His story, his city, his way: New Bedford artist talks viral Belichick painting, work ethic

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — It was a quiet moment on the beach, Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson mid-yoga.

But when that moment hit the canvas, it became something bigger: “The Belichick Way.”

The painting went viral, a mix of humor, pop culture and precision.

But for artist Ryan McFee, it was about more than just the image.

“All these years he’s just super serious. You don’t see him candidly,” said McFee of the stoic Belichick.

“He’s always just, you know, monotone, and when you see him kind of laid-back. And then you see him on the beach having a good time with his special lady friend. That just brought a smile to my face.”

“It’s all about hard work, and then when you see the Patriot way that came out over the years, of the Patriots working as a team, and how hard work it is, it’s about practice,” said McFee.

“And working harder translates to what I do, like nothing happens in my life unless I work at it.”

McFee may work from a studio in New Bedford, but the city itself has become his canvas, its walls, its bars, even bricks along the street.

He brings bold color to blank brick, turning gray into gallery, injecting emotion and local pride into the spaces we pass every day.

“It’s funny. I’ve been doing this for so long, and I’ve never really, I’ve never been bored,” said McFee.

“You know, I gotta do commissions for people most of my life, because it makes them happy, you know?”

The world is what you make of it. And if you add art to it, it just makes it better.

From the Belichick Way to the McFee way, Ryan McFee is painting his story, his city, his way.