Most people believe in heeding the advice of their parents.
Photo provided
Stephen Ryan's “Red Guitar.”
Stephen Ryan's “Red Guitar.”
But for Skaneateles resident Stephen Ryan, having a successful career has been the result of doing quite the opposite.
Ryan said his parents advised against his pursuing a career in visual art, and paid for his education at Niagara University in Buffalo, where Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in economics. But after graduating, Ryan said the art bug was still biting him, so he decided to further his education by studying fine arts at Syracuse University.
Apparently that was a wise decision. Ryan has since had a successful career as a painter. Ryan currently has 18 original watercolors and Giclee prints being exhibited at the Wilson Art Gallery at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
On Friday, Ryan hosted an artist's reception at the gallery, located in Le Moyne's Noreen Reale Falcone Library.
“Long ago my parents said that art was just a hobby, not a vocation,” he said during a telephone interview last week.
To make extra money during college, he explained, Ryan drew caricatures and illustrations for T-shirts. “More and more people told me I had some real talent ... so later I decided to prove my parents wrong by going to SU for fine art,” he continued.
After transferring, he said, he “was getting all A's. I think I was one of the best (students) in every class, so I chose to pursue art as a career.”
Ryan currently has a graphic design studio in Skaneateles, and he is an adjunct professor of art at Onondaga Community College.
In addition, he is a member of the Central New York Watercolor Society and served as a judge at this year's art competition at the New York State Fair.
The 18 pieces on display at Le Moyne include several watercolors of musicians at work, which is one of Ryan's favorite subjects.
“Musicians get deeply involved in what they're playing, and they sort of transcend the moment and disappear into their own little world,” he said. “I try to capture those moments with my art.”
Though both of Ryan's parents have passed on, he said his mother was alive to see some of his initial artistic success.
“That made me feel really good about my career choice,” he added.
Ryan said his parents advised against his pursuing a career in visual art, and paid for his education at Niagara University in Buffalo, where Ryan earned his bachelor's degree in economics. But after graduating, Ryan said the art bug was still biting him, so he decided to further his education by studying fine arts at Syracuse University.
Apparently that was a wise decision. Ryan has since had a successful career as a painter. Ryan currently has 18 original watercolors and Giclee prints being exhibited at the Wilson Art Gallery at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
On Friday, Ryan hosted an artist's reception at the gallery, located in Le Moyne's Noreen Reale Falcone Library.
“Long ago my parents said that art was just a hobby, not a vocation,” he said during a telephone interview last week.
To make extra money during college, he explained, Ryan drew caricatures and illustrations for T-shirts. “More and more people told me I had some real talent ... so later I decided to prove my parents wrong by going to SU for fine art,” he continued.
After transferring, he said, he “was getting all A's. I think I was one of the best (students) in every class, so I chose to pursue art as a career.”
Ryan currently has a graphic design studio in Skaneateles, and he is an adjunct professor of art at Onondaga Community College.
In addition, he is a member of the Central New York Watercolor Society and served as a judge at this year's art competition at the New York State Fair.
The 18 pieces on display at Le Moyne include several watercolors of musicians at work, which is one of Ryan's favorite subjects.
“Musicians get deeply involved in what they're playing, and they sort of transcend the moment and disappear into their own little world,” he said. “I try to capture those moments with my art.”
Though both of Ryan's parents have passed on, he said his mother was alive to see some of his initial artistic success.
“That made me feel really good about my career choice,” he added.
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