There was always one skill Ryan Henry had in his back pocket as he saw his journalism fade like a setting sun in one of his paintings. 

The Rio Grande Valley-area newspapers that Henry so capably served for over two decades have clearly seen their better days. There was no lessening of his own interests and commitment to newspapering, but Henry grew tired of years-long struggles as an editor in dealing with declining resources and staffs to cover communities he knows so well.

Fortunately, there is another outlet for Henry’s talents and his enduring connections to the region where he grew up and still lives. Henry is a plein-air artist, a French term to describe depictions of outdoors life. In Henry’s case, it’s a painting of the Queen Isabella Memorial Causeway with the Port Isabel Lighthouse seen in the distant background. Another example of his artwork features a look at historic buildings in downtown Brownsville.

One of his most recent paintings include the Pirate’s Landing fishing pier in Port Isabel with background skies scattered in blues and yellows. Another painting depicts shrimping boats clustered together at the Port of Brownsville’s fishing harbor. 

“Landscapes in the Rio Grande Valley are not going to have mountains or a Grand Canyon,” Henry said. “You get to know your local geography and translate that into your art.”

Art & Business

Henry is the newest artist in residency at the Art Business Incubator of South Padre Island.

It will be a one-year stay in working amidst other artists in residency there and having the opportunity to sell his paintings directly to appreciative walk-in customers along with serious art collectors. There is knowledge to be shared amongst the group of artists at the incubator, not to mention inspiration and motivation. The biggest lessons for Henry, however, may come in learning the business of selling art. It is the insights and instruction given in that area which greatly interests the journalist turned artist.

“Can I make a living out of it?” Henry asks of being a fulltime artist. “Can I be a good entrepreneur? Ultimately, it’s not as much about how they can improve my art as it is helping me succeed business-wise.”

Henry describes it as going from the transition of painting for yourself and family to creating art for others with no past personal associations. It could be someone who randomly finds a painting that fits with the décor of a home or a collector with a particular interest in a style of art.

“It’s devoting yourself to manufacturing art, marketing it and trying to sell it,” Henry said. “The reality is if you want to make art for people you have to learn what they like. Someone who buys art has to love it, be able to afford it and have a place to put it.”

‘A Magical Place’

A recent visit to the SPI art incubator found Henry at his workstation with some of his paintings laid out in front of him. 

True to form and aligned with his interests, there are two paintings featuring downtown Brownsville. One depicts Market Square at night, lights twinkling, with another of the city’s iconic Elizabeth Street and the tall signage of the old Majestic Theater jutting out against orange red twilight skies. Other paintings highlight the coastal life where Henry finds himself these days. Birds on the surf and people walking down the beach are among the artwork hanging on the wall above his table.

There’s also a three paragraph-long bio of Henry with long sentences that wrap around a picture of the artist. The story describes him as being an artist who “captures the spirit, sensations and scenes of South Texas.” Henry was born in West Texas, came to the Valley as a youth and grew up in Weslaco. 

“People from the Valley think of South Padre Island as being their backyard,” Henry said. “It’s a sweet spot, like they own it, a special magical place where they meet up with family, have weddings and reunions. We all connect to it.”

It’s the magical place where Henry wanted to be in making the transition to a new life – and now he is, an Island boy with a re-energized dedication to his art.

“There’s a vulnerability to being an artist,” he said. “You put your work out there and you’re going to be judged on something you love and have a heart and passion to do.”

Early reviews indicate he’s an artist off to a good start on a new chapter of a lifelong endeavor.