We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful René Romero Schuler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with René Romero below.
René Romero, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?
When I was in high school, I was homeless and struggling for a period, so things were tough. I had always been creating, drawing, writing, and painting with whatever materials i could find. My schoolmate Frank always loved and complimented my works, and he offered to buy one of a small painting that I had. He paid me $150, and it was like a million dollars to me at the time. To this day, I feel like he not only saved my life back then, but it whether it was pity or not, I always took it as validation that my art had value.
René Romero, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have been an artist my whole life. Since childhood, I was always referred to as “René the artist”, and have been working professionally as an artist since high school. I got my start by calling companies from the yellow pages (this was in the 80’s), and asking them if they wanted any art for their offices or lobbies. This worked out pretty well, and I was soon working full-time doing everything from custom fine art paintings, to all sorts of decorative painting, troupe l’œil, faux finishes, relief sculptures, and more. My business flourished in this realm, and I was one of the “go to” people to contact for all the restaurants and nightclubs around Chicago and beyond. By the time I was 30, I decided to pull back on all the commissioned work and bring my focus to my own fine art as an oil painter. My first few solo shows completely sold out, and I am now represented around the US and in Paris by some of the finest galleries. My work is important, as the messaging within it speaks to the human condition and to healing and acceptance. These are vital and necessary, and it makes me so happy to be creating work that people can identify with and find joy in it.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the most rewarding thing about being an artist is that I get to process my thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a healthy and positive way, and that the work becomes something that others can identify with and find healing in.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I think most artists have dealt with a great deal of criticism and rejection along the way. I think it takes incredible tenacity and resilience to find the constructive aspects of those experiences and turn them into positives, and continue to grow and rise in your career. I have learned far far more from my failures than I have from my successes- that’s for sure!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reneromeroschuler.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneromeroschuler/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reneromeroschuler
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rené-romero-schuler-b2b7a2143/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvVht31kGvroIK1v46tZM8g
- Other: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/René_Romero_Schuler
Image Credits
Katrina Wittkamp Tom Van Eynde Marcus Norman