Artist Feature: Patrick Sean O’Malley

Patrick Sean O’Malley was raised in the Southern California south bay area and knew from an early age that he was destined to be an artist. In high school (North Torrance High), after being sent to the Dean’s office for drawing portraits of his teachers on his desk (the math teacher drawn as Batman being the final straw that broke the camel’s back), the Dean encouraged the art teacher to help Sean find a creative outlet for his artistic skills. This led to Sean drawing T-shirt designs for a local beachwear company.

After high school, Sean attended El Camino Junior College and majored in Studio Art for four years while supervising a retail art supply store. While attending El Camino, the drawing instructor was so impressed with Sean’s work that he went out of his way to photograph and create a portfolio for Sean to submit to various Fine Art schools. He also recommended Humboldt State University as one of the best schools to expand Sean’s artistic horizons.

Sean attended Humboldt State University for six years studying both Studio Art and Art History. Upon returning to the Los Angeles area, he came upon his first extensive art project, working exclusively for one client in Hermosa Beach, painting in her beach houses for a period of five years.

After the Hermosa Beach houses project was completed, Sean continued painting murals at various other residential locations, as well as larger company locations, such as Federal Express.

In 2006, Sean was commissioned to paint his first mural at Torrance Memorial Medical Center; four scenic wooden panels to be placed around the cafeteria outside seating area (more panels were added later). Since the cafeteria panels worked out so well, he also painted a similarly scenic, 78-foot temporary construction wall outside of TCU. Many more TMMC art murals followed, including X-Ray Room 8, Escort Services, Pre-Op Holding, Main Lobby Waiting Area, and Pediatrics. One of Sean’s most infamous projects began in 2007 when he painted 22 dog portraits for the TMMC Canine Pet Visitation Program. More canine pet portraits have been added throughout the years.

Outside of TMMC, Sean has painted many pet portraits including both dogs and cats. He hopes to be able to expand his pet portrait projects to include horses. Actually, any and all pets would be fun!

Sean is also an accomplished musician and bass player and he and his wife, Melissa, are in several bands. They have four children and reside in southern California.

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