Amanda : When did you realize you wanted to become an artist ?
Bryan : Pretty much my whole life , but I think I got into it more in the last 7 yrs . It seemed very calming and helped me with my anxiety . It kind of helped me though my issues with anxiety .
A : Did you go to school for art ?
B : No . Mostly I ’ m self-taught , and have learned from others . People have helped here and there .
A : Do you get frustrated when you are trying to learn a new technique ?
B : Yes , but I know to breath through it . I ’ m very heavily into my breathing techniques to help me stay calm and it ( proper breathing ) helps me concentrate .
A : How many pieces do you think you have done so far ?
B : ( laughs ) Probably over 300 in the last 7 years .
A : What is the largest piece you have done ?
B : 40X60 . A Tree of Life that was finished in 11 hours . ( Katelyn and Bryan Video taped .
Katelyn Kroh , Bryan ’ s beautiful bride , says it was the most beautiful piece Bryan has ever done . Bryan said he ended up trading it to an Art Collector for some Roman coins .
B : For me it ’ s never been about the money . It ’ s more about making people Happy . I prefer to do the work , That ’ s why I do it .
A : Do you make any funny expressions on your face while painting ?
B : ( laughs ) Yes I sometimes end up with my tongue sticking out while I ’ m painting .
A : Have you been participating in any festivals or shows to promote your work ?
B : I just started doing that . I joined B . D . A . C . ( Bismarck Downtown Artist Cooperative ) last year as a full time member . Other than that , I have just done Digital Rising . I also donated to a silent auction for a friend that passed away from cancer . Michael Crawford inspired me through his own drawings . I think if he were still here , he would have gone far .
A : What social media platforms do you use to promote your artwork ?
B : I have a facebook page under www . facebook . com / ravensllc I also have some of my personal work on instagram also on ravens llc . I also have a website : www . gallery . com / ravensllc
A : Out of everything you have done thus far , can you tell me any crazy , strange but true fan or trip stories ?
B : I practice holistic healing , through healing hands it ’ s called Reiki , I took a trip to Washington because this lady said she was a Reverend and Master level Reiki healer . I met her on a spiritual page on Facebook , and she seemed to know what she was talking about . Unfortunately , when I got there she was neither of those things .
She lived in a shack in the middle of no where . I kind of felt like I was in a scary movie . She said a wizard lived in her house and told her what she had to do . She kept her door open .
There was strange writing all over her walls . She would just light matches and when she did she looked like she changed shape . She also said she was in charge of the Ashtar Galactic Command . What I saw I saw … and then I left right away !
When I deleted her from facebook , facebook said , “ I ’ m sorry you had this experience .“
A : Have you ever repeated that story to anyone before , and do they think you ’ re crazy ?
B : Yes and everyone looks at you like “ Whaaat ?”. In the last 7 years , while I have been working on my painting , I have read about every religion , down to their basis .
I ’ m trying to understand what ’ s missing in each one . Like , all of the problems in each . Putting them together is kind of like putting a puzzle together .