Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Rye.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Like they say, “I wasn’t born in Texas but I got here as fast as I could.” Well, it took me a few years to get to Houston but it was well worth it! Growing up in Florida, I was always drawing. I didn’t know what I wanted to do for a living but I was passionate about art so I pursued a degree in visual art at Florida State University. After graduation, I struggled to find the right job for me so in 1999 I moved to Houston, where my sister and her family had relocated a few years prior.
Soon, I got a job working at the front desk in the fitness center at Second Baptist Church. I kept my art portfolio with me and I would show it to people who came in and word quickly spread that I was also an artist. One day a coworker asked me If I had ever drawn live caricatures at an event. Her friend was the event planner at the Houstonian Hotel and Spa and they needed a caricature artist for an outdoor festival. I loved drawing caricatures of celebrities and friends from photos but I had never tried to draw one in under 5 minutes! I looked online to see what caricature artists charged and I decided to go for it. I had a few days before the event so I worked on my speed. The event was challenging but overall it went great and the Houstonian would go on to hire me for four festivals a year. I had my first steady client! I continued to work my day job at the church and draw caricatures on the side for about three years.
Fast forward to 2008 and I found out that I could work as a caricature artist at Disney World in Orlando for as long or as brief a period of time as I wanted. I felt that would be a good challenge and I could improve my skills by working alongside other artists. After a year and a half of working for “The Mouse”, I decided to move back to Houston. The economy in Florida was in a recession and also there were more artists competing for gigs in a smaller area.
Returning to Houston was a smart move. I picked up my business right where I left off and I felt back at home. I worked a part-time job at Texas Art Supply which was very helpful in establishing new contacts in the art community. It allowed me the security of a weekly paycheck but I realized that my business was never going to grow larger unless I put the same hours into it that I was spending working for someone else. In a matter of weeks, I was able to book enough work to allow me to quit my job and I have not looked back!
Now I have more time to explore other projects. I create my own original designs which I sell locally and online in the form of prints and jewelry.
I’m also looking for more ways to give back to my community and make a difference with my art.
Operating as a one person show has its share of struggles, but each day is an adventure. I’m enjoying the process and the proceeds that come from it!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There were definitely struggles along the way. Any entrepreneur or business owner will go through peaks and valleys but once I made up my mind to step out on my own and commit to earning a living as an artist, I learned how to work smarter and how to streamline my business.
Artists are also very passionate and can be overly critical of our own work. Early on I struggled with feelings of self-doubt and I compared my work to other artists. I allowed those negative thoughts to fester in my head. The best way to overcome those thoughts was by not giving them any weight. Then I worked on my skills until I was more confident. Soon I noticed that people were complimenting my work more and I was getting hired for more jobs. I felt good about my work and that people were enjoying it and were willing to pay more for it.
Tom Rye Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a professional artist, I draw live caricatures at all kinds of corporate and private events in Houston and around Texas. Let’s say your company is having an employee appreciation party or holiday party. You can hire me, at an hourly rate, to come draw caricatures of everyone at the event and they get to take their drawing home as a free gift.
Also if you have a booth at a trade show or convention and you’re looking for a way to attract more potential clients or customers to your booth, having me at your booth drawing caricatures is a great way to attract a crowd. While they sit for a 4-minute drawing it’s easy for you to have a conversation with them about your business. It makes their experience with you more enjoyable and memorable. I will also customize each drawing by preprinting the paper with your logo which makes a great promotional item.
I’m most proud of two things. I always carry myself in a professional manner and I strive to provide quality work. I believe that capturing the likeness and the personality of each person is essential in making a good caricature.
I’m currently working on two additional projects. One is a series of illustrated portraits of animals entitled Upright Citizens.
The other is a fine jewelry collection for women and men.
My goal as a designer is to create art that connects with the viewer by presenting something in a way that they’ve never seen it.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me means reaching my full potential as an artist, as a business owner and as a person.
If I can treat others with respect and use the gifts I’ve been blessed with to bless others, I consider that being successful.
I believe success is measured by setting goals and achieving them through hard work.
One of my favorite quotes is by former NBA coach Pat Riley. He said, “Hard work doesn’t guarantee you anything but without it, you don’t stand a chance.”
Contact Info:
- Website: TomRyeArt.com
- Phone: 713-291-2468
- Email: tom@tomrye.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/tom_rye_artist
- Facebook: Facebook.com/tomryeart
- Other: TomRyeLive.com
Image Credit:
Jessica Uresti
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