Rising Stars: Meet Alán Ramiro Manning

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alán Ramiro Manning.

Hi Alán, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
There I was catching my breath on the train after running through the halls with a bag full of coins. The train door closes and a full rush of chills envelopes me as a tear drops from my eye. It really worked. I made enough money to eat for two weeks selling my sketches on the streets of Barcelona. This is where “see the lines” began. Now let me take you to the beginning.

I am a first-generation American born to an Austrian/Hungarian Father, John, and a Mexican Mother, Alba. The youngest of three, I was raised in the quaint suburbs of Temecula, California. There wasn’t much to do as a child other than ride bikes, create home movies, play with bugs, and sketch all day. Somewhere along the way, I lost the tenacious ability to draw. As I sit here to reflect on what may have caused this, I would be remiss to not share the pain our family experienced.

My dad had an incurable neurological disease named, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). In the eight years, he was ill the disease slowly caused him to go from a hero to a vegetable. Though his mind and body failed him, my dad’s faith and spirit endured. He left this world when I was 17 years old, leaving behind a legacy of passion, creativity, joy, charisma, and a lot of love.

When I was nine years old before my dad got sick I was obsessed with sketching so I decided to pursue a career in architecture the fact that architects are sketch artists who build and are needed in society. It wasn’t until I prepared to study architecture abroad in Spain when I was 24 that it became my mission to master the ability to sketch.

At my first architecture firm internship, I shared my brand new sketchbook with an older project manager who said to me, “I remember when I used to sketch…” That look of regret in his eyes as he sulked in his chair shook me from within and led me to instill sketching as a living-breathing lifestyle while helping others do the same.

I was recently sifting through boxes cleaning and preparing to move when I stumbled on my dad’s memoir written when he was a young actor in the 1960s. A line reads, “He would someday like to write and is constantly searching to know me to be able to have the freedom to create and to be totally creative in art.” In a powerful way, I am inadvertently fulfilling his dream. Isn’t that what a legacy is? We are our ancestors’ legacy. It’s our will to fulfill those seeds.

After the ability to sketch was reawakened and I finished my degree in architecture at Woodbury University I went on a 4-month solo backpacking journey through Asia. Traveling alone is a choice but you’re never quite alone. The trusty sketchbook connects you to yourself, the environment, and the curious people who discover you.

‘Solo but never lonely’ came to be the motto. That was the catalyst that led me to “see the lines.” By creating an experience for people that elicits connection and a memory to savor, urban sketching became a means to create, connect and serve.

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?
Just passing through the threshold of accepting and identifying as an artist, was the first obstacle to get over. The ex-perfectionist way of thinking limited me from growing. I was fearful of using ink or color in my sketches and they would take far too many hours to complete.

It wasn’t until there was a need to advance that I made it happen. Necessity is the mother of invention, my Spain mom shared that quote with me and it’s true. Because I ran out of time and money living in Spain without completing my mission to master the skills required to sketch that lit a fire and led me to learn faster, take bigger risks and even sell my artwork on the streets of Barcelona.

Another big struggle was getting into teaching. I have a deep desire to create, connect and serve and teaching how to sketch is a great way to do it. I know the inner fight and hesitations many have toward sketching. Since I’m not too many years away from that time of my life I can relate with and guide others toward their calling. I learned that you just have to be a step ahead to teach others who are on a similar journey.

The artist’s journey is ever-evolving. Once one obstacle has been overcome, two more pop up. I’m starting to see the pattern and accept it as an exciting aspect of the journey.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Professionally this has led to a career as an architectural designer whilst teaching online sketching courses, and workshops, and creating bespoke commissions of architectural illustrations.

Some of my clients include hospitality, realtors, homeowners, and travelers. For realtors it’s a fun and unique partnership; sketches can be used as closing/parting gifts or to highlight a home for a monthly newsletter. I am currently accepting commissions and am open to remote work collaborations.

Personally, I’m a big ritual guy. I love a good morning routine followed by an active day of checking in with myself through prayer and spiritual devotion. A good day goes like this; rise with awareness of my breath then reach for a book that feeds my spirit. Sketch to a sand timer, a shot of diluted apple cider vinegar, coffee/writing, green drink, vitamins, and supplements then a morning blast workout of a century of push-ups and squats.

My body, mind, and spirit are fired up, now it’s time for a cold shower. But it’s not really cold, I shout like a madman in the shower; things like, “heat is generated from within, I accept, YES, thank you, I’m in an exotic waterfall and it’s SO refreshing! (said in an Australian accent). By the time my madman shouts subsided I’d forgotten, I’m even taking a cold shower. Then the gift is given clarity and insight for a fresh new day. In the office, you’ll find me dropping down to do push-ups throughout the day or doing lunges to and from the kitchen.

Pushing my chair back to release tension and set an intention. When I get home from the day before anything I make sure to say thank you for the day. I pour myself an elixir-like carrot juice and sit in the center of my living room and visualize how the day went. A fire sensation is felt in my belly and that brings a smile to my face. I release the day and have the rest of the evening to focus on creative projects, reading, writing, and cooking.

Sketching has been an amazing vehicle to travel all around the world and connect with newfound friendships. With 20 countries visited so far I want to share that gift with others by empowering them to channel their own creativity through sketching and traveling. On seethelines.com members can access an ever-growing library of online urban sketching courses shot on-location via an interactive world map. You just click on the map and a video course appears.

To fill the map in March 2022, I will embark on a world sketching voyage that’ll trek through Latin America over to Africa up to Europe, and then to Asia all the while creating sketching courses in each country. During this tour, I’ll experiment with how many doors and opportunities I can open with my skills and gifts.

I’ve discovered that an area of my life’s purpose is to be a guide to awaken others’ intuitive sketching skills without needing technical know-how. We were all created with a unique gift and if you have just that spark, an inner desire that is asking you to sketch, to create; it’s there for a reason and I am here to help guide you to rise to the calling.

We see this by learning visualization. We sketch by understanding space intuitively. We see the lines.

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood pastime has to be playing in our Temecula backyard.

We had this beautiful view overlooking the wineries. On the weekends we’d see the hot air balloons early in the morning. I loved having pool parties every hot summer.

And most of all I loved swimming with my dad. Held onto his back while he swam and danced and sang to the latest hits. Good wholesome times.

Pricing:

• 8″x10″: $225
• 9″x12″: $295
• 11″x14″: $385
• Monthly Access Membership: $13/mo

Contact Info:

• Email: alan@seethelines.com
• Website: seethelines.com
• Instagram: @seethelines
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/weseethelines/

Image Credits:
Sandra @san_kow