Pop Art portraits by Ronald Hunter
Pop Art Portraits by Ronald Hunter
It’s no secret that Ronald is a fan of Pop Art. The Pop Art Portraits series is a cornerstone in his collection. We asked Ronald to share some insight into his creative process.
Insight into the process
I have a background in graphic design, and I like to play with shapes and typography in my work. Bright neon colors are often part of the color palette. I start by looking for the right balance, using large and small typography to form the background. When the shape/color feels in balance, I decide which portrait fits best.
How do you choose your female portraits?
I hardly ever use familiar faces, I want the face to be neutral for the viewer. It's not important who the person is, I want people to be able to experience the full picture, the interaction of colors, shapes and the face. I find the way the lines play a role in the experience of the face interesting. You will ask yourself: am I looking at the shapes or the face? It's obviously a sight, but it shouldn't be too distracting from the whole.
When are you satisfied with a portrait painting?
I am satisfied when the separated parts together form a new whole. Even though each painting is unique, I add the same iconic character traits to each one because I want people to recognize the series.
Take a look below at the process images of ‘Cubistic Pop Art Girl’ and ‘Vintage Blue Wonder’ in a few steps. It illustrates the delicate balance between typographic forms and the portrait.
The list as icing on the cake
Not only the portrait on the canvas, but also the frame play an important role in Ronald’s work. Sometimes he adds a matching frame to his paintings, and in some cases the frame is (partially) painted in the same color. As a result, the frame becomes an inseparable part of the artwork.
Just take a look at ‘Lady Orange’ with a white frame, ‘Vintage Blue’ with a blue frame, and ‘Cubistic Pop Art’ with a pink/oak frame.
