CMG Shuts Down Marilyn Monroe Artist

By Ron Keas December 30, 2002 10:18 AM

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I was informed by CMG Worldwide inc. that I may not sell my paintings or prints of paintings of Marilyn Monroe. ?As I understood the law, I believed I was within legal boundaries selling my artwork in this manner, however I will comply with the request, and for now I won't even show my paintings on the web.

Needless to say, I'm very disappointed by this development. ?I'm a permanently disabled Viet Nam veteren. ?Painting portraits of Marilyn and showing them to you on the web has been my salvation in life. ?The few prints I sold were sold at cost and shipped for free, because I wanted Marilyn fans to be happy. ?My portrait of Marilyn as an angel standing next to one of Raphael's little angels, was my proudest accomplishment.

I feel that I've done more than any other living artist, to help keep Marilyn's spirit and fame alive, and that CMG should appreciate my contribution to their success. ?I want to sincerely thank all of you who have written to compliment my artwork and I encourage you to contact CMG by email and let them know what you think about not being able to see the paintings I'm talking about.

I was 19 years old when Marilyn died, and now, at 59, I feel like she died again.

Visit Ron Keas' website.

| comments: 9

Reader Discussions:

Post YOUR opinion too!

Beat this, dick ritchie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 3, 2003 3:43 PM

Hey pal, beat off to Pam Anderson, She may not be "original" but she sure is prettier...and alive!

RE: Beat this, dick ritchie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 3, 2003 3:49 PM

Yep, PSTD does some strange things to a man.  Check out the site for more insight into the hell that was Viet Nam.

RE: Beat this, dick ritchie.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 7, 2003 6:18 AM

I don't get it, were they like dirty paintings or something?

RE: MM/Pam Anderson   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on February 24, 2003 7:46 AM

Pam Anderson may be alive but she's not real. At least MM did not have her boobs done!

RE: MM/Pam Anderson   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 11, 2003 6:53 PM

Im going to kill you...so hide

RE: MM/Pam Anderson   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on March 11, 2003 6:54 PM

I SO AGREE WITH YOU!

Re. copyright infringement   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on June 12, 2003 10:48 AM

Any one who does original art has an interest in knowing the law. Photographs have been protected from whar are called derivative works, any new art baised on any existing work is a derivative work and is subject to the original creators rights. The only art that can be freely coppied or modified are works before 1928. Marilyn was just two years old then.

Ron Keas   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on January 3, 2004 2:28 PM

It's been a year since I did my original whine.  I was not clear on what the rules were at that time, but I know now that I can show my paintings, but not sell prints.  OK fine.  The law is the law.  Ron
http://www.3dviewmax.com

Beautiful Marilyn Monroe paintings vs CMG.   reply

Posted by A random shemp (No Email) on July 16, 2004 10:43 PM

A year or so ago I bought a Ron Keas painting of Marilyn Monroe.  I consider myself to be very fortunate to have a Keas painting in my personal collection.  The work of Ron Keas is lovingly orchestrated, and I appreciate his passion for his work, especially his depictions of Marilyn Monroe.

CMG is doing their job to prevent Marilyn's image from being overly-exploited in the realm of commercial purposes, but I personally feel that they go too far when they take action to stop an artist from creating and showing his work to the public.  An artist should have the right to express himself freely in this country.  Censorship by CMG or any other organization is the problem; not Ron Keas and his beautiful artwork.

I will cherish my KEAS Marilyn painting ("Golden Goddess") for the rest of my life.  Knowing that this man has such passion for his work makes the painting all the more valuable to me, as does the fact that CMG has interfered in his ability to continue to display and sell his work, therefore making it unavailable to the masses.

CMG should reconsider their actions and rescind their threats against Keas.  

Marilyn Monroe represented a lot of things to a lot of people in her lifetime, and since she passed away.  CMG should not keep someone who feels so lovingly toward Marilyn from expressing his emotions through his beautiful works of art; nor should they be allowed to prevent someone from buying one of these works of art to appreciate in their own home.

Bless Marilyn Monroe, bless Ron Keas, ans bless everyone who lights a candle in the wind to guide our beloved Marilyn home to our hearts.