Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 10-15-21

Feature
Well-Known Artist Flourishes In Ybor City
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Renowned artist Ron Watson was born and raised in Tampa. He has al- ways loved art including painting, coloring, and draw- ing.
His mother, Eloyce Malveau, had him in art classes starting in elemen- tary school. Although she was never an art lover, she faithfully kept him in class and bought the supplies he needed without complaint. Watson credits the efforts of his mother for nourishing his art aspirations. She is a powerful force in his life and in the life of his daughter, Courtney.
Watson has three adult children, Ronnie Watson,
RON WATSON ...Renowned artist
Courtney Watson, and Arielle Yebba.
He says that his grand- mother influenced his art- work in terms of incorporating scripture in his pieces. Other than portrai- ture, most of his artwork re- flects storytelling and scripture, no matter the
medium.
After his graduation from
Jefferson High School, he went into the United States Coast Guard for 10 years and got his degree.
After leaving the service in 1984, Watson became an art teacher for three years. At the time, he was working steadily on his own art.
After three years he was recruited by Nutmeg Mills, the powerhouse design com- pany whose style of athletic wear was extremely popular in the 80s and 90s. Watson became their Art Director. In 1994, the company was sold to VF Image.
All the time, he was still working on his brand and his artwork.
He took early retirement and decided to “jump into
his artwork with both feet.” He signed a lease and opened his studio on 7th Av- enue in Ybor. He started giv- ing art classes and providing
workshops.
In the meantime, he was
reaping the benefits of being promoted by a prominent citizen of Tampa.
Watson says he got expo-
sure as a working artist from the late Florida Sentinel-Bul- letin Publisher and CEO, C. Blythe Andrews, Jr., who supported Watson’s work for many years by displaying the art in the Florida Sen- tinel-Bulletin offices and in his home.
Although his first love was painting, Watson says that he has created his niche in religious artwork and pen- cil drawings. He states that his pencil drawings were a way to distinguish his art- work and his brand.
Watson’s studio is in the Ybor Art Colony (YAC). YAC is a group of working profes- sional and contemporary studio artists in the heart of Historic Ybor City. The ad- dress is 1521 1/2 E. 7th Ave, Tampa 33605.
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