Art of Hope Gallery 

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Tony Ryals

He was born on 05/28/1959, in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin with a very rare, crippling disease called Arthogryposis, which has basically left his arms and legs virtually useless.  Even though his permanent disabling condition is not progressive or contagious, it has from birth altered his life from the so-called norm.  But as you can tell from the contents of this webpage Tony has lived an above normal life with an Angel of a wife for over 26 years and heart loving children, and now the cutest grandchildren.  As Tony says, “Not bad for someone that the doctors said would not live past six months, and then past two years, six years and so forth”.  They’ll eventually get it right.  It has only bothered Tony a little bit hearing those negative doctors, but when those negative minded doctors passed away themselves, Tony figured they were just looking at a mirror and not at his life.  So therefore, he figured he could go on living with the positive love of his foster parents, Close friends and positive teachers.

From the beginning, Tony felt very lucky to have parents that raised him to be creative, and uses ingenuity to work around physical obstacles.  Tony was brought up on the philosophy of Living the American Dream, which is to earn your own way through life, and to support yourself to the best of your ability and not live on your disability.

The Art of Hope Message of Hope

I came up with the name Art of Hope, because this art which is in my heart, always gave me Great Joy and Hope.  And as I realized the way I had to paint and create these beautiful pictures was truly a blessing.  When I paint, I really don't think about how I'm doing it with my mouth.  I feel like the Lord is working through me, but instead of using my fingers.  He uses my MOUTH to show that anything is possible.  When you realize you are touched by the Master Creator of all GOD.  I hope and pray that everyone that reads this, or hears my story by me or others, or watches me create my art from the heart, will also receive hope and joy and believe in Never Ever Give Up Hope no matter what your situation is. If I can do all this, this way, then what is your excuse!

The Jacksonville Landing

What a fantastic place to have an art gallery, along the beautiful St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, Fl.  the Jacksonville Landing is a well recognized landmark throughout Northeast Florida.  A true landmark.  With dozens of restaurants, bars and several unique gift shops, plus most nights it provides a variety of live music and entertainment right along the river.  I'm so happy to have a place to show my art, at a central place that it's easy for Jacksonville and all the surrounding towns to view, and watch me paint miraculously with my mouth, plus order and purchased my Art of Hope.
Being surrounded by so many great hotels, where they are large convention rooms, plus only blocks away from the Jacksonville convention Center.  Allows me to inspire and show other people from around the world my unique way of painting.
Because of the great management, and the owner of the Jacksonville Landing, I am still able to travel throughout the country doing art shows and speaking engagements.  So needless to say I travel a lot, so therefore please call or e-mail me ahead of time to make sure that I am in town.  Private appointments are great.

Hospital Appearances

Hospital visits and shows have so many positive attributes, that it's almost too many to mention, but I love doing art shows that uplift people and give Hope.  This has become a personal passion of mine to not only see as many patients as I can, but also to show the visitors, staff, Nurses and Doctors the value of positive thinking and determination to never give up no matter what the obstacles of life are thrown at you.
I hope that I can spread the change of the word disability, which is basically discouraging, to my new word called Diff-AbilityDiff-Ability is short for different abilities that we all have.  And instead of using your disability for getting help, you should use and live by your Diff-Ability, and always help others..  No matter what sure situation is, everyone has an ability to offer help.  What a great message to give anyone that is facing a stay at the hospital, especially the children.  They definitely need to know that they have a great ability for themselves and to help others.
These Hospital art shows and speaking engagements, or one of the few times that I turn around and donate a percentage back into the health care system like the auxiliary or to someone there.  That seems to have fallen in between the cracks of our system.

School Visits

I'm not sure who gets more out of these school visits, with my talks, live demonstrations of painting by mouth and art showings, the students and teachers or Me?  The idea of demonstrating and speaking at schools came from visiting children's hospitals, where their parents and teachers that were visiting the children heard me and kept inviting me over to their schools.  Stating that it's a shame that impressionable kids had to wait to go to a hospital to be motivated on “Never Give Up!”.  The response from students are so amazing.  It truly encourages me with my mission in life.  I have actually had the privilege of meeting some of the students from over a decade ago, that has personally thanked me for the message that they still remember and pass along to their kids.  These encouragements that we share with each other, gives us all Hope and Hope is what gives us life.  Therefore my “Art of Hope” is what gives me life.

Fishing and SportsShows

I guess living on the river with a brother, who was always bound to be a sports fishing captain, writing for papers and magazines, and having his own radio talk show about fishing, was bound to rub off on me.  Ever since I can remember.  I was always trying to go fishing with my big brother “Captain Rick Ryals” and the great thing was that he loved to take me fishing with him whenever possible.
This obviously lead to many drawings and paintings relating to fishing and boating either offshore or inshore in the boats are on old rickety dock's.  Fishing was a passion that I always have felt that I was more of a fair challenge to the fish being “Mouth-to-Mouth Tug-of-War”.  It is one of the few dilemmas in my young life that I had to decide between two loves either Fishing for Painting.
So naturally showing off my paintings and drawings from my fishing experiences really went hand-in-hand at fishing and sporting shows throughout the country.  When people noticed, the newspaper and magazine articles about how I had to fish with my mouth, then noticing those beautiful detailed artwork at fishing and hunting scenes from my experiences and imagination captures the heart of the sportsman.

Tony's Originals Art from the HEART!

Originals, what a unique word, it basically means one-of-a-kind done individually, no matter how short or my case, how long of time it takes.  An original is always worth so much more than any lithograph, Giclee, (inkjet printing on canvas), prints, copies, or reproductions.   All of Tony's art comes from his heart and soul.  
Tony has trouble putting value or a price on something that has deep feelings and emotions in every single picture he creates.  But somehow he must in order to keep his American dream of self-sufficiency, living away from welfare, to earn his own way in life, including supporting his family.  Art is always from the heart, and a true artist is just letting it out, whether it is realism or abstract is the artist I that captures your heart.  And that is what Tony's HOPE and DREAM is, to capture your Heart with the beauty and intricate detail of his art, Plus the uplifting message from his soul to “Never Give Up!”

Face to Face Painting

This has got to be the most unique and rewarding art ever done by Mouth.  Face Painting!  I always thought I could paint on anything like paper, canvas, glass, wood, even on a cast like for a broken armor leg.  So why not on faces!  After seeing the joy kids get out of having their face painted at festivals, parties and even theme parks, I was amazed at how simple and almost primitive they were, but the kids were still happy with something that changes their look, then there attitude.
I knew I could do better. I practiced and practiced until I knew I could outdo most others, yes even the theme parks, and as Quick!  I became so well known for this that even Sea World in Orlando, Fl allowed me there. It was Amazing to see all the kids walk by me and see the great difference in artistic ability, then run to the restroom to wash off that immature fish from the previous face painter, just to have me do it all over again, just better.  Because of its uniqueness, Painting Faces by Mouth has opened many doors and avenues to festivals and theme parks, to schools and churches.  I have even Painted dolphins on some of the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders, which they wore proudly to other events

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