This is something that has been addressed many times by creative professionals and entrepreneurs, but it never hurts to repeat.
MOST of my day as an artist is not spent in an absinthe fueled rampage of feverishly tossing paint onto a canvas ...sorry. MOST of my day IS filled with drudgery: writing emails, planning projects, fielding phone calls, brand management, event planning, researching and gathering materials, design work, social media promotion, prep-work, varnishing, sanding, packing, shipping...etc....and somewhere in there is drawing, painting and sculpting.
For the audience, my job is to make it look like all I do is my artwork, but the truth is that I fill every position from CEO to janitor of Chris Ryniak industries.
I have the added role of a single father, oh and I ALSO have a full-time job on top of all of this, not to mention owning a house that needs tending as well as all of the minutia that goes along with being a functioning human.
So what is the point? well, I get a lot of comments like " I wish I was where you are in your career" from young artists. And the simple fact is, that much like losing weight, becoming a functioning and mildly successful ANYTHING takes work, not wishing. Of course, this all depends what you want to accomplish, and how far you want to take it.
The point is that next time you see your favorite artist doing really well, know that they doing a lot of work that you will never see.
high fives and have an awesome day!
Monday, May 20, 2013
Thursday, May 09, 2013
MOving forward
Progression is a funny thing....
This past year has marked a substantial shift in how I do business as an artist...most notably in the form of LESS SHOWS.
I spent a lot of years taking on every single group show that I was invited to, for a lot of reasons. Mostly, it was to gain exposure, and it worked...so now that I have my foundation set into place, I'm focusing more on the projects that mean something to me. That is not to diminish the importance of SOME group shows here and there, but if they are not the right fit for where I am in my career, I'm just not going to do it...this is where progression comes in.
After SO many years of nonstop grinding out work, it's funny to finally be in a place where I feel like a grownup and my work is worth something, not just monetarily, but in a philosophical sense as well.
Now that I have everyone's attention, what am I going to do with it? My pursuit of creative endeavors have never been about money, although money IS a fortunate byproduct of successful products that I will never complain about. What I have learned is that I want to create work that brings a positive reaction to people, if only for a second, every single day.
I've been through tough times and deal with my own demons on a regular basis, but I am always thankful for those catalysts that can mark a moment in time where everything is good. A laugh, a smile, an "awww"...these are all things that are human instincts that make us feel ok. If I can provide that to total strangers with what I do, then I truly have a gift...and I want to share it.
I've gone much further than I ever expected I would with my art, and I keep paving the road ahead of me without any sign of stopping. I'm in a fun place in my career, one where I can start to make the rules and start to become what I always wanted to be, Myself.
This past year has marked a substantial shift in how I do business as an artist...most notably in the form of LESS SHOWS.
I spent a lot of years taking on every single group show that I was invited to, for a lot of reasons. Mostly, it was to gain exposure, and it worked...so now that I have my foundation set into place, I'm focusing more on the projects that mean something to me. That is not to diminish the importance of SOME group shows here and there, but if they are not the right fit for where I am in my career, I'm just not going to do it...this is where progression comes in.
After SO many years of nonstop grinding out work, it's funny to finally be in a place where I feel like a grownup and my work is worth something, not just monetarily, but in a philosophical sense as well.
Now that I have everyone's attention, what am I going to do with it? My pursuit of creative endeavors have never been about money, although money IS a fortunate byproduct of successful products that I will never complain about. What I have learned is that I want to create work that brings a positive reaction to people, if only for a second, every single day.
I've been through tough times and deal with my own demons on a regular basis, but I am always thankful for those catalysts that can mark a moment in time where everything is good. A laugh, a smile, an "awww"...these are all things that are human instincts that make us feel ok. If I can provide that to total strangers with what I do, then I truly have a gift...and I want to share it.
I've gone much further than I ever expected I would with my art, and I keep paving the road ahead of me without any sign of stopping. I'm in a fun place in my career, one where I can start to make the rules and start to become what I always wanted to be, Myself.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
UPCOMING STUFF N JUNK
FIRST UP, is the Beast Brothers LUCHA LIBRE show at Rotofugi in Chicago on October 5th where THIS guy will be!
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I will be attending New York Comic con October 12-14th. I'll be at the MYPLASTICHEART booth signing the Exclusive Ivory Misfortune Cat from Playge & Myself. Hope to see you there!
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ALSO, I will be attending Designer Con, November 3rd at the Pasadena Convention Center at the Circus Posterus booth. I will have a big exclusive that has yet to be announce, but I will ALSO have a bunch of new drawings and watercolors for sale...here is a sample of what you can expect at the table...
AS ALWAYS, follow me on TUMBLR, Facebook, Twitter and now INSTAGRAM (chrisryniak) for the most up to date news and workings!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
keeping up
oh boy have I let this place go!
So, to keep up with me more efficiently, you can follow me on
Instagram :chrisryniak
Twitter: @ChrisRyniak
Facebook: Chris Ryniak http://tinyurl.com/8d3xutm
Tumblr: http://chrisryniak.tumblr.com/
So, to keep up with me more efficiently, you can follow me on
Instagram :chrisryniak
Twitter: @ChrisRyniak
Facebook: Chris Ryniak http://tinyurl.com/8d3xutm
Tumblr: http://chrisryniak.tumblr.com/
Monday, April 09, 2012
MONSTERS & MISFITS II
We will all be in attendance for the opening of our second major exhibition collaboration with Tomenosuke for Monsters and Misfits II ,April 13th at the Kusakabe Folk Museum in Takayama, Japan.
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| The show poster outside of the Museum! |
Monday, March 19, 2012
GOING BIG IN JAPAN
Less than a month to go for Monsters & Misfits II at Kusakabe Folk Museum Takayama, Japan, April 13th 2012.
Putting the final touches on some bigger pieces then it's off to break the bank in shipping costs!
For those of you who don;t already follow me on Tumblr...go check it out over there...I update my feed almost daily. http://chrisryniak.tumblr.com/
Thursday, March 01, 2012
Year of the Dragon Snybora
2012 might be the year that it all comes to an end if you ask your conspiracy-minded friends (hey, those Mayans had to have a good reason to end their calendar, right?)…but on the Chinese calendar it’s the Year of the Dragon!
The Year of the Dragon Snybora is black vinyl painted in tasteful red, gold and black with a slightly matte finish and glossy black eyes.
This release will be available at online at rotofugi.com on Friday, March 2nd at 11am central time for $35.
Figure design and sculpt by Chris Ryniak with paint by Joe Somers (Squibbles Ink) and Kirby Kerr (Rotofugi). Please note, each figure is handpainted and will vary slightly from the image shown above.
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