Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Caron.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
In 1970, when I finished high school, I made my way from Maryland to California with two friends in an old Volkswagen Camper. It was hard; my friends moved on and I stayed. I had no money and no job other than picking up bottles to get the recycling refund. It was art that kept me going. I eventually found a job at a hospital; art was not paying rent. But it did make living in a seedy motel easier and safer—I was able to draw caricatures of the residents and so everyone seemed to know and like me, and I avoided harassment in that way.
I would send my artwork out to many magazines, always with a returned stamped envelope (that was the time before computers). There were times when my art would not be returned, but sometimes my art would be purchased.
Soon, I was hired to do some cartoon work for Wild World of Skateboarding and Flash magazines. I was fortunate to have met master artist Robert Williams, who drew the logo for Flash, founded Juxtapoz magazine, and did the original (banned) cover art for Guns ‘n’ Roses album Appetite for Destruction. Through Williams, I was introduced to underground comics and posters. I was invited to San Diego Comic Con by Comic Kingdom, a very large comic book store that specialized in underground art. At Comic Con, I released an 8-page zine called “FolkIore Frog.” It’s featured in The Official Underground Comix and Newave Comix Price Guide and does show up on eBay every now and then.
I continued to work at the hospital, having moved up to surgical technician. Working with physicians gave me the opportunity to do many anatomical drawings; one was published in the Journal of Emergency Medicine.
I always like political cartoons and was fortunate to take a class with 3-time Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Conrad.
In 1990, I moved with my wife, Lorna, and our two small children, Michelle and Brock, to Austin to help a friend open a medical practice. Lorna and I did not want to raise our kids in L.A., and Texas sounded great and seemed to have so many fantastic opportunities for artists. I continue to draw, paint, and sculpt many of my characters.
Please tell us about your art.
I enjoy working in many different media: pen and ink, oils, watercolor, and plaster on Styrofoam. I always try to write my thoughts down. I feel if you don’t catch a thought, it goes by and someone else will get it. I hope my art will make you feel good, laugh, or make a person want to draw. I like bright colors. When I start a piece, I really do not know how it will end. I work and the piece tells me when it’s complete. I enjoy working; it makes me feel good and you can forget time.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
Conditions for artists today are what they make it. Computers make you able get your work out to a lot more people, which is obviously faster than having to mail work and hope it’s returned or paid for. Cities can continue to have art tours; they help the artist and people have fun.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
People can see and purchase my work on my website, www.folklorefrog.com, or contact me via email at artwk@austin.rr.com.
Contact Info:
- Address: Austin, TX
- Website: www.folklorefrog.com
- Email: artwk@austin.rr.com
Image Credit:
Photos provided by Folklore Frog Studio
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