Christopher David Ryan
Christopher David Ryan is a Maine-based artist whose work moves freely between fine art, graphic design, and illustration. A self-described “daydreamer, pseudo-scientist, wanna-be astronaut and untrained intellectual,” he cites music, the universe, the human condition and natural phenomena as things that inspire his work. As an art director and brand designer working with clients such as Nike, Nayuki Tea, The New York Times Magazine and Element Skateboards, Ryan’s mantra is “better living through graphics”. He has previously worked with Designtex to create a complete graphics package spanning 88 digitally printed panels for a large children’s medical center, that add warmth to all patient care spaces within the facility.
Where do you call home?
Newcastle, Maine, USA.
How would you describe your creative practice?
Formless. Feel-Flows. Often Frustrating. Non-stop.
How do you typically start your day?
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Wake
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Stretch/Meditate
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Coffee
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Drive the kids to school
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Think, Plan, Plot… on the way back to my studio.
What are some of the recurring themes and explorations in your work?
Graphic Abstraction, Organic Forms, The Inner Journey, Geometry, Color Theory
What studio item can you not live without?
That one special pencil that I fully enjoy my moments using.
What is your earliest memory of making something?
I can’t recall that there was a time when I was not making in some way. Making has always been embedded in my awareness, like code of some kind. I can often hardly remember what I made yesterday, but I do remember making a rather remarkable robot costume in the sixth grade. It was meticulously engineered with cardboard, loads of duct tape, and mirrored sunglasses.
Who are your biggest influences?
Paul Rand, Alan Watts, Alexander Calder, Joan Miro, Paul Klee, Saul Steinberg, Ellsworth Kelly, Josep Albers, Peter Saville, Maria Vettese.
What do you do when you encounter a creative block?
I pick up the block and build something with it. I embrace the block. It’s part of the journey that you’re on, bringing something from the dimension of ideas into this material dimension.
What are some small pleasures you have been folding into your life?
I love drawing with my kids. They are aged four and seven. They are great teachers, and students.
How do you know when a piece of work is complete?
The work tells me. It knows when it’s done. Sometimes I argue with it and push it further. Sometimes I regret that decision. But I take it as a learning, and move on.
Tell us about the design (or designs) you've created for Designtex.
I have created two abstract floral patterns, Budding and Blooming, for Designtex. The patterns are derived from a recent series of painted paper constructions. In these works, I explored minimizing flowers down to their simplest graphic forms, and flat areas of solid color.