Meet Kristin Ryan

We recently connected with Kristin Ryan and have shared our conversation below.

Kristin, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome can be sneaky!! When I first started painting I was amazed each time a piece turned out beautiful. For the first year, I remember thinking , “Well, I just got lucky.” Eventually, it changed into, “Yea, nobody gets lucky this often, you have a talent.”
The real turning point was when I participated in my first big art show. I received such positive feedback from everyone who entered my booth and made some great sales. However, more importantly, I watched the items people purchased from other artists walk by my booth and I said, “Wow, there is something for everyone when it comes to art.”
Now, every time I am creating a piece (other than a commission) I say to myself, “I wonder who this piece is for? I can’t wait to meet the one person who can’t live without this piece.”
I know that each work I create is for someone specific. My job is to get out there and show my work as many times as possible, so I can find the one person this artwork was destined to be with.
I keep getting proof of this belief the longer I am painting.
Here are some examples (these are not in chronological order.)
First Example:
At my ASR show in February, 2025, a woman asked if she could book a studio appointment so she could see all of my pieces before she decided which one to buy. My most recent piece was on the easel, unfinished. We walked the gallery portion of my home and she engaged with many pieces. However, when we entered my studio, she pointed at the unfinished piece on the easel and said, “That is the one.” I said it wasn’t finished and she said, “No problem, when it is done I want it framed in gold.” Then she asked if I had the first pastel I ever made. I said I did and that it was done at a workshop. She said, “I want that one too, so I will have your first and your most recent at the time of my purchase.” That was when it hit me. It was important to people to own art from an artist they could interact with and get to know personally. Connecting with people through art has eliminated imposter syndrome. It doesn’t matter if everyone likes my art, just that one person it was destined to be with.
Second Example:
A couple I had known for about 9 months, attended my ASR show and bought an original. That summer they asked me to their cabin for the weekend. They showed me to my bedroom and there was my art hanging over the bed! Goosebumps!!! But that isn’t the best part!
The next day they threw me in a Razor off road vehicle and proceeded to drive me into the middle of nowhere at breakneck speeds!! It was exhilarating!! If they had dropped me off, I would have been lost!! It was a gloomy, cloud covered day and we ended up at a Native American ruin that is not on any maps and it is HUGE!!! The spiritual feeling of the place was so palpable it made me want to sit down and close my eyes and just feel it. The structures were incredible and after a long sit, we took some pictures and left. That night at dinner they said they wanted to commission me to paint the ruin and gave me a photo taken that day. The final piece is something I never would have chosen to paint on my own, but it was beautiful and haunting just like the ruin! It hangs by the fireplace at their cabin. Connecting with people through art is what removes imposter syndrome all together!!!
Third Example:
I received an inquiry about a piece I created called The Breakfast Club which had been featured as a print option on my Instagram page. The piece was special. I loved it so much that after I delivered it, I recreated the composition for myself to match my kitchen.
Do you have a person who has weaved in and out of your life always bringing a smile to your face and heart? Well, this lady is one of mine! We met when our boys (now 26) were in the same pre-school class. We then reconnected when I was her third child’s kindergarten and then 4th grade teacher. I informed her that the original was already sold and I texted her a photo of my kitchen version. She instantly bought it as a Valentine’s Day gift for her husband.
She came to pick up the piece and shared that her husband’s father had died recently. He LOVED hummingbirds and he had three children. This piece was perfect! I believe that every piece I create has one perfect owner. This story cements my belief. We decided that I would deliver the painting on Valentine’s Day.
As he unwrapped the painting he was deeply moved! What she failed to mention was that Valentine’s Day was his father’s birthday! I am so honored to provide a lasting tribute to his father which I hope provides comfort and joy over the years!
So, I just decided that Imposter Syndrome is not for me! I am taking my reference photos, painting what I see, showing my work, and connecting with all sorts of amazing people to find the one person each piece is meant for!!!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a person who embraces variety in my life and I am a pastel artist. I am currently enjoying the beginnings of retirement from public school teaching and have been spending my days gardening, exercising, volunteering at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, making some home improvements, trying new recipes and enjoying friends and family (especially my first grandchild, Charlie) and of course, creating soft pastel artworks.
In preparation for retiring, I began to market my artwork in 2023, so I am now actively involved in running my website, connecting with my clients and applying for the many art shows offered during the October-April season in Arizona.
I am a person who embraces variety in my life and I am a pastel artist. I am currently enjoying the beginnings of retirement from public school teaching and have been spending my days gardening, exercising, volunteering at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, making some home improvements, trying new recipes and enjoying friends and family (especially my first grandchild, Charlie) and of course, creating soft pastel artworks.
In preparation for retiring, I began to market my artwork in 2023, so I am now actively involved in running my website, connecting with my clients and applying for the many art shows offered during the October-April season in Arizona.
I grew up in Southern California as a beach rat! I was in the ocean nearly every day riding the waves or diving beneath them with a mask and snorkel. I moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1981 to attend University of Arizona. I fell in love with the desert and spent uncountable hours wandering in the wilderness and studying the native flora and fauna. I graduated with a degree in marketing and spent the next 20 years in finance with Northwestern Mutual Financial. When I began to feel restless, I changed careers and became a public elementary school teacher and it was here that I was reintroduced to art. I must digress to my 10 year old self to accurately explain this reintroduction!
When I was in 4th grade, an artist attended our girl scout meeting to teach us acrylic painting. Each of us was given a 12X16 canvas and we shared unlimited tubes of sticky acrylic paint. I remember being so excited to use this new medium. As I was painting, the artist came up behind me and said, “Remember, the sky is all around you!!” I knew she was trying to tell me something, but I didn’t know what it was! I proceeded to paint the entire background of my painting blue!! Everyone laughed at the painting which became lovingly known as the “Swimming Lions.” I decided that being a good athlete was enough for me and gave up art entirely.
I changed schools in 2016 and the new school had a specialty curriculum, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, ART, and Math). I did not want to be a fraud when teaching an art lesson, so I thought I’d better try to paint again. I decided to take paints and canvases on a camping trip at Joshua Tree National Park. Four of us sat outside and painted plein air for 90 minutes and everyone was silent. I nearly jumped out of my skin when the first person spoke! I was hooked!! The only other activity that has ever absorbed me so completely is scuba diving.
I have been painting consistently since that trip.
In 2022, I met an artist who was participating in an annual art show with the Artists Of Scottsdale Ranch. She encouraged me to apply for the 2023 show. Through my participation in the February ASR shows 2023-2025, I have sold many works and created commissions for some of the show’s patrons. I applied for and participated in two additional shows during the 2024-2025 season and this is when I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in art even though I was in my 60’s. Participating in the larger shows cemented my belief that each work of art is created for a specific individual and the challenge is to get that work in front of them. I just love the energy of the art shows and meeting all the people who wander through the tents. It feels amazing to say, “I am a full time artist!”
Here is my 2025-2026 show schedule:

16th Annual Sonoran Fine Art and Wine festival November 21, 22, 23, 2025

Phoenix Festival of the Arts December 13-14, 2025

Artists of Scottsdale Ranch January 31 – February 1, 2026

Tubac Festival of the Arts February 4-8, 2026

Downtown Chandler Fine Art & Wine Festival February 13-15, 2026

Oro Valley Fine Art & Wine Festival February 28 – March 1, 2026

Spring Art and Wine Festival Litchfield Park March 7-8, 2026 – TENTATIVE

Stagecoach Village Fine Art and Wine Festival March 20,21,22 – TENTATIVE

San Tan Village Art and Wine Festival March 27,28,29 – TENTATIVE

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

This is a tough question because I think i just had a “Go For It” personality from birth. When finance wasn’t exciting anymore, I became a teacher. When classroom teaching wasn’t exciting anymore, I became an art teacher. When teaching just felt like it was over, I became a full time artist. I guess my advice is NEVER stay in a situation that isn’t exciting anymore. When the passion wanes, move on and try something new.
Connecting with people who are ahead of you in your new journey is vital! I have several artists who helped me with technique, business management and show set up tips. It is vital to have a team of people who can help you, but you need to cultivate that team.
Lastly, Tony Robbins, Unleash The Power WIthIn, has been critical to keep me moving forward even when I think I can’t do anymore. I bought the series on Audible even though it is free on Spotify because I figured if I paid for it, I would value it more!!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

I won the parent lottery. I was raised by two fiercely independent people. They taught me to appreciate, explore and connect with the natural world. The independence they modeled transferred naturally to my personality. They explicitly taught me to always admit my mistakes, ask for forgiveness, but not worry about being forgiven because asking is all you can control. They taught me that people are inherently good, that life is fun and to always challenge myself!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.swimminglionsafineartstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimminglionsafineartstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/

Image Credits

Claudia Johnstone