One artist whom I admire deeply but does not relate to my work is my older brother Ian. In my opinion Ian deserves not only my respect, but everyone’s; even if you don’t relate to his style.
My brother started out as a musician. He first got into electric guitar which he played in his numerous hardcore bands that practiced in our basement and shook the walls of our house. Later he got into acoustic, coming out with solo albums when he grew confident as a singer and lyricist. He eventually went on to Illinois State to major in Classical Guitar. During his senior year of college, he befriended an oil painter named Ryan and like with guitar, became so intrigued by the art form. He soon took it up on his own and entered his first piece into a show intended for graduate students of art, and got in. Since then he got more and more serious about it, putting his music on hold, and began his career as an oil painter.
Seeing the progression of his work, creating portraits that looked as real as life, was and still is amazing. When he first sold a painting for $3,000, I was convinced my brother could succeed at anything he put his mind to.
Now, Ian is living in Oakland, CA as a newly wed who plays guitar, paints, and just recently became a tattoo artist along with his wife Samantha. My brother’s art is incredible, but his passion and work ethic is insane. He pours himself into everything he loves and puts the time and work in, even when profit is nowhere in sight. I always tell him how inspiring he is for anyone who has doubted the ability to live as an artist. Never once has my brother forced himself to sit in a cubicle or sell himself to a corporation because he felt he had to. He followed what he wanted and made sure that he succeeded.
I’ll admit that I am a biased little sister, but I know talent and drive and also what it takes to be an artist.
His work is on ianreynold.com so you guys should check him out.