Visual Language Magazine Studio Visit with UK Artist Tony O'Connor

Visual Language Magazine Studio Visit with UK Artist Tony O'Connor

I’m now three years a full time artist. 

I had studied Fine Art back in the late nineties, and graduated with an Honors Degree and a head full of confusion on what to do next with my life. I decided that working full time in a non art related job would be just the thing to sort my life out and there I stayed. For the most of a decade, slowly going crazy, and almost developing a nervous twitch anytime I had to deal with a member of the public.

I had dabbled with art during my time at the “day job” and always felt it a way to deal with the stress of a hard day. 

I hadn’t really dared to think of having a “life” as an artist, as I figured that now I was married, about to have children and buying houses (all grown up stuff), and I needed the security of having a paying job; but I wasn’t happy where I was. I knew I was happiest painting & creating. I set myself the goal of getting an exhibition in 2009... and set to work on my 1st solo show with gusto... finishing “work” at 5 30pm, popping home to say hi to a very understanding wife, and heading back out in the evenings to a cold, dark studio (the attic above the warehouse where I worked) to continue to build my portfolio.

The exhibition opened—I sold—galleries contacted me. Commissions started coming my way and I began to spend more and more time on art, and less and less time “caring” about my day job. I will be forever grateful to my old employers for putting up with me for so long, and I still remain very good friends with each person in there. In May 2011, I handed in my notice, and decided that I HAD to do this as a living, one way or another!

I bagged myself a nice little studio in the city center, run by a group of fresh faced artists who had just graduated from college. Soon I gained the reputation as “the horse guy” and my production rate went through the roof. 10 hours of uninterrupted day, and evenings too, if I wanted to be in Heaven painting horses.  

Last year the chance came up for a bigger studio space, and I jumped at it.  I now have a bigger studio space (twice the size I had when I started) and I can most likely brag that I have the best “office” space in the city, as I over look the main street of the city from two floors above it!

My job is to be an Artist... if you can call it a job— it’s more of a calling I think. As the old saying goes, “It’s a beautiful thing when a career and passion come together.”

I realize that I’ve very lucky to have found my path in life, and that it hasn’t been too bumpy so far.  I’m a big believer that we all should do what makes us happiest (unless that’s against the law ;-0) and if my story can inspire people to follow their hearts and dreams, and to make a go of it, then I’ll do my best to encourage them. The main thing I’ve learned is that FEAR should not be a factor when making decisions. Being scared of what might happen is worse that regretting it never happened. Fear can be good sometimes as it can light a fire under your ass, and keeps you motivated. If you can balance the two, without turning neurotic, then everything is going well!! 

I hope to bring my particular brand of “neuroticness” to the USA in June this year. I have been invited to tutor at an Equine Art Retreat in Oklahoma. If you’d like to know more about this, please follow me on Facebook or pop onto my website for details. 

https://www.whitetreestudio.ie

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tony-O-Connor-Equine-Art/275031255420