My name is Ryan Finley &
I accidentally became an artist!
I’ve always had a passion for drawing and painting, but growing up, I believed you either had to be wildly eccentric or incredibly famous—preferably both—to be a full-time artist.
However, everything changed one rainy Tuesday in December 2019 when I decided to paint a few pictures of family dogs with a childhood watercolor set on printer paper. I posted pictures of the paintings on Facebook, offering to paint anyone's pet for just fifteen dollars.
Since that day, people haven’t stopped asking me to make things.
From pets to portraits to expansive murals for businesses, I've been pushed to create works that my younger self never thought possible. Now, art has blossomed to not just my passion; it’s my career.
Today, I’m a full-time multi-disciplinary artist specializing in fine art paintings, murals, and custom design work. In every medium, I strive to create pieces that feel timeless, friendly, and rich with narrative.
I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a major in visual communications, focusing primarily on photography and graphic design while doing painting on the side. With this background, I love making a cocktail of vintage-inspired, eclectic, and contemporary work that feels both fresh and familiar. My paintings are especially influenced by film photography with its softness, warmth, and sense of nostalgia.
At my core, I love connecting with people. I understand that many clients come to me for their first experience purchasing original or custom art, and it’s a privilege I don’t take for granted. I aim to bring light to clients’ visions, goals, and passions, and I want to build relationships just as much as I want to create art. Faith plays a key role in the inspiration behind my work. There is nothing more precious to me than the fact that we are created by the Creator to create.
