Pop Artist John Pescoran Illuminates The Bay Area [2011]

by Rosalina Soto

There are three things I truly enjoy in being a freelance journalist: traveling, own work schedule and getting the chance to interview visual artists. There is always a sense of good energy in the room when I spend an afternoon interviewing them. And their studios, where I usually like to conduct my interviews, are always a wonderful sight to see and experience. I recently had the good fortune to spend an afternoon with bay area pop artist, John Pescoran.

Rosalina Soto: Can you please tell us a little about yourself and what you do?

John Pescoran: My name's John Pescoran. I am a pop artist. Ever since I was very, very young I would always be drawing, writing and indulging many different art forms. I love to paint, illustrate, sculpt, and immerse myself in just about any art medium I can. My influences range from Salvador Dali, too many pop artists to list, city life, multicultural surroundings, music, films and the list goes on and on. I enjoy using a lot of colors in my paintings, especially vibrant colors that take on a life of their own. Sometimes, before I manically create, I have a vision of an illustration in my mind and other times it is a combination of colors that lead the way.

RS: How do you begin on a painting or illustration?

JP: It's always different. It's quite funny, actually-just yesterday, while I was checking my e-mail, I had a vision of an old halo, you know the way they were painted way back...

RS: Like the ones found in Roman art-

JP: Yes, that's it, I had a vision of Sol or Luna (Sol and Luna are the colorful figures you see flying, dancing, creating magic all over John's paintings and illustrations) wearing that halo behind their head. It seemed like such a fun thing to paint. I had all these visions, scenarios, color combinations; immense ideas rush through my brain, but as soon as I got the marker to begin sketching on big paper...my heart guided me to illustrate something else...

RS: Wait, what do you mean? What exactly happened?

JP: Well, I began to draw Sol and Luna reaching for the sun. Suddenly, my heart told me illustrate, and eventually paint them escaping some sort of darkness they were engulfed by-that indication of darkness is apparent by the way they are portrayed in this series of paintings and illustrations which I am calling: Illuminations. So, my mind was giving me all these ideas, while my heart took charge and told my hand what needed to be fleshed-out.

RS: That is truly fascinating. It seems as if your mind is always working on overtime. Does that happen often-getting various ideas at once?

JP: Yes, that's usually how my mind works. After working on a series for a while, my heart and mind begin to tell me to expand my horizons, and it is never a hassle, it's just something that comes naturally. I usually stare at a collection of art I'm working on and I begin to either see them as sculptures, video-art or beckoning to be painted on surfaces other then just canvas.

RS: And what about the visions of Luna and Sol with the halos? Where did the need to paint them escaping from darkness come from?

JP: I trapped those visions in a sketchbook. I will release them when the time is right. As far as the visions of Sol and Luna escaping darkness-that comes from those close to my heart. Loved ones as well as many, many people have been going through tough economic times and its been on my mind a lot, but I kept them close to my heart and so I followed my heart and painted images of perseverance and hope. I truly hope it inspires many and gives hope to those who have been dealing with so much as of late.

RS: What do you enjoy doing when you're not painting?

JP: I like to enjoy the simple things. It is during those times that I get a rush of visions flow through my mind. It's a perfect time to let my mind rest and after a while of my mind taking a break, it is then that it fully recharges and explodes with ideas. Also, when I'm not painting, I play the piano for many hours and lately, I've been taking immense delight in indulging in what I like to call: Two day books.

RS: Two day books? What exactly is that?

JP: Two day books are just that-they're books I create in just two days. It's a very fulfilling and fun way to play with color and composition. Some books are based on poems I've written, while other's I make up as I illustrate them. I mainly create these books to get me ready, pumped for my next project.

RS: And when can we expect to see these intriguing two day books? Do you plan on getting them published?

JP: Yeah, for sure, I would most definitely love to unleash them sometime in the near future. Right now I am holding on to them. I know this may sound a bit nutty, but I feel these books contain this energy that help me stay focused when I work on series of paintings. And that series of paintings evolves into sculptures, video-art, etc.

RS: Very, very interesting. I can't wait to see them.

JP: I can't wait to use them to create more works of art.

RS: I love the colors you use in your paintings. I usually catch myself enchanted by your wondrous color choice. What exactly inspired you to use such luminous colors?

JP: Thank you very much. Sure, I'd like to say it was thanks to my color and design class, but it wasn't that. What really inspired me to play with colors and bring my artwork to life was Photoshop. I mean, you can mess around with colors, experiment as much as you can until you have a good sense of color theory and balance. I strongly recommend using Photoshop.

RS: I read recently that you've been painting in oils now. What caused you to switch from acrylic to oil?

JP: Oh, I still use acrylic to paint. It's just that I decided to start using oils again 'cause while I was attending university, I had a blast using oils, and 'cause for the longest time I had a whole bunch of oils paints just hanging around. But I alternate between the two mediums.

RS: So what do you have planed for this New Year?

JP: Right now Galeria Laste is exhibiting a collection of mixed-media and illustrations from my Electricityscape series. A lot of those creations were brought to life on wood, aluminum buckets, cardboard and canvas. You should stop by, there's going to be lots of good wine and cheese. And after that I will continue to create as much as I can.

RS: I most definitely will stop by and visit. I've seen too much of your work online, now I really have to see them in person. Do you have any closing remarks?

JP: And I'd like to thank you for taking the time to interview me. I truly appreciate it. Never stop creating, never stop imagining, have fun with colors and immerse yourself in your creations. Please, never give up and always persevere forward - no matter what.


Inside Post-Pop Artist, Eugene-John's Mind [2010]

by Broko Binks

Here's a man-or should I say, here's a Renaissance Man who knows not what the meaning of sleep and rest is. I distinctly remember what Mr. Pescoran once said to me at a Kostabi exhibit one lovely summer evening: "I can't just relax and go on vacation. You see, if I don't keep brainstorming, my head would explode!" I nearly exploded with laughter almost causing lovely dressed individuals to pull their pretty eyes away from the art on display. I think he was sober when he said that, but then again, I can never tell when Eugene-John's cool or way past the atmosphere.

Broko Binks: To begin: How are the days and nights treating you?

John Pescoran: The days and nights have been treating me quite well, as a matter of fact.

BB: Oh?

JP: I think--no wait, I am certain I have got the hang of how to treat each and every day. I've never particularly liked the saying: "So much to do, so little time." I say to hell with that and create your own time. I don't just keep a schedule of what things I will be doing, but I make sure to make a game of it-

BB: Delicious! I love-love-love the sound of this already! Proceed, please...

JP: I have made a promise to myself that I would and am making sure I create something-anything each and everyday. I don't let days or years slip on by. I grab a hold of them and make something of them-I amplify each and every day by creating something, anything at all.

BB: I did take a sneak peak at not only your recent works of art, but also, your works of fiction-poems. Tell me how each medium affects one another...

JP: I hate to sound cliche or...cheesy...

BB: Cheesy is good-Cheesy is me-do proceed-

JP: It is the sheer joy of creating that gives me that boost to carry on on writing that story or poem and then, taking that energy to paint as much as possible. Each medium's output fuels the other-I sometimes have to stop myself from creating-whether if it's making a painting, writing a story or designing, I have to ease off the accelerator or else...I'm not really should what would happen, I just know It's good to take a step back and appreciate all that has been created.

BB: Tell me-Now I know this might be a hard question-But, what is your favorite medium? What is your favorite art-form?

JP: (Long moment of silence Pondering going on.) Now that is always a hard one to answer. And I have been asked that many times. And if I was full of shit I would have spewed out some random answer just to get it out of the way, but it is always a question I have to think about because each art form means a lot to me at different times for several reasons. Really, it all depends on how I'm feeling at the moment. It depends on what project I am indulging myself in the most. And right now, I am painting non-stop. I sometimes, most-times force myself to step away from the canvas or sketchpad, and take time to properly regenerate so that I can carry on with my manic mode.

BB: Wonderfully said-I don't think I could have said it better myself. What do you aim to do with your recent works of art? What do you hope others get out of it?

JP: I truly am grateful for those who not only purchase my paintings, artwork, but also those who get something, anything out of it. I aim to inspire just as how those I've looked up to have done for me. Peter Max, Burton Morris, Andy Warhol, Steve Kaufman, Michael Perez, Egglexic, Brute! Aidan Hughes, Mark Kostabi...and I could go on some more-but they are the ones who have truly set me on my curse to immerse myself in pop-art as ...