ABOUT ME
I am a working artist. The better part of my days are spent creating in my studio. Additional hours are filled by pursuing the who what and how of making a living in this nobel pursuit. I got rather good at it early on…identifying where my work belonged and eventually, how to help other artists do the same. Today, a slice of my time is devoted to being a marketing coach to emerging artists who are striving to identify where they fit in the marketplace beyond their studio walls.
But mostly, I am a painter. I work primarily in soft pastels and secondarily in oils. I am attracted to landscapes.
The underlying theme that runs through all of my work is the idea of a heightened reality. Growing up in Los Angeles, I was inspired by the saturated light and color of the Southern California landscape. Additionally, a somewhat metaphysical element drives my creative process. I have always been intrigued by my own dream imagery - that heightened sense of reality that is experienced in the rare lucid dream or in moments of pure transcendence. My goal is to paint landscapes that exist on a slightly higher vibration to create an enhanced sense of mood and feeling…
Soft pastel has been my preferred medium since I first started exploring with it in college. Nothing compares to those pigments to achieve the rich color and spontaneity they provide. I work with numerous varieties and brands from the butter-like Unison to the soft Sennelier, as well as homemade sticks. My surfaces are the finest archival papers and prepared boards. Layers of color are applied and some blending is achieved using fingers and blending sticks. Rather than adopting a technique I utilize my formal training as a painter to create my work. Additionally, I have continued to explore landscape themes in oil on canvas. My recent interest has been in the natural and altered terrain of the farmland, wine country, rivers, marshlands and coastal regions of the Western States and beyond.
I am a wife and mother. Our family lives beyond the redwoods and near the ocean, in the artist friendly city of Eureka, California. Its a sweet life here.
View Victoria Ryan's profile
Victoria, I LOVE your work. I know absolutely nothing about pastel technique since I’m a fine art and commercial photographer. I think you and I see and capture similar moods. Here is a very small selection of my Delta work: http://www.turnerphoto.com/delta_habitat/
My challenge now is finding art consultants and venues to contract with. Here is a look at some recent corporate installations: http://www.turnerphoto.com//Art_Installations/
I found you on LinkedIn. May I invite you to connect?
Thanks for reading this far. –Rich Turner
Victoria, thank you so much for commenting on our blog at Meylah. Your work is absolutely breathtaking. It reminds me of so many incredible places, like the wine country in the Russian River Valley (one of my favorite places on earth) as well as my great grandfather’s farm. Thanks again & we hope to see you back at Meylah again soon!
Hi Victoria:
Wow! I went to your website to catch a glimpse of your work… I love what you create.
The use of color and light is incredible. Thank you. What a gift. Look forward to seeing you next week. Take care- Marilyn
Hi Victoria:
From one artist to another… I love your work… and I thought I come and checkout your work since you’ve got my name on a list that you’ve curated over on Twitter… love the net… when I have more time I’ll sit back and read your blogs.. and yes you can find me on Linked In too… all the very best in the holiday season… thanks for connecting with me.. I’m very pleased to connect with you.
And your work is absolutely lovely too. Glad to make your acquaintance.