The prolific artist paints windows, using her artwork to decorate the entire community.
“I was painting my mother-in-law’s trailer’s windows, and she told me to go down to the businesses and see if they’ll let me paint for them,” Ryan said, explaining how she got a start in the business.
“LaFonda’s, Sherwyn and Williams, Brooks Jewelers and Dr. Middleton started me off, gave me the chance to paint. Now I paint practically the whole valley,” she added.
http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/local/window-painter-leds-her-palette-to-valley-s-canvas/article_af80214e-1f61-11e3-a221-001a4bcf6878.html
Ryan’s commissions increase around holidays, but she’s flexible with how she gets paid.
“I average about five businesses a day and four cleanups a day,” she said. “And if they can’t afford it, we barter.”
Sometimes, businesses offer Ryan dinner in exchange for her services. Other times, Ryan donates her window paintings.
“Whatever school my grandson goes to, ‘cause he’s autistic — his name is Adriel Sanchez — that school gets free paintings from me throughout the year,” she said. “They’re entitled to free ones the whole time he’s there, so he gets to contribute to his school.”
Ryan says that her work never falls victim to graffiti.
“I’m part of the Valley flavor, you might say,” she said.
Sign up for a class on decorative painting so you can get started in spreading your work throughout your community. Getting hired to decorate windows, walls, and other surfaces is lucrative while providing you with canvases and practice.