Interview by Jimon

1-Where do you live and create at the moment?  Orange County, California. Right outside of Los Angeles.

2-How would you describe Tony Pharo?  He is an open minded, intellectual who has learned to harness his triumphs over homelessness and his ongoing diagnosed OCD & Anxiety to be some of his biggest assets for growth, life and his creative mind.

3-Did you study art or is it inherent? If yes where?  I’m a self taught artist. The only school I have is my current and ongoing oil painting & color theory classes I am taking.

4-How did you acquire your style?  I hold a strong belief that my artistic style is in a constant state of evolution. Continuously, I am growing and adapting, causing my perspective and artistic approach to undergo perpetual change. This philosophy extends beyond myself; it encompasses all of humanity as constantly evolving beings. My artworks reflect this fluidity, merging various movements through charcoal or oil. They emit a raw, deliberate, and freeing essence that captures the dynamic nature of my artistic expression.

5-How long have you been making art and what lead you to start?  During the COVID pandemic, I began my journey in sketching and painting, which has now spanned three years. Throughout my life, I’ve been recognized for my creative and imaginative nature. However, a series of unhealthy relationships, compounded by struggles with drug and alcohol abuse, led me to therapy. The newfound free time during the pandemic provided an opportunity to explore various creative outlets. Eventually, I found solace and passion in painting, and I’ve remained dedicated to it ever since, leaving behind any desire to return to my past struggles.

6-Who is your favorite artist?  The roster is expansive and frequently in flux, with shifts occurring weekly as I delve deeply into the portfolios of diverse artists, mirroring my approach to music. These phases of appreciation for various artists have woven themselves into the fabric of my identity and artistic journey. Among the prominent figures on my continuously evolving list are Cy Twombly, Christopher Wool, George Condo, George Morton-Clark, Willem de Kooning, Joyce Pensato, and KAWS.

7-What advice would you give putative collectors?  See as much art as possible. Do your research. Don’t chase trends. Find your connections with the art that you’re going to collect. Dive in, responsibly. Remember to enjoy yourself!

8-What is the origin of each of your paintings (imagination, inspiration….)?  It really depends on where I’m at mentally. Most of the time its both; Imagination and inspiration. One usually finds a way to provoke the other. Being an artist is a 24/7, 365 days a year job and within that, finding inspiration from any person, place or thing is a very typical thing for me.

9-How do you describe success as an artist?  Painting organically, authentically for self while at the same time, having an audience feel any array of emotions as a result of my work.

10- If you could live in a museum anywhere in the world which would it be?  MoMA, NYC

11-What do you dream about?  I dream about being an established, international artist having my work expand past any and all barriers that we can think of. Pushing people emotionally, pushing their thinking, pushing how we view others, how we view society. I dream about my work being so apart of society and conversations around perspectives, that it becomes a norm. I dream that society can agree to disagree and have that be okay.

12-Do you have a place/person/thing that you visit for inspiration?  Being an artist demands an unwavering, year-round dedication without pause. My thoughts are consistently occupied with ideas for my art and what I might craft next. In this perpetual contemplation, there’s a hint of apprehension, an uncertainty about the next artistic venture. I often find myself dedicating periods to sketching until I feel adequately prepared to transition to painting. Unlike my previous method of directly drawing onto the canvas without a plan, I now understand the importance of a more structured approach. This shift enables me to flesh out my concepts more thoroughly, providing a framework to guide my work while still allowing room for spontaneity and improvisation during the creative process.

13-If you could have dinner with three artists living/dead who would be at your table?  George Condo, Joyce Pensato & Cy Twombly

14-Name three things you can’t live without in your studio?  Old paint brushes, 6b Charcoal & Unprimed, Raw Canvas

15-If you were asking the questions what question would you ask and please answer the question.

What keeps you going as an artist when you are listening to the negative thoughts your mind tells you?  Embracing faith and leveraging negative reinforcement as a catalyst for progress are integral to my journey. These aspects propel my relentless pursuit of creativity while simultaneously driving me to delve into the realms of business and faith. Engaging in faith without certainty of the outcome fosters invaluable lessons about self-discovery and life’s intricacies. It’s a holistic process that facilitates growth on multiple fronts simultaneously.

16-How would someone find you on Social media?  Tonypharo on Instagram

17-Please name the first thing that comes to your mind while reading the following:

Art= Fully present

Food=Love

Sports=Have to be the best

Politics=Not universally applicable

Poor=Opportunity to learn

God=Working on my connection with a higher power of my understanding

Rich=Full of ego & wisdom

Luxury=Learning to enjoy the finer things of life without having it become necessity

Sex=Exploration

Picasso=Epitome of artist and lover of life

Religion=Beliefs, practices and morals that get me into a connection with a higher power that works for me and my perspective of life without having to conform to others’ God or Religion.