Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Sheffield.
Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been drawing and writing since I was old enough to pick up a pen. I’ve never wanted to do anything else, and though I’ve had to bog myself down with other jobs to pay bills, I’ve spent every spare moment of my time creating things. I started selling art in bars when I was 21 and living in Austin, and eventually transitioned to selling on Etsy once I moved back to DFW. In 2014 I started an indie/DIY tabletop game company with my friend Brad Dougher–Craft Fair Games–and last year we launched a podcast about Texas history and folklore called Tex Arcana.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Money is always a problem, and it’s a sad, ironic cycle of self-defeat: I take-on commissioned projects just to pay the bills and spend most of my time working on them instead of working on my own endeavors.
Please tell us about Ryan Sheffield Art, Craft Fair Games, and Tex Arcana Podcast.
I sell prints of my art on Etsy and copies of my board games on our website. I also write/produce/host a podcast with Brad Dougher that’s available wherever you get your podcasts. I’m mostly known for my “Authors” series of drawings, which are especially popular with school teachers and librarians, and my “Ritual Abuse Tarot” card deck.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I have so many, it’s hard to choose a favorite, but an especially good one would be my fifth birthday party at a weird little indoor amusement park called #1 Fun Street that was in a strip mall in Bedford.
Contact Info:
- Website: ryansheffieldART.com, texarcanapodcast.com, craftfairgames.com
- Instagram: junkfiction
- Twitter: ryanXsheffield
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