Elise Hawthorne
Paul Ryan uses oils on linen like no other. The richness of his imagery is captivating and somehow feels out of this world. He seems to grab on to what the face has to offer in terms of interpreting what his subjects have encounter along their journeys.
Wild Colonial Boys past and present seem to be a theme running through in his work – how very Australian of him and I love him for it. I can easily escape into his landscapes, wild and untamed; I suspect a bit like Paul himself. Paul recently remarked, “Nature is the most important thing in my life after family”.
He has always drawn and painted and in his early 20s he commenced studying creative arts at the University of Wollongong; this was the beginning of the journey of making art his full time career.
Paul is inspired by a diverse array of muses ranging from writers Cormac McCarthy, Truman Capote and John Steinbeck to Bonny Prince Billy, Caravaggio and Goya. My bet is Paul’s art is inspiring others and will continue to do so.
His current exhibition Happy Days On the Leisure Coast boasts an interesting array of landscapes with a slightly moody dark vibe to them, some colonial inspired paintings as well as portraits of people he knows and find interesting.
I for one am keenly awaiting Paul’s Archibald entry; I will have to wait till July to view that treasure, until then I suggest you don’t miss his current exhibition if you happen to be in Sydney this month.
Paul Ryan
Happy Days On The Leisure Coast
26 February – 29 March
OLSEN IRWIN
www.timolsengallery.com/pages/exhibition_details.php?exhibition_id=466
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