Tony Ryals
Tony Ryals
Artist - "Never Give Up!"
All of Tony’s paintings and drawings are created the only way he can, by grasping brush’s or fine line pens and pencils in his MOUTH. If his paintings and drawings could talk, they would tell you about the job of overcoming many obstacles and challenges. Even his own doctors are constantly amazed at what he has accomplished. Therefore, that’s why Tony says, "Never Give Up" no matter what!
In 1959, Tony was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a birth defect called Arthrogrypososis, which locks up all of the joints in his arms and legs. This extremely rare condition left his limbs virtually useless. Less than two years old Tony was taken in as a foster child of the Jack and Evelyn Ryals family of five. This was the beginning of many miracles to come without the use of his arms for reaching or hands to play with toys, he developed amazing dexterity and coordination using only his mouth and neck muscles. With his new family’s love and encouragement Tony was soon bringing home sketchy figures in simple elementary drawings of pets, places, family members, or anything that is stuck in his mind. This activity became his favorite outlook to express his feelings it was like Tony's Hopes and Dreams on canvas.
In 1974, his quest and lifelong goal for independence began. Tony became one of the first quadriplegics ever to attend mainstream public school. While at Paxon Jr High School, he made his first sale there was an exquisitely detailed pencil drawing of a Seminole Indian head which sold for $50. And so a career was born. Soon his art was selling and competing successfully in many fine art shows, where even the judges and purchasers had no idea of his physical impairments.
Following years of hard work and determination as an artist earned him recognition from the mayor of Jacksonville and other various congressmen in Florida. Tony's art received national coverage while being shown in the state capital building, on CNN, and the Today Show along with hundreds of other TV and newspapers across the country, some featured as great human interest stories.
Tony Ryals's Official Website