Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Ramos.
Hi Bobby, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist… whether that meant painting, drawing, or any other sort of medium that would satisfy the insatiable appetite for creating the wonderful things I was able to Invision in my head.
I took inspiration from everything in my surroundings and always carried around a rolled-up stack of blank paper and a pencil so that no time would be spent without some way to get my ideas transferred into tangible little drawings. I soon was able to create whole worlds and spend countless hours dreaming about the stories I wanted to portray in my work. I could make my heroes venture off into different realities and join other characters on faraway planets. I could just create my own heroes with any ability I could imagine and give them stories of their own.
My mother was always the most supportive and driving force behind my love for the arts and made sure to encourage me every chance she could. Her old college sketchbooks lit a fire inside me to strive to be as good as she had been. She took any opportunity to sign me up for competitions and public art volunteer projects to help introduce me to new ways of doing art and grow my creative thinking process. Eventually, the sparks she was able to strike my way became a fire of my own and set me on the path I’m on today.
I started Ramos Renditions in 2010 with a simple EIN in order to participate in comic conventions and other shows that required it. Since then, I’ve traveled to many places to capture inspiration and create in any shape or form that feels right at the moment. I’ve taken classes and courses for so many different mediums and crafts and continue to grow my arsenal with every passing chance. Throughout this time, I’ve created murals, tattoos, playing cards, paintings, sculptures, robots, and so much more. I’m blessed now to be married to my beautiful wife, who is just as talented and creative as myself (if not more), and we are equally as blesses to have welcomed our wonderful baby girl and future Ramos Renditions member, Elena Art Ramos to the world this past June. Together, we aim to continue to grow the business to new heights and forever help each other to reignite our passion for that new creative horizon.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I have always been grateful for my opportunities and the blessings that have come my way along my journey, that does not go to say that it was all smooth sailing. I have had many adversities and moments of doubt along the way. Times where a regular 9-5 job seemed more sensible than chasing my dreams. Support from some has always been a go-to resource but the overwhelming number of people that rooted against me and what I saw for myself was a constant.
Friends, family, teachers, coworkers, girlfriends, passerby’s, complete strangers have all at one point or another have told me to quit. “it’s too hard,” “You’re not that good,” “It’s not a real job if you can’t make money from it” are some of the nicer things I’ve heard from so many people. One of my favorites is when a total stranger stopped me on the metro rail and asked to see my paintings and, upon viewing them, explained to me that he was so much better than me when he was only 11 years old. That I should quit now because life will get in the way and make me abandon my art as it did him. I was offended and discouraged at first but in times like these, I remembered something my Great Aunt Mary explained to me when I was around 9 and in my dragon ball z phase. She told me that people who can’t do what I can do will most likely try to make fun or tear me down but it’s their lack of skill and knowledge in that area that makes them feel small. So, the best way to combat that is to just smile and ask them what it is that they are good at. As an adult, I have always tried to keep that as a strategy when dealing with those type of folks, and it served me well so far. I’ve even made a few friends with it.
The good always comes with the bad; it’s part of the journey and the process. We all deal with criticism no matter what field we’re in. Making it constructive and using it as fuel is a tool we acquire as we grow.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I mainly specialize in acrylic painting and mural work. As of late a lot of our projects have been murals for private homes or businesses. I also have completed over 200 smaller 6×8 pieces using alcohol markers and ink. The majority of my work has a theme of nostalgia from the classic cartoons and movies I loved growing up. I would say that’s what I’m most known for as well. I’m most proud of the growth of my small business over the years and the support that the community has shown throughout my journey so far. It’s really great to create something and have so many people enjoy the work so much that it leads to more creation.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
One of my fondest childhood memories has to be the times I was surrounded by all my family, and we all told stories about things that have happened and how things used to be. I learned so much about everyone and how life was, can be, and memories of those that came before us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @ramosrenditions
- Facebook: @bobbyramos
