Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Rachael Ryan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Rachael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Exploring art in different mediums has been an exciting and beautiful journey. For me, it’s been a winding path of experimentation. From studying illustration and graphic design to glassblowing and ceramics in university, I learned to appreciate so many forms of art. Through that exploration, I found that I was continuously drawn to the traditional modality of paint on canvas. 

In the beginning, my paintings were these unbridled, kinetic conversations with the canvas – raw, honest, expressive and lots of fun. As time went on, I started craving a deeper understanding of the medium itself. I wanted to engage with oils from a more traditional approach and learn how to control and shape the paint’s behavior. I was eager to learn the ‘rules’ of painting so – that if I chose to – I could better break them. 

So, I basically kept my head down and worked on my painting skills anyway that I could. Creating works from my home studio, enrolling in online courses… I went so far as to seek out a University MFA program where I could immerse myself in traditional techniques of painting. But I couldn’t seem to find one close to me that didn’t concentrate on more of the conceptuality of contemporary art. I loved this for all the interesting students that I’d met, but it didn’t feel like a right fit. 

The stars aligned after I’d moved to NYC and walked through the doors of the Art Students League. I enrolled part-time in a class called ‘painting from life’, where we painted a live model for weeks at a time with the guidance of a masterful painter. Although I had many years of study and experience with many forms of art, this was all brand new to me. I consciously went in with a beginner’s mindset. 

Starting from the ground up – I learned how to prep a wooden palette, care for brushes, build and prime canvases. I drank in all that I could from the teacher and my wildly talented peers. I had on training wheels, but I was moving forward.

I took some time off from the League and after the city began to open back up post-pandemic, I felt the call to re-enrolled. In a stroke of luck, a spot became available in a class taught by the incredible, masterful representational painter, Sharon Sprung. I became a full-time student, fully committing myself. I didn’t know it then, but by showing up and practicing daily for a calendar year, I was soon going to take off my training wheels and learn to fly. 

For five mornings a week, four hours a day, we painted from a live model for three-week stretches at a time. It was exhilarating and exhausting and everything in between. Most importantly, it felt like home – I was surrounded by a wonderful community and felt that I was exactly where I was meant to be. I didn’t take one moment for granted. 

The irony of following my heart to learn how to paint so that I can “better break the rules”, is that I’ve fallen in love with the tradition of representational painting. Honing my eyes to what is in front of me, and trying to capture the present moment as best I can has called me to go deeper than I ever imagined. 

In the present moment, the world is indeed our oyster.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Surely. Hi, I’m Rachael Ryan. I’m a native of Pittsburgh, PA. I spent some important formative years immersed in other cultures abroad. A child of the 80s and 90s, I benefit from a lot of play and freedom. The world was colorful and I was easily hypnotized by nature and form and drawn to the free expression of art. It was a safe space for me. I think consciously and unconsciously I knew art was a life passion and path that I was destined to walk down. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve committed myself to art and have studied and found employment in it. I like to joke that if there is a paintbrush in my hand, we’re good to go. 

After University, I taught art in K-12 for several years. I later became a makeup artist for the tv and film industry for 18 years. Simultaneously I painted, sold works and accepted commissions for much of that time. 

After years living, working and studying painting in NYC, I recently moved back to my hometown of Pittsburgh. I have a lovely painting studio and I’ve committed to taking what I learned from the Art Students League and my teacher Sharon – by working at the easel, and keeping the torch lit in my heart. 

Now my primary focus is on creating representational portraits and still life paintings that celebrate the here and now. In a world increasingly dominated by digital distractions, my art – for me – serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of presence, human connection, and the rich sensorial experiences that surround us. 

Each painting becomes an invitation to pause, observe, and appreciate the extraordinary moments found in everyday life.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Great question! I think society can help creative people more easily than we think. 

Outside of collecting original artwork from living artists, there are simple, free ways to show support that can make a world of difference. 

It can be as easy as liking and commenting on a social media post. Sharing a website. Forwarding a blog. Taking a moment to view an artwork and comment on what you like or feel from it. 

In Bianca Bosker’s book ‘Get the Picture’, (a great read and thoroughly deep dive behind the curtain of the artworld), she encourages us to slow down and look closely at artwork. Notice at least five things then, if you dare, five more. Share one or two things you see. It’s a really great way to connect to the present moment and your senses. 

Art is a conversation about our existence. And it doesn’t have to be confusing or intimidating to those outside of the artworld. It can be as simple as enjoying a flower, or a swirl of colors, or the reflection in a sculpture. It’s about being present. 

I think if we as a society allow ourselves the time to see and be still with an artwork, the ripple effect of emotion, and/or inquisition would be a great help to artists. We mostly all just want our work to be seen and efforts appreciated.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Every single day one wakes up and chooses to pursue making art is an act of resilience. There are way easier paths to making a living. But the call is a deep, unshakable feeling in your gut that tells you you have to create, make or build. Resisting it may not kill you, but it could possibly suffocate your spirit. 

There’s also a good chance you’ll hear others’ voices and opinions telling you that this pursuit is best left alone, or to others. That you’ll likely struggle and starve or fail. This can come from well meaning family members, friends or from strangers who have beliefs from their life’s experiences. 

What’s important is that you know who you are, and where you want to go. 

When I was in my early 20s, I remember an evening out on the town that led to an underground-ish club. It was dimly lit, with loud, live music. Though the details of the night are fuzzy, I vividly remember an exchange that stopped me in my tracks. It was an experience that quietly and internally tested my resolve. 

I was with a friend who introduced me to a moody artist, big in stature, and seeming to me a larger-than-life energy. We were introduced to each other as fellow artists. I could hardly hear in this club, but I remember after the introduction, this new acquaintance scanned a very young me and said something along the lines of, ‘You know, you should leave the art to artists who are truly thirsty for it.’ 

As quickly as it was said, the conversation moved on. I was a little shocked. In a split second I had so many feelings. 

I remember falling silent, feeling a little embarrassed and a bit confused. From my vantage point, this more established artist cast the swiftest judgment then basically closed the proverbial door to any meaningful dialog.

They had a view of what an artist should look like, and I wasn’t that. Perhaps I was too square. Either way, I had to decide what I was going to do with reflection cast upon me. Perhaps I wasn’t on the right course. Maybe I should leave this up to the MFAs. Maybe I’m not serious or talented enough. But mostly it fired me up. Because if there’s anything 

that I know for sure, it is that my heart belongs to art. 

I remember looking back, smiling and thinking ‘you have no idea what art lives inside of me’. I knew time would tell. The only person I had to prove that to was myself. 

I can say some twenty years later – though I may be seemingly moving at the speed of a tortuous – the love for my craft is strong. My vision has developed slowly and steadily. And in that time I’ve learned who I am, and where I want to go. From this gentle act of resilience, I will keep moving forward. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rachaelryanstudio.co/
• Instagram: @rachaelryanstudio

Image Credits
Pro Photos by Rachel Hanon Photography
Studio and Artwork Photos by Rachael Ryan