Robert Ryan Studios
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About the Artist
I've been blessed in that I'm doing what I love to do everyday I go to "work". Every project that I become in brings new challenges and gives me a chance to meet new people, and perhaps new friends as well. My business has grown over the years (since 1994) to include Mural work, Trompe L'Oeil painting (a style of making a 2D image look 3 dimensional), canvases, wall glazes or faux finishes, and hand lettering. I'd like to give you an idea of who I am by telling you a little about my background .As long as I can remember, I've had art in my blood. Whether it be constantly doodling during class in school or sketching images on the walls at home as a child, I've always had the need to express myself through art. Who knew that one day I could make a career out of drawing on the walls?! (see Mom...I was just practicing!) However, I never intended to necessarily have my own business. After finishing High School, I was offered a job painting signs and billboards back in a time when signs were still painted by hand. Never having taken a drawing or painting class in my life, I had to teach myself to paint simply by "doing". Over the years, I believe that I've developed my own style, which others have told me would be more difficult to do had I attended a University. However, after spending 12 years in the field, it became apparent that the sign industry was moving in an automated direction. It was then that I decided to make a career change.
In 1992, a good friend had taken me to the Hinsdale Showcase House tour where, after seeing all of the beautiful work done by other artists, I knew where I wanted to take my talents. I decided to enroll in the Miller-Waggenaar School of the Decorative Arts where I took a foundation course to learn the basics of Faux finishing. Upon completing the course, I was introduced to Mary Anne Herring, an outstanding designer in Hinsdale who had been kind enough to give me a chance to display my work with her in the 1994 Showcase "Cushing" house. And since then I've met so many wonderful people and have been involved in so many creative projects, some of which have been photographed for such publications as Traditional Home, Romantic Home, Midwest Living and Chicago Home & Garden magazines. I am constantly learning and striving to better myself and my craft, and every new project gives me the chance to do just that. I hope that my work displayed here in my website has given you a glimpse into what it is that I do and love...and I thank you for visiting.