Still Runnin Magazine is proud to bring you exclusive interviews with World Renown and Internationally Published Photo-Realist, Bob Petillo.
Bob’s career began in 1978 when he started illustrating science fiction and fantasy. It wasn’t long before his work was published internationally. A long productive painting career included a variety of styles and genres of illustrations: Science fiction, fantasy, industrial illustration, rock concert t-shirts, children’s books and fine art.
It is unusual to find Bob without a paint brush in his hand, but Bob put his brush down long enough to speak with us over some pizza and beer. Here’s how our first session with Bob went:

B: Bob says, “I love color. I create color schemes for the atmosphere I use as settings in my paintings. Mixing photo-realistic colors is my definite edge over just painting. It’s all about illusion.”

SR: What do you mean?

B: “Well, let’s face it, an artist is an illusionist. All anyone is ever looking at is a variety of color splotches on a flat surface. Modern art does just that and that’s all well and good, but I try to create a 3-Dimensional illusion that looks better than a photo. That’s my thing.”

SR: How do you do that?

B: “ Practice, Practice, Practice & more Practice.”

SR: Is your art considered to be modern art?

B: “ Modern is usually abstract. Mine is contemporary photo-realism ... with a message.”

SR: What’s that?

B: “My choice of creating a series of paintings called: “Reflections of America” is to reflect our way of life as seen in the depth and perception of Great American Classic cars. This gets deep into my belief system about art, creation, freedom, creative freedom, free enterprise and this great country of ours.”

SR: Go for it.

B: “Well, when I was a kid, my dad told me that we won W.W.II because of Henry Ford and his assembly lines. Ford Baby! Model T Fords and the system of mass producing then revolutionized and defined the industrial revolution. The auto industry is what made our nation strong. Applied to national defense and the production of technology and military hardware, we were going to out-produce any country ballsy enough to pick a fight. So, it was the auto industry that is responsible for American life and the lifestyle that we celebrate today ... like everything I try to reflect in the chrome and fenders of these magnificent classic American cars.”

SR: Reflections of America, Right?

B: “You got it!”

SR: Which is your favorite painting?

B: That’s like asking a parent to pick out a favorite child. A good example though is the painting “Frankies Root Beer”

Stay tuned for more “Reflections of America” and exclusive interviews with
Master Artist Bob Petillo in Still Runnin Magazine.