Art & Life with Osiris Rain

Today we’d like to introduce you to Osiris Rain.

Osiris, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born (1986) in Waxhaw, North Carolina on a 10-acre homestead. At the age of 14, I moved to Charlotte, NC to attend a magnet arts school (Northwest School of the Arts) for visual art. When I realized that I wasn’t learning the skillsets that I thought I should be learning, I dropped out of school at 16 after being accepted to the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy. I worked the rest of the Spring and Summer of that year in construction to pay for my studio and tuition in Florence and moved to Italy that fall. I ran out of money about six months into living there, so I only received minimal training. So I moved just outside of Toronto to work for an art gallery on the wine escarpment. There I began a correspondence with Norweigian painter Odd Nerdrum, and when I was 19, I was invited to apprentice for the summer at the farm/studio in Stavern, Norway. I spent three months there that summer.

Afterward, I moved back to Charlotte, NC, where I began exhibiting my work in galleries on the east coast. The market for realism wasn’t/isn’t that strong so I ended up going into the film industry as a rigging/set grip and then later as a scenic painter. This is where I gained a lot of the skills that balanced my fine art background with the industrial construction nature of what would later become my mural career. Then, about four-ish years ago, the governor of NC cut the tax incentives to the film industry and I lost my job, as I wasn’t in a position to move to another state at that time. So I took a jump and used my savings to try to make a living as a muralist. For the first year, I primarily painted signs for local businesses, then after finally having a chance to paint a largish mural, I started receiving commissions back to back for works throughout the city of Charlotte, and then eventually throughout the country (which led me to my residence in Phoenix) and then subsequently more commissions internationally. And then, here I am. 2020 and just trying to keep my head on my shoulders and my hands towards the walls.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I primarily create large scale (some small) public murals. Their focus usually contains a figurative or portrait element as my background has always been largely influenced by classical painting. I also enjoy the intimacy and vulnerability of the human form in all of its subtle complexity. Most of my murals in the past have focused on a figurative element painted in greyscale existing with a full-color abstract setting as a design decision to bring the primary focus to the human elements of the piece.

Though, recently I have been moving towards full-color renderings in most of my pieces. The goal with my work is to create a sense of tranquility and peace for the viewer as most of my works are seen in the element of a busy urban environment, much like their design structure, I want them to operate as a stark contrast to the environment around them. I want them to give the viewer a pause to reflect. If even only for the briefest of moments.

Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Hustle. Be passionate about what you do and others will be passionate with you. But, don’t ever forget that this is work. And you will never succeed unless you put in the hours and the sweat.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can view my work in a number of major cities throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Online you can view my work at www.osirisrainstudios.com. You can support my work by sharing it with people you know. Or have a wall available and are in the position to commission mural, please do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.osirisrainstudios.com
• Phone: 7046044195
• Email: osirisrain@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osirisrain/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/osirisrainstudios/

Image Credit:
Matthew Spivey; Nubia Bastos; Kady Yellow

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