- And I'll keep that in the distance.
I'll use more reds and intense greens, dark greens,
as we get closer to the front
just to separate, to create distance.
Artists learn how to see things in a different way obviously.
- A tromp l'oeil is a painting
that creates an illusion of a three-dimensional object,
bringing life and depth to a flat surface.
- I'm pretty convinced that, from childhood,
the world I look at
is not the same world that everybody sees.
- But Ram Rojas doesn't just want to fool your eyes,
he wants his art to inspire you.
To see the presence of the divine all around you.
- Everything that you paint says something about the story.
So nothing is disconnected.
- That's true for Ram's art and his life.
- I think the way you live your life influences your artwork.
There's no question about it.
- Ram's story begins in his home country of Venezuela,
where his talent as an artist was noticed early.
- I think art happened to me.
I don't think I chose it.
- His mother enrolled him in art school
around the time
he started to question his Catholic faith.
- I started to be attracted to other philosophies.
I read a lot.
And I started to look for answers.
- A Hindu group had a chapter in Venezuela
and came to the art school.
When they saw Ram already drawing Hindu art,
they asked if he wanted to come to the United States.
- They told me I was going to paint for their publications.
I think there was an element of serendipity.
What were the chances they will find me
and I was painting--
happened to be painting a Hindu.
- At age 18, Ram came to a new country,
learned a new language and converted to a new religion.
- I did become a very strong believer at the time.
They believed that we must live a life of devotion towards God.
My meditation was painting.
My devotion, my prayer.
Everything was painting.
- The Hindu group sent Ram around the world
to learn from the old masters in Italy and France.
- Basically Renaissance-style art.
Classical rendition of Hindu art.
- His depictions of the Hindu gods became the new standards.
- For me, it was 100% diving into the philosophy.
I was illustrating it
and these books were distributed
in every language all over the world.
- Eventually the Hindu group splintered from within
and Ram drifted away from Hinduism.
A few years later, a gallery owner in Wisconsin
asked him to come
and paint some iconic scenes in Door County.
- Door County, when I came here 27 years ago,
was a lot like a little village.
It's very much an artists' community.
- Over time, Ram continued to travel
but always returned to Wisconsin.
- Door County is unique, you know that.
But it's got a beautiful setting,
which I have lived in gorgeous settings all over the world,
so that wasn't it.
It has people that are very cultured and progressive
living in a country setting.
That's probably pretty unique.
- Ram went from painting gods
to painting farmers and vacationers.
- I was fascinated with the Hindu paintings
that I painted and reading the stories.
So when I came here,
I was just as amazed with the American life.
This is the closest I've gotten to normalcy ever in my life.
- Ram has returned to his Christian roots
but the Hindu influence is still there.
- I believe that everything is part of the one and I see it.
That's how I see my paintings.
If I'm painting this couple, as a wedding portrait,
I'm thinking, "Well these are parts of the whole."
I'm not thinking it's just Martha and John.
I see much more in them
and I think that filters through my art.
* *
- Ram tries to show the light in everything,
from watercolors of Door County's hidden spots
* *
to his life-size mural in Bailey's Harbor.
- Beautiful work. - Thank you.
- Absolutely gorgeous. - Thank you.
- Every year we enjoy it and we see more and more.
- It's another tromp l'oeil and the illusion tells a story,
bringing life and depth to the town's history.
- When you're looking at it next to it, it's...
but now I see the side of the building.
Oh my gosh, it's just brilliant.
It's just amazing.
- No other art can speak the way a mural speaks to a community.
- It's a community that Ram now places himself in.
Not just observing and painting but living.
- My name? Ram Rojas.
I've been painting here for 27 years.
- Really? - I'm a local.
- His art has influenced people across the world
but from Ram's perspective,
he's just happy to have found a place to call home.
- I'm grateful that I found this town.
I'm grateful that it gave me a home.
These type of flowers are very common out there.
That's because everybody wants to go and see the show.
[laughter]
- If you were only smaller. [chuckling]