Today we’d like to introduce you to Britt Byrne.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Born and raised in Lubbock, Texas I developed an admiration and talent for art at a young age. Any time a school project included drawing I was on board. I was always crafting with friends and taking up art lessons. This led me to taking art more seriously in high school and then on to selecting it as my major in college. I studied art at Texas Tech University where I graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. While at Texas Tech I had the opportunity of studying abroad in Florence, Italy where I took my first course in oil painting at Florence University of the Arts. My emphasis, or specific study in art school, was jewelry design and metalsmithing but my senior year my professor told me that it should have been painting. Shortly after graduation, I moved to Dallas where I currently live with my husband, Russell, and our cat, Bella. I spent four years with Neiman Marcus in their corporate buying offices and then four years working in the attorney recruitment department of a local law firm. I loved the experiences and colleagues that came with my corporate background but I knew something was missing. By 2019 I couldn’t ignore the itch to create. I purchased an easel and signed up for an oil painting course at the Creative Arts Center of Dallas. After that, I only had painting on my mind. Then in 2020, my husband and I discussed me becoming a full-time artist. So, I said bye to the corporate world and picked up my paintbrushes, and got to work on my first collection of oil paintings. I would not be painting full-time if it weren’t for the support of my husband. I also have to credit The Studio Source, a community for artists selling work online. As a resident artist with this program, I learned to build a website and grow a following on Instagram. They provided me with the fundamentals for becoming an artist and releasing my first collection of paintings in the Spring of 2021. Now, here we are, four collections later and numerous commissions completed. I look forward to what year two will bring with Britt Byrne Art and providing collectors with artwork to admire for generations.
Alright, 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?
Thinking back to before I graduated from Texas Tech, I wish there had been a course or better guidance to be an independent artist. At the time, I felt the pressure to either go on to grad school or become an art teacher. This led to an almost 10-year gap of not putting any artwork out in the world. Fortunately, now there are so many amazing resources to guide artists to be independent. Also, as with any new business, there are risks involved. Giving up the security of a full-time job was by far the biggest obstacle I had to overcome when transitioning to a full-time artist. It is still only the beginning but finishing a painting that I am proud of is the best feeling in the world.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in fine art and oil paintings with a western-contemporary flare. Having grown up in West Texas I am heavily influenced by cacti, thunderclouds, and colorful skies. I also love to pull inspiration from photography but my favorite source is my own personal travels, especially within the beautiful state of Texas. All of my artwork is sold solely through my website.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I have a strong love for commissions. Nothing makes me happier than being able to make a custom painting for a collector. I completed my first portrait painting and I hope to expand in that area of work. I look forward to connecting with collectors and creating paintings from their travels, hobbies, and memories.
Contact Info:
- Email: info@brittbyrneart.com
- Website: www.brittbyrneart.com
- Instagram: @brittbyrneart
