Let’s talk about process. What’s the original spark for some of the work. Where is it coming from?

The concept of my current work stemmed from my dads fly fishing feathers. He passed away about 3 years ago. My sister and I were going through heaps of his belongings and I found this old brief case full of really colorful feathers, fur, and other nonsense he had used to make lures for fly fishing. The idea of fly fishing seemed very simple; use/manipulate nature to capture nature. I then had an immediate connection to the feathers representational value dealing with religion or other worldly aspects through ascension, transformation, ect.

The physical process of my work is very similar. I work on the floor and run around what ever I am working on, usually several at the same time, using the feathers to create the imagery. I feel the overall concept of transformation becomes more apparent in the materials I use. I seldom go to “art stores” for supplies. I shop at Home Depot. All of the material I use is extremely working class however when combined and manipulated, they achieve gallery status or that of art.

It seems to have sort of grown to be more involved from some of the earlier works of this style. Can you explain?

I think progression is only natural. When you have a strong concept there are endless combinations to present imagery within layers/partitions/applications, etc. so the sky’s the limit…..unless you feel like you have exhausted the concept or just get plain bored.

Would you consider your art to be abstract?

Some times I’m not sure. I hate to pigeon hole or label art but by popular definition, yes it is abstract: (sub-genre: conceptually representational abstraction/aesthetic traffic jam/shifty street-level cuts.

Any artists out there provide any inspiration to you?

I’m fucking in love with David Ratcliff. He is extremely inspirational in every which way possible. My uncle Richard has a direct and heavy influence on everything I produce as well, he’s almost like my mentor (do they still have those?)  My peers are also super influential: Ian Bragg, Michael Mason, Kyle Monk, Foof and Mike Meyers.  Friends and family. I guess anything that I feel connected to…..I like the following at the moment: witchcraft symbols, vintage country western album covers, Dan Colens’ art,  European book art, my dads old Dodger cards, any type of Barnum and Baileys circus programs from my childhood, The Flying Nun 25th Anniversary Box set………the list is long……

Does music play a role into anything you do?

Music plays a large roll in everything I do. I am obsessed with music and I’m not embarrassed to admit it. I listen to a lot of instrumental stuff when I paint like Growing, Earth, Bix Beiderbecke, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Wooden Shjips…or noisy stuff like, Dead C, Magik Markers, This Heat, Weird War, and Old Time Relijun. I guess the whole lo-fi pop thing is cool right now. I like the Dum Dum Girls and Mayfair Set. Pink Reason will always be the best and I really like the Sic Alps, Crystal Stilts, Beach Fossils,  Black Tambourine, Sore Eros…………I always revisit the oldies too. Those make me feel good.

Mr. Ward was kind enough to put together a little mix of music he’s be listening to lately. We like!

You can dowload from Media Fire here.

Or you can download from us too. (Right Click – Download linked file.)

Ryan will also be in a show October 17th 2009 (This Saturday) – Part of the Mickey Etinger Group Show at Cannibal Flower.

http://www.cannibalflower.com/

The address is 5797 Washington Blvd. The cross street is Fairfax.

Google Map It

If you can’t read the track list above, here it is:

1. No Sweat – Blues Control

2. To Clean – Woods

3. Batwing – The Terminals

4. 4 Cheveux dans le vent – Bainc Didonc

5. Ghost In The Trees – Thee Oh Sees

6. My Bag – The Usual We

7. Broken Heart – Ourself Beside Me

8. Smile On Your Face – Sore Eros

9. Daydream- Beach Fossils

10. Moon Dreams – Desolation Wilderness

11. Pink Frost – The Chills

12. Faith – Faith

13. Crazy Dreams – Searchers

14.Gritical – Dead Luke

15. Bells – Sic Alps

16. LP6 – Fabulous Diamonds

17. Highly Evolved – Brilliant Colors

18. Trouble  – Lindsey Buckingham

19. Don’t Talk In Your Sleep – Magik Markers

20. Kiss of Fire – Georgia Gibbs

21. Your Will – Gun Outfit

22. Aku Tetap Sadar – Dara Puspita

23. Joe 90 – Bored Games

24. Back on the Chain Gang – The Pretenders