Acrylic with gold and silver leaf on canvas, 42″ x 62″.
An iconic legend to the music world and beyond, Johnny Ramone, 'the king of the downstroke guitar,' paved the way for inspiration across many aspects of life, including those of the art world. Giovanni DeCunto was inspired by the musician’s brilliant talent and aptitude. This piece was created to commemorate one of Johnny Ramone's favorite live performances, and to draw attention to the iconic member of the Ramones that helped pioneer the punk movement. DeCunto depicts the musician playing his universally recognizable guitar, creating sounds that so many fans have listened to in awe and admiration over the years.
In the artist’s portrait, the guitarist is crafted with a gold and platinum background, symbolic of his superior legacy. Johnny’s bold, black and white guitar serves as a reflection of him as a musician; dark colors standing out in a pool of vivid colors, as though the guitarist is a gem in an empty cave. Giovanni carefully chose his colors by means of significance; Johnny’s guitar was a staple of his career, giving him the opportunity to express deep meaning in a way no one else ever could with words, therefore this bright, snowy piece of the painting is prominent and forces the eye to narrow in on it.
