Ronan Walsh, Portrait Artist, Portraits by Ro
I am a portrait artist living in Dublin. While art has always played a major role in my life, I started to rediscover painting during the pandemic. Being a commercial airline pilot by trade, I found myself grounded due to the travel restrictions.
Before long, I decided to concentrate on my artwork and found myself working full-time doing commission work. I mainly work with oils and concentrate on portraits.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Instagram, I find the perfect platform to showcase my paintings. In addition, it is excellent for finding new artists and sharing ideas.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am currently concentrating on figurative portraiture. Deconstruct the face's forms and colours to find something more than the obvious.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
It allows me to discover people. To find the joy and heartbreak of a moment. If I can connect with the subject in a portrait, then the viewer can too.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Success loves speed! Better to jump right in and make plenty of mistakes along the way. Waiting to get things perfect means the opportunity will pass you by.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
Generally, I am inspired by new ideas and approaches. That is not to say I don't like to take time to practice a new skill, I do, but fresh ideas are fun! When one pops into my head, it's a rush to get it onto the canvas. There's always a certain discomfort when I get compliments for work that was 'safe'.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I am proud of achieving lots of things in my life, but I'm glad I did it the way I wanted too. The path less travelled has always been far more appealing to me. Sometimes, it might not be the quickest or even the right way, but the main road is too crowded and boring.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
Like everyone, I get content out on social and other media, but I prefer word of mouth. A good recommendation is like a stamp of approval. I try to take extra care of my clients in order to foster good relationships. A small gesture or token can pay divided ends in referrals.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Resilience. To be able to keep going despite setbacks and outright failures is essential. I truly believe that failures make masters.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
How enjoyable it would be! People often talk about the hard work required and the difficult setbacks. Yes, there are many, but if you love something, you can find positives in them. For me, the work is not that hard because I love it. I can see the setbacks as essential lessons rather than failures. The road ahead is new and exciting rather than difficult. I love it!
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
My wife has more raw creative talent in her little finger than I could ever hope to muster. She has a vision that most people can't match. We take far different approaches to every task, but oddly we work very well together.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
Family is massively important to me, and I think that comes across in my work. I am blessed that I get to spend so much time together with them due to the type of work I do. I don't think I would be as inspired was that not the case. It's a lonely life without those close to you, and I love celebrating those relationships in my work.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you managed it?
Positive, it's the reason I started painting!
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
Not one mentor, but the arts and music have been a constant strong creative force in my life.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
I was asked this recently, actually. The advice I gave was if you love it, do it! The opportunities you will get while pursuing your dream may change, and be open to them. As in painting a portrait, the end result is rarely exactly what you set out to achieve, and that's ok. You will find your own particular path but only by taking that first step.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
By seeing failures, not opportunities. As adults, in particular, we hold ourselves and others to a very strict set of rules for failure and success. When a child falls over while learning to walk, nobody says, 'you suck, give up". Be childlike in your approach. Brush yourself off and go again! Soon you will be running!
Is there a phrase, quote or a saying that you really like?
"A brief respite from fear of total neutrality." - Silvia Plath.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
I don't know what success is yet, and I'll tell you when I get there! Sports people say to celebrate the tiny successes in order to motivate you to achieve your goals. So, perhaps I'll use that one.