet, A-Z, that was at a show in Buffalo," Hawkins tells Spinner, pointing out his favorites in the chaotically organized location which is currently home to 14 portraits.

"It came out of a thing called the 'Pocket Painting Project' that I was doing, to fight the recession and to try and sell some paintings."

The 3.5 by 5-inch head and shoulder shots jump off the west-facing wall with great character. The variety of artists suggests Hawkins' love for music runs across genres, from hip-hop kingpin Jay-Z -- "mainly because of the bling" -- to the Pogues' toothless singer Shane MacGowan.

"I did Willie Nelson, and I respect him, but I don't really listen to a lot of Willie Nelson," Hawkins admits. "His face was just so beautiful and insanely craggy, like a topographical map or something."

Many of the images Hawkins sourced are vintage shots from the subject's career, but he went with a more recent Ozzy Osbourne portrait to express his feelings towards metal's unexpectedly prolific personality.

"Some of it was to see a picture of someone, and for me this shot encapsulates Ozzy's personality. He's supposed to be dark but really he's just like Bud Abbott with purple glasses; he's the dark Bud Abbott."



But it's the unlikely choice of a young Michael Jackson in the collection that provides a deeper curiosity. "I didn't really want to paint the, in quotes, 'adult Michael Jackson.' The Jackson 5 was happening when I was pretending to play music... so I figured he should be there. One thing was, could I fit that afro in a three-by-five [canvas]?"

At the heart of this project is Hawkins' continued push to follow his artistic pathways. He doesn't like the word 'bravery,' as some of his peers describe it. Solo tours and painting collections are not sure-footed paths to fortune, but he believes the lack of monetary stability is a small price to pay when involved in such fulfilling work.

"I generally get jazzed about something and then start doing it. All the things I do, being an indie musician and a painter, it's so hard to think in terms of making a lot of money. I am very aware that I am on this planet for a short amount of time and I have been lucky enough to stumble on things I want to do, and have confidence enough to go through with them. The leap of faith is one of things you learn by doing this, they're seductive, the endorphins run, they are like drugs or sex or anything. It's like, 'man I hope I can pull this off!'"

Your chance to judge Hawkins' latest artistic gamble in person won't last long, as Feist, Iggy Pop, Henry Rollins and all the rest will only stare down at art lovers until July 1st. You can catch Ron Hawkins in concert every Wednesday in June at the Drake, and look out for a Lowest of the Low reunion this fall.

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Jose

people check out his website www.ronhawkins.com this man is talented>>>>

July 06 2010 at 5:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jamekir

I spent many years as an illustrator and the person above who said that he and "everybody else" can paint as well as this person is completely clueless. Yes, some of them aren't that good, but for the most part they're much better than most others can do. I don't know 4-5 of them but I thought Tom Waits was pretty cool.

July 06 2010 at 5:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jamekir's comment
Jose

hi im Jose>>>i read your comment and it made me think>>i seen my self grow in my art been drawing for as long as i can remember in head start i drew a duck with a hat and i said to my self it was the best in class in high school 10 grade is when i really discovered my talent>i took an art class and i remember looking at the art that was hanged on the wall i looked at them in amazement i told the teacher students drew this he said yeah>>>>wow>>>well in the beginning we did exercises with pencil shading texture for me it was natural>>>>been drawing for a long time>>>i remembered he told my mom i have a lot of talent>>>after high school i kept moving my art>>>and still am and will never stop>>> i seen my self progress over the years >i looked at some of my old art compared to my new and seen the difference ive gotten better in executing what im drawing>>>>i looked at a drawing i did of a dog in high school and now that i see it its not well executed>>>>but my teacher never told me nothing>>>>and you know that was cool>>>i guess it was a way for me to keep pushing my self because a artist will grow by practicing and practicing and today im still moving my art>>>>its true an artist has to keep practicing>>>i have more confidence now its a mater of keep moving and not stop>>>

July 06 2010 at 6:54 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jose

im am artist>>>for me expression is free a painting will send a message to the viewer in color and also in free form>possibilities are endless>open your minds!>>i just started painting in acrylic and its fun>there are so much effects you can create using acrylic>>>>ART IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE FREE!!!THERE ARE NO RULES JUST TECHNIQUES THAT ONE CAN LEARN OR ACQUIRE BY PERSONAL EXPRESSION>>>message to the artist i like the way you use your colors keep doing your thing>my name is jose i would like to talk to you

July 06 2010 at 4:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Peggy

I am an artist, and I give credit to all talented artists out there...but honestly, I did not recognize any of these people unless I read who they were...if the artist meant to capture these people in an abstract sense then I can understand, but I still did not see the resemblance. However, I think this artist is quite talented!

July 06 2010 at 3:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mcurtis2962

Yea, I agree with the majority of comments, this guy is not that talented and his work does not impress me. Do an article of some real talent, like Phil Hanson.

July 06 2010 at 3:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
the corrector

MH ^ you're so kind to come to this guy's rescue. But these are not good. The subject matter is one note, the style is hackneyed, and the overall series, although cohesive, allows only for you to look at representations of photos. Portraiture is much more than that, and this guy doesn't even scratch the surface. One color background and a commercial photo copied onto canvas and painted over with an art projector is some sort of toil yes, but it's not art and says nothing about the subjects they portray. But we all gotta make money.

July 06 2010 at 10:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

Well I liked them. Being 38 and growing up listening to almost everyone of the subjects I am probably the demographic for this collection though. I thought the use of color and shadows was very interesting as well as the not quite totally abstract approach... kind of like having a dream about these people. The one of Bjork was a home-run … brought me back to the release of Debut and how happy I was she had continued after the Sugar Cubes. I would say if you are not between 35 and 45 you might not know a lot these folks but if you are … man they mean a lot. Just my 2 cents

July 05 2010 at 7:21 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MH

these aint as bad as everbody be saying I guess. I googled them people I didnt know and they were aight. J, man don't be gettin mad at people just cuz they don't be liking yo opinion.

July 04 2010 at 11:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MH

J stop bullying people everyone has there own opinion. But I do agree with some others there needs to be stars that people can identify.

July 04 2010 at 11:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MH

This is in responce to what J said:
I seriously doubt you can paint a picture of Amy Whinehouse, and MJ as good as that. you must be like tvz fan, (no offense to him/her) But your to old or young to know who these stars are and this type of painting. It's not just non abstract, and abstract. Maybe you need to take a lesson or a thousand on art to learn to appreciate something. Especially since you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about art and have no life, spending your days rating down comments, and cyber bullying peoples opinion.

July 04 2010 at 11:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply