Victoria Ryan » Images of Water

Getting a Jump on October

victoriaryan — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:55:23 +0000

Busy time continues and I’ve been holed up in my studio for the past few weeks working away. Sometimes the business of being an artist means juggling deadlines, details and most importantly, showing up. In addition to a large commission, which thank goodness I have a few months to complete, I have gallery shows and another art festival this opening this weekend. This pastel is for a group show at Studio Seven Fine Arts in Pleasanton, California through October.

This weekend is also the LaJolla Art and Wine Festival where I will be showing new work. This is the last festival of the season and the year. I’m looking forward to spending some time on the Southern California coast, visiting friends and family and taking a much needed break with my sweet husband. I did a series of small paintings revisting my ocean series. The beach is where I go to clear my mind and refresh my creative juices and it just seemed fitting to return to this imagery after a work filled season. This was a long summer and I’m ready for fall. Bring on the autumn color!

See you on the other side.

“Nature’s Way” Solo Show at Art Brokers, Inc.

victoriaryan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 20:02:59 +0000

"Harmony" 20x27" Pastel

March 27-April 26….New Pastels at Art Brokers Inc., 2660 Bridgeway, Sausalito, CA

Opening Reception: March 27 from 6-9 PM. Please come celebrate with me. This latest body of work is a decisively more intimate view of the landscape with emphasis on painterly images of streams and other waterways, a commonly explored theme in my work. New prints will also be unveiled at this show.

My Continuing Love Affair with Water

victoriaryan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:41:59 +0000

"Winter Wildflowers" 23x31

Artists have been drawn to images of water, with its aesthetic and evocative qualities since the early cave man drawings. There is a soothing quality to water…and evidenced based studies have shown that images of water create a calming, restful environment in healthcare settings.

I was drawn to this composition because of the strong blue sky reflection in this closed in waterway near my home in Eureka. The winter brush and spent wildflowers had an amazing depth of color to play with. This is one of the paintings that will be featured in my upcoming show at Art Brokers in Sausalito. I will post additional images from the show in upcoming days.

I’ve wondered why I rarely paint seascapes since I’ve lived on the Pacific coast for the past 7 years. I think I should make that be one of my challenges…

Substrates Part II

victoriaryan — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 22:12:39 +0000

One of my favorite new surfaces to work on is UART sanded pastel paper. Similar to Ersta, which was not ph neutral and therefore not a suitable choice, the UART has a great sanded surface that holds pastel well. Unlike Sennelier LaCarte, which is great for slowly building glazes of color, the UART creates a painterly surface. Many layers can be developed with thick applications. It is a completely different way of working than with the LaCarte and I love the abillity to chance course. Especially since I have started working in oils again since last year, working with the UARt really opens up a new experience in painting in pastel. These paintings are from a series I am developing from a trip to Ashland Oregon in November. The light on the river running through Lithia park made for a plethora of great views to explore.