https://www.patreon.com/artistdecoded
About Ron: Ron Hicks was born in Columbus, Ohio but spent most of his childhood growing up in the modest and friendly neighborhood of Park Hill in Denver, Colorado. Ron always knew he would be an artist. Ron's family later relocated back to Ohio where during high school he was awarded several awards, and honors for various art shows and competitions. His talent became obvious and noted throughout his high school career, and Ron was awarded a full scholarship to Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, OH. He later returned to Denver then subsequently earned a degree in Advertising Design. After college, Ron applied his degree, and natural talent to working for ad agencies, magazines, and as a freelance illustrator. He would soon realize his true passion. Ron's natural talent, and eye for beauty encouraged a shift in the direction of his style of painting.
"I see things very abstractly, so I think of myself as a painter who sees shape, value, edges and texture. It could be the most mundane thing to any passer-by, but I find great beauty in that. I can't imagine not painting...not creating. If I'm not painting, creating, and sharing my gift then what's the point?" - Ron Hicks
Topics Discussed In This Episode:
- The recent LA Art Show with his paintings on view at the Gallery 1261 booth
- His early art inspiration as a child specifically from his mother
- Starting a Saturday art program at the Columbus College of Art and Design in high school
- Moving back to Denver to finish college, and a short-winded pursuit in advertising design before diving into his art career
- An early mentorship that allowed him to tap into the "soul" of his art, and thoughts on developing an intuitive toolbox
- Hicks' evolution of his art, and the abstract dialogue that comes through his paintings
- Creating honesty in his art but leaving room for his viewers' interpretation of his works
- Processing the traumas of thirty years of racial profiling