We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alison Schuchs a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alison, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I love painting portraits—capturing not just a likeness, but the essence of the person. Every portrait is a thrill for me and a fun challenge. I’m a perfectionist and very rarely like my own work, but I have a lot of fun—probably more fun than the average person—striving to paint that perfect portrait.

On Wednesdays at the Art Center of Corpus Christi, we have a Portrait Group that enjoys the luxury of painting a model from life. The portraits I paint there represent time spent with that person, and since we only have two and a half hours of painting time, they may resemble the sitter, but I rarely have enough time to capture their essence. It is so much fun, though, and to date I have painted almost 300 portraits of people in our community. I call it Painting Corpus Christi One Face at a Time. Most of these portraits now belong to the sitters themselves.

As a portrait artist, I constantly notice people, and my first thought is often, “Oh, they would be fun to paint.” I’m known to ask complete strangers if I can take their photo or if they would model for our Wednesday class.

One such person was a local icon, Ronnie Mathis. I first saw him as I was coming out of a CVS store. He rode his bicycle past me, and my jaw just dropped. He was dressed entirely in black—a black suit, an oversized black cowboy hat, a huge belt buckle, and black boots with curled-up toes. That was my first sighting of “Pointy Boots.” Who would have known that later we would become friends?

I found out how to get in touch with him and asked if he would model for our Wednesday Portrait Group. He gladly obliged, though he arrived late because everywhere Ronnie rode his bicycle, he was stopped by locals and tourists alike who wanted either to talk with him or take a photograph.

He was a well-known figure in Corpus Christi, recognized for his elaborate handcrafted suits, hats, boots, belt buckles, and jewelry in every color imaginable. Ronnie not only delighted in making people happy and brightening their day, but he was also a walking work of art—wearing his creations, riding his bicycles, and sharing his unique spirit with everyone he met. It was my honor to paint him before he passed away. We had no idea at the time of his photoshoot that he in fact had cancer. The painting of him now is in the permanent collection of the Art Museum of South Texas. An example of painting tomorrow’s history today. His legacy will live on through the generations.

Alison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Who am I? I am a Scottish-American portrait artist living in Corpus Christi, Texas. I began painting as a form of therapy a few years after the loss of our 20-year-old daughter. I never stopped painting—the family joke is that I must need a lot of therapy! 😊

I love painting the people who will become tomorrow’s history. After all, I was placed in this time and place, with these talents, for a reason. Through my portraits, I hope to capture not only a likeness but also a small piece of the human story unfolding around us.

I paint using traditional methods and oil paints, creating works that celebrate the people, character, and spirit of my community.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

While I don’t have a huge social media following, I believe in putting myself out there and sharing my journey. In the beginning, I was very self-conscious and highly critical of my work. Confidence has never come easily to me, but determination certainly has.

After a serious car accident that caused a brain bleed and left me without the use of my left side, I had to learn to walk again. Slowly, I regained the use of my left hand and arm. That experience changed my perspective on life. I realize how fortunate I am to be here, and I have learned to appreciate the body I’m in and the time I’ve been given.

You can follow my work online:

Facebook: Alison Schuchs Artist and Alison McLean Schuchs
Instagram: @Schuchs
TikTok: @ASchuchs
YouTube: AlisonSchuchsArt
Website: AlisonSchuchs.com

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Like most artists, I would love nothing more than to spend all my time in the studio painting and have the work somehow find its way into the homes of people who love it. I think that’s every artist’s dream. The reality, however, is quite different.

Today there are more artists than ever competing for attention. We live in a world filled with AI-generated images, mass-produced décor, and inexpensive reproductions available at every big-box store. While there is certainly a place for all of those things, I sometimes worry that we are losing our connection to original art created by real people. There is something special about owning a piece that was imagined, painted, and touched by human hands—a piece that carries the artist’s time, experience, and heart within it.

Artists have always depended on the support of their communities. Throughout history, great artists were often sustained by patrons who believed in their work. Where would Leonardo da Vinci have been without those who commissioned and supported him? And how different might Vincent van Gogh’s life have been if people had recognized the value of his paintings while he was still alive rather than after his death?

Supporting an artist doesn’t always mean buying a painting. Not everyone has room in their home or money in their budget for original artwork, and that’s perfectly okay. There are many other ways to help. Share their social media posts. Attend their exhibitions and opening receptions. Tell your friends about their work. Leave a kind comment online. Invite others to see what they’re creating.

Those simple acts of support can make a tremendous difference. Every artist you admire is trying to keep a dream alive, and sometimes a share, a recommendation, or a few encouraging words can mean just as much as a sale.

If you know a local artist whose work you love, please support them in whatever way you can. Art enriches our communities, preserves our stories, and reminds us of our shared humanity. The artists creating it need champions just as much today as they ever did.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alisonschuchs.com
• Instagram: @schuchs
• Facebook: @AlisonSchuchsArtist
• Linkedin: @Alison-Schuchs
• Youtube: @AlisonSchuchsArt
• Other: TikTok – @ASchuchs

Image Credits

no other info