Ronald Scarbough, a native of Detroit, showed an exceptional talent for art at a very young age. In fact, his artistic abilities were discovered in first grade, which led him to be placed in advanced classes for the gifted throughout his public education career. After graduating from high school, he pursued his passion for drawing by studying at various institutions such as the Society of Arts and Crafts (now CCS), Wayne State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the University of Maryland.
During the Vietnam era, Ron joined the U.S. Air Force and served as a technical illustrator, where he honed his drawing techniques, particularly his crosshatching technique. After his four years in the military, he exhibited his first one-man show at Detroit’s Ford Auditorium, which was sponsored by the Women’s League of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Through his association with Margaret Conzulman at the Detroit Artists Market, Ron gained exposure and developed a following of loyal collectors throughout Michigan.
Throughout his career, Ron had an impressive list of one-man shows, group shows, awards, commissions, and art fair participation. He illustrated 10 books as of 2014, including works for the Detroit Athletic Club and the Citadel Military Academy of Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to teaching studio drawing classes at the Detroit Institute of Arts, he also gave gallery demonstrations and instructed adults for the DIA’s “Friday” programs.
Ron’s drawings capture the American spirit across all ages and nationalities. His subject matter often includes tender moments of caring, love, and family, or the emotional struggles of a saddened, lonely child, which are clearly expressed in the subjects’ eyes. One of his recent collections, “Dignity: Portrait of a People,” portrays African-Americans who struggled to make a life for themselves from Emancipation until the early 1920s. Another collection, entitled “Orphans of the Holocaust,” was created in 2012 and reflects Ron’s personal experience as a convert to Judaism.
Ron’s contributions to the world of art have left a lasting impact, and his works continue to be appreciated and admired by art lovers worldwide.
