New Charcoals: Shadow & Light Series

Following on from my earlier post on Arabic Script Charcoals, I have begun a series of charcoals on Shadows & Light, responding to my environment living in Dubai.

Shadow Leaves #6 charcoal on paper 71 x51 cm 2013

Shadow Leaves series #5, charcoal on paper 71 x 51 cm 2013

Shadow Leaves #3, Charcoal on paper 72 x52 cm 2013

Shangrila Lantern #1, Charcoal on paper 72 x 52 cm 2013

Shadow Leaves #1, charcoal on paper 71 x 51 cm 2013

Shadow Leaves #2, charcoal on paper 71 x 51 cm 2013

Shadow Leaves #4, charcoal on paper 71 x 51 cm 2013

Shangrila Lantern series #4 charcoal on paper 71 x 51 cm 2013

Shangrila Lantern #2, Charcoal on paper, image 51 x54 cm 2013

Shangrila Lantern #3, charcoal on paper 72 x52 cm 2013

From Australia to the Middle East Radio Interview

 This is a radio interview I recorded earlier this year when I visited Australia, about the life of an expat artist in the Middle East....(I hope the link to the interview works), it was aired today on radio to coincide with an exhibition I am included in at The Warrnambool Art Gallery

 http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/03/06/3708328.htm

From Australia to the Middle East Radio Interview

8 March, 2013 10:16AM AEDT

Kathryn Ryan - from Panmure to Dubai

By Jeremy Lee

Kathryn Ryan paints ghostly foggy pictures of south west landscapes while living on the other side of the world in Dubai.
 

There's a great contrast between the ghostly cool winter landscapes of South West Victoria and the intense heat and sand of Dubai, but it's one which Panmure born artist Kathryn Ryan faces with her work each day.

After growing up on a dairy farm in Panmure and training as an artist, Kathryn moved to Melbourne to follow her art career.
A few years ago Kathryn had a break from her art and started to write down some stories from her family which led her back to deciding to paint what she knew best - in particular growing up in the south west and the foggy winter mornings.
Kathryn was drawn to the 'quality of light' in those foggy conditions and the way shapes are highlighted.
Although the paintings have a photographic feel to them, Kathryn isn't interested in capturing the 'exact reality' of each scene, instead she uses them to get the feel of the landscape.
The process of creating each painting takes a very long time - as she explains she might have five paintings on the go at once, and it usually takes around three to four months to complete those paintings.
Kathryn moved to Dubai when her architect husband started getting work there.
It hasn't been an easy transition as an artist - there are some logistical problems including getting hold of art materials, and sending her canvasses to and from Australia.
The burgeoning artistic community in Dubai has also proved difficult to break into with Middle-Eastern artists being favoured.
Despite the challenges Kathryn has continued to work - using her air conditioned studio and paintings as a retreat into something more familiar and cool - for many months of the year it's almost too hot to go outisde in Dubai with temperatures regularly reaching 50 degrees in the summer.
At the moment, Kathryn's painting 'Winter Farm' is on show at the Warrnambool Art Gallery as a part of the rehang of their permanent collection.

• Kathryn Ryan talks about her art

Arabic Script: A New Series of Charcoals

Having lived in Dubai for over a year now, and previously in Abu Dhabi on /off for several years, I have been formulating ideas for new work for some time. It has been slowly brewing in me, taking inspiration from my new surroundings in the Middle East, constantly photographing, seeing my new world through my camera lens, (KathrynRyanPhotography ) I have been drawn to capturing the quality of light all around and slowly everything has become familiar in this very different world I now live in.When I first arrived as an expat I didn't feel I had the right to start making artwork about here... I needed time to get to know the place, to understand it, become familiar with it.

Bahjah / Joy , charcoal on paper 52 x 72 cm 2013

Al Shajarah / Tree #2, charcoal on paper 52 x 72 cm 2013

Al Shajarah / Tree #1, charcoal on paper 52 x72 cm 2013

Zaman /Time, charcoal on paper 52 x 72 cm 2013

I have many ideas I want to work on, responding to the environment and place I am living in now... To begin, I have started on a series of charcoals of Arabic Script, Naskh script. I am mostly interested in the fluid & poetic shapes of the script, taking what is small & detailed and presenting it out of context, strong , defiant, bold, beautiful, the delicate & strong juxtaposed, the mood & light they are seen in..

 Many years ago I used to make a lot of art work around ancient script, so it feels like I have returned home in some ways...

Early Work : 1992 Script, oil on canvas 122 x 183 cm

Early Work:1992 oil on canvas 183 cm x 61 cm

Early Work 1992 : Scroll, oil on canvas 122 x 183 cm

Early Work : 1991 Fragment, oil on canvas 61 x 183 cm

Early Work : 1992 Ave, oil on canvas 122 x 183 cm

Early Work : 1992 Sacred Symbols oil on canvas 92 x 214 cm

Early Work: 1994 Diptych each 214 x 183 cm overall

Kathryn Ryan New Paintings, Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney Oct 17- Nov 4 2012

I am a little slow in putting up this blog of my recent exhibition in Sydney at Tim Olsen Gallery, held Oct 17- Nov 4 ... I was so busy in the lead up to the show, madly working on all the paintings and drawings from my Dubai studio , then organizing the shipping of them to Sydney. Thankfully they all arrived safely, but left my wallet quiet empty with the expense of it all!

Cypress Boundary & Charcoal #4, charcoal on paper 52 x 72 cm & States of Grace series

L-R Sienna Cypress, Winter Light South West, Blue Silhouette all oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2012

L-R Sienna Cypress, Winter Light South West, Blue Silhouette all oil on linen 137 x183 

L-R Winter Light South West & Blue Silhouette oil on linen 137 x 183 cm $14,000.AUD

Blue Cypress oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2012 $14,000. AUD

States of Grace series #13,#16,#15,#14 oil on linen 82 x 62 cm $4,000. ea AUD

Sienna Cypress, Winter Light South West, oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2012 $14,000. AUD

Old Pines Silhouette, oil on linen 120 x 180 cm 2012 $13,000. AUD

Charcoal on paper 2012 52 x 72 cm image #5, Cluster of Cypress,#2, #6 $2,500. AUD each framed

Charcoal on paper 2012 52 x 72 cm image #5, Cluster of Cypress,#2, #6 $2,500. AUD each framed

L-R Winter Light South West, Blue Silhouette, oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2012 $14,000. AUD

Silhouette Detail # 1 & 2 oil on linen 60 x 70 cm POA

Approaching Nightfall, oil on linen 137 x 183 cm 2012 POA

Dairy Farm Pines & Old Pines in Winter, oil on linen 70 x 100 cm 2012 $6,500. AUD

Mid Winter Farm & Dairy Farm Pines, oil on linen 70 x 100 cm 2012 $6,500. AUD

Exhibition Installation Tim Olsen Gallery Sydney

Exhibition Installation Tim Olsen Gallery Sydney

 We traveled to Sydney for the show and also spent time in Melbourne and VIC catching up with friends and family... Since returning to Dubai, life has been a bit hectic, hence the lack of documenting my show... Anyhow, here are some installation shots. The works are still available through Tim Olsen Gallery and Flinders Lane Gallery and by contacting me directly...
 For details on the works please see the gallery websites : links are at the top of this page :-)

Recent Charcoals

                                 Cluster of Cypress, charcoal on stonehenge paper, 52x72cm 2012
                                          (C) all images copyright Kathryn Ryan

                                   Row of Cypress, charcoal on stonehenge paper, 52 x72cm 2012

                                        Charcoal no. 3, charcoal on stonehenge paper 52x72cm 2012

                                      Charcoal no.4, charcoal on stonehenge paper, 52 x 72cm 2012

                                  charcoal no. 5, charcoal on stonehenge paper, 52x72 cm 2012

                                  charcoal no. 6, charcoal on stonehenge paper, 52x72cm 2012
Working in charcoal was one of my first loves...I have always loved this medium and enjoy the intimacy, immediacy, and connection to the artwork being made. These days, playing some fave old music in the studio and doing charcoals again takes me back to my early days as an artist. It has been about 10 years since I have drawn in charcoal. Some of my most favourite works are charcoals from about 1999 that I have in my own collection. The years of busy exhibition schedules and the demand for the large oil paintings had kept me away from this beautiful medium. I am very happy to have reconnected and to be drawing again with charcoal. These charcoals will be part of my forthcoming solo exhibition at Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney, October 17- Nov 4th. I plan on continuing with the charcoals from now!

Recent News

I have been selected as a Finalist for the Geelong Contemporary Art Prize, a $30,000. acquisitive prize. The exhibition will be held at The Geelong Art Gallery, Victoria, September14 -November 18 2012. The winner of the acquisitive award will be announced at the official opening on September 14, 6-8pm

My painting Approaching Fog, oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2011, will be exhibited.

I have also been selected as a finalist in the John Leslie Art Prize, a $15,000.prize for landscape. The exhibition will be held at The Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, Victoria, September 28- November 25 2012, with the official opening and announcement of winners on September 28th.

My painting 'Farm Hedges in Winter'oil on linen, 137x183cm 2011, will be exhibited.

 My forthcoming exhibition will be held at Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney October 17- Nov 4th 2012 with the opening night Wednesday October 17th. I will be returning to Australia for the show and look forward to catching up with everyone! 'Blue Silhouette' oil on linen 137 x 183 cm 2012

I am very happy to see this painting go to a new home ....Recently sold through Tim Olsen Gallery, Sydney : Glen Coe Pass, oil on linen 137 x 183 cm. Further paintings available through the gallery www.timolsengallery.com

A recent acquisition has been made by RACV Collection through Flinders Lane Gallery Melbourne. They have acquired 'Top Paddock', oil on linen 137 x183 cm 2011.www.flg.com.au