Bio – Exhibits – Honors

Biography:

Virginia artist Robyn Ryan celebrates life through art; the making of it, the appreciation of it, and the sharing of it.  She expresses joy in her artwork through her perception of and reaction to the world we live in and the creatures we share it with.

Robyn is inspired by living things; their mystery, complexity, shapes, movement, energy, personality, environment, and relationships with each other.  She captures her subjects in “candid” moments and “glimpses” frozen in time for the viewer to engage and linger with.  Robyn enjoys conveying the underlying idea, impression, or “essence” she wishes to highlight for each subject vs. solely creating a “photo-realistic” or “pretty picture”.

Known for her animal and nature related subject matter, Robyn’s artwork is characterized by her use of rich color, bold textures, and most recently by physical dimensionality.  Robyn creates her art in a variety of water and mixed media as well as sculpture.  Exploration and incorporation of new techniques and materials continue to enlarge her artistic vocabulary.  She is drawn to the tactile aspects of her media; the flow of the pigment and water, the building of physical textures, and creating three dimensional pieces.

Robyn typically works on multiple pieces at one time, often due to the drying time required prior to subsequent steps in her water media works.  This practice helps her prevent boredom, offers a path around occasional “sticking points”, and ensures a “fresh” eye when returning to each piece.  This also allows the different works and series to inform and influence one another, continually sparking her creative process.

Robyn’s current work explores different ways of manipulating physical visual layers, for example:  Her “Acrylic Layer” pieces consist of multiple applications of acrylic gel with paint, collage, and mixed media applied to or embedded between the layers.  Robyn selectively “subtracts” paint on a layer she is working on to expose what lies beneath.  Five to eight distinct and relatively thick clear gel applications create physical visual distance between each layer and allow the viewer to “see through” to enjoy the “sparkle” of the deeper layers visible through the clear gel.  In her “Set Free” pieces, Robyn explores the idea of freedom, not only in the subject matter and compositions, but also in how she floats and arranges the diptych and triptych paintings overlapping at varying levels and angles, breaking free from the surface and conventional display norms.

Robyn considers it a privilege to have the ability, inclination, and opportunity to create beautiful and engaging artwork and to explore the expression of her ideas related to those things which inspire her.  Sharing her art with others to bring joy into their lives brings Robyn great satisfaction and motivation in pursuing her artistic journey.

 

Education:

~ Independent Study Workshops with Katherine Cheng Liu (2016-2020)
~ Intensive Studies Seminar with Skip Lawrence, Katherine Cheng Liu, Christopher Schink, Fran Larson, and Alex Powers (2005-2008, 2010-2015)
~ Orkney Springs Summer Workshops with Gwen Bragg, NWS. (2011-2014, 2018, 2020-2022), Linda Moldanado (2015-2016), Lisa Semerad (2017)
~ Pastel Workshop with Lynn Goldstein (2012)
~ Kinetic Sculpture with Joe Miola (2012)
~ JMU Orkney Springs Summer Workshops with Gwen Bragg, NWS. (2000-2010)
~ AAEA Equine Sculpture Workshop with Gwen Reardon, AAEA. (2003)
~ JMU Orkney Springs Summer Workshops with Jean Cauthen, Herb Olds, Elizabeth Arbaugh, Don Crow, and Rebecca Humphrey. (1995 – 1999)
~ The Art League School with Jane Simanis & Steve Prince. (1996, 1998)
~ Studied with Judy Wengrovitz, NWS. (1972-1977)

 

Affiliations:

~ Loudoun Sketch Club (2013 – 2015, 2022 – 2023)
~ Artists in Middleburg (AIM) (2019 – 2023)
~ Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (2013 – 2023)
~ North Windsor Artists (2010 – 2023)
~ Virginia Equine Artists Association (2004 – 2023)
~ Art First Gallery (2011 – 2019 Vice President 3 yrs, BoD 1 yr)
~ Virginia Watercolor Society – Sustaining Member (2002 – 2006, 2013-2014)
~ American Watercolor Society – Sustaining Member (2002 – 2006)
~ National Watercolor Society – Sustaining Member (2002 – 2006)
~ Patron Member of the American Academy of Equine Art (1995 – 2006)
~ Art First Gallery & Studios, Coop Gallery (1997 – 1999 Vice President 2 yrs)

Selected Exhibitions and Honors:

2023

  • Invited Workshop Instructor, “A Creative Approach to Painting,” Loudon Sketch Club, Hillsboro, VA
  • “Members” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA

 

2022

  • The Freelance Star – Front Page Featured Article, “Area Artist spends time living on the edge” by Cathy Dyson (Story also picked up by VA Associated Press)
  • Artist in Residence, month of November, Bandelier National Monument, Los Alamos, NM
  • Art at the Mill Fall Juried Exhibit & Sale, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA
  • “Artists Choice” National All-Media Juried Exhibit, Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • Invited Workshop Instructor, “Mixed Media,” Virginia Equine Artists Association (VEAA), VA
  • Invited Commission & Live Painting Artist, Zoe Freedom Center Gala Benefit, “Resurrection Courage”
  • “Put A Bird On It” National Juried Exhibit, Libertytown Artists Workshop, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Members” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA

 

2021

  • “GASP” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “Messages in Color” National All-Media Juried Exhibit, Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • “The Cube” Regional Juried Exhibit, Libertytown Artists Workshop, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Contrast & Harmony” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “Horse in Art IV” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “Birds, Birds, Birds” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “Reset, Refresh, Restart” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA ( First Prize (tied) )

 

2020

  • “Turning Points” Featured Artist Exhibit, Frame Designs Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Turning Points” Artist Talk, James River Artists League, Richmond, VA
  • Co-Juror “MORE Things Considered” Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “All Things Considered” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA

 

2019

  • “GASP” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA
  • “The Glories of the Untamed: Wildlife up Close” Juried Exhibit, AIM Gallery, Middleburg, VA (Third Prize)
  • “Through Field and Forest” Featured Artist Exhibit, Highmark Brewery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Art Attack, Public Sculpture Demonstrations, Fredericksburg, VA

 

2018

  • “Set Free” Featured Artist Exhibit, Art First Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Recent Work” Featured Artist Exhibit, Frame Designs Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Drawn Together” Exhibit, 810 Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • North Windsor Artist “Voices in Color” Exhibit, The Arts Center in Orange, Orange, VA

 

2017

  • Featured Artist Exhibit and Acrylic Layers Workshop, Frame Designs Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Virginia Equine Artists Association Exhibit, The Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Invited Workshop Instructor, Loudoun Sketch Club, Hillsboro, VA
  • “Members & Friends” Exhibit, Middle Street Gallery, Sperryville, VA

 

2016

  • Solo Exhibit, Members Gallery, Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • Featured Artist, Caledon State Park Art & Wine Festival, King George, VA
  • North Windsor Artists Exhibit Members Gallery Exhibit, Fredericksburg Center for Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • Art Attack, Public Sculpture Demonstrations, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Wild Things II” Featured Artist Exhibit, Art First Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Invited Artist, Equine Art Exhibit, Weigand Gallery, Galax, VA

 

2015

  • Guest Artist, Gallery on Madison, Middleburg, VA
  • Sculpture Demonstration, Gallery on Madison, Middleburg, VA
  • “The Horse in Art” Virginia Equine Artists Association Exhibit, Gumenick Family Gallery, Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, Glen Allen, VA
  • “Hunt Country Harvest Ball and Art Show” Loudon Arts Council, Middleburg, VA
  • “Scarlet Season” Exhibit, The Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Art at the Mill Fall Juried Exhibit & Sale, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA
  • Art Attack, Public Sculpture Demonstrations, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Scale” Juried Exhibit, Live an Artful Life Gallery, The Plains, VA
  • Associate Artists Exhibit, The Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA,
  • “In Their Element” Featured Artist Exhibit with Photographer Darren Barnes, The Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA

 

2014

  • North Windsor Artists Group Exhibition in concert with Jack Darling Exhibition, Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Piedmont Virginian Showcase, Juried Exhibit by Piedmont Virginian Magazine hosted by River District Arts, Sperryville, VA,
  • “My Favorite Things Too” Featured Artist Exhibit, The Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Virginia Equine Artists Association Group Exhibit, River District Arts, Sperryville, VA
  • “Drawn Together” Group Exhibit, Jarett Thor Gallery, Colonial Beach, VA
  • “Wild Things” Featured Artist Exhibit, Art First Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Art at the Mill Fall Juried Exhibit & Sale, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA
  • “Year of the Horse” Exhibit, Montpelier Center for Arts and Education Virginia Equine Artists Association, Montpelier, VA
  • “A Few of my Favorite Things” Featured Artist Exhibit, The Griffin Bookshop and Coffee Bar, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “It’s Small…” National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA

 

2013

  • “It’s Small…” National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • Featured Artist on ArtsyShark.com
  • The Journal – Featured Article, “A fleeting glimpse into the world of a modern day renaissance woman” by Leonard Banks
  • Piedmont Virginian Showcase, Juried Exhibit by Piedmont Virginian Magazine hosted by River District Arts, Sperryville, VA
  • Art at the Mill Fall Juried Exhibit & Sale, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Millwood, VA
  • “Abstraction & Reality” National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Art of the Horse” Juried Exhibition, Gallery Flux, Ashland, VA
  • Regional Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • North Windsor Artists Exhibition, Theater Gallery, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA
  • “Drawn Together” Exhibition, Atrium Gallery, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Tenth Annual National Juried Multimedia Exhibition, Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC), Harrisonburg, VA
  • “Lines & Edges” National Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA
  • Regional Juried Exhibition, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts (FCCA), Fredericksburg, VA, (Honorable Mention)
  • “Drawn Together” Book Release Exhibition, Backdoor Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA

 

2012

  • “Autumn Layers & Other Recent Work” Solo Exhibition, Studio A Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Book Release “Drawn Together – Artists of Fredericksburg Vol 2”
  • “Woods & Water ~ Real and Imagined” Featured Artist Exhibit with Ruth Ann Loving, Art First Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA

 

2011

  • “First Impressions: Equine Composites & Italian Memories” Solo Exhibition, Studio A Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.

 

2009

  • “North Windsor Artists Member Exhibition”, Wide River Gallery, Colonial Beach, VA

 

2008

  • “Catitudes & Other Recent Work” Solo Exhibition, Studio A Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.
  • Selected as contributing artist, “The Horse Gift” Mural, Mural Mosaic

 

2007

  • “Recent Work” Solo Exhibition, Studio A Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.
  • “Equine Celebration & Other Recent Work”Solo Exhibition, Mad Hatter Bistro, Farmville, VA
  • Organizer for Fredericksburg Art Studio Walk, Fredericksburg, VA

 

2006

  • “Equine Celebration” Solo Exhibition, The Steward School Paul R. Cramer Center for the Arts Gallery, Richmond, VA.
  • “Recent Work” Solo Exhibition, Studio A Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.
  • “EQUUS” Exhibition, The Deland Museum of Art, Deland, FL.  Juried by Alan Reingold.
  • “Virginia Fine Arts Festival” The Highland Center for the Arts, Warrenton, VA.
  • “Carousel of Colors” Exhibition, The Piedmont Artist’s League, The Highland Center for the Arts, Warrenton, VA.
  • Arts in the Alley Annual All-Media Art Show & Music Festival, Purcellville, VA

 

2005

  • “Equine Shapes & Other Recent Work” Solo Exhibition, The Atrium Gallery, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, VA.
  • Twenty-Sixth Virginia Watercolor Society Juried Exhibition, McGuffey Art Center, Charlottesville, VA.
  • Pots & Palettes, Fredericksburg, VA.  Display of Artwork by Invitation 1998 – 2005.  Featured Artist, June – October 1998.

 

2004

  • Inaugural Virginia Equine Artists Fall Exhibition,  Virginia Horse Center, Lexington, VA  (First Place)

 

2003

  • Featured Cover Artist “The Chronicle of the Horse” (Friday, November 7, 2003 Issue) “Patience”.
  • Laredo Center for the Arts 11th Annual International Juried Exhibition
  • National Society of Artists 21st National Juried Show,  Alvin Community College Art Gallery, Texas City, TX  (Two Honorable Mentions)

 

2002

  • “20 Years at Orkney” Exhibit, Invitational, James Madison University, Sawhill Gallery, Harrisonburg, VA.

 

1999

  • Art First Gallery & Studios – Display of Artwork in Monthly shows from 1997 – 1999. Featured Artist, January 1997 and May 1998

 

1998

  • Art Designs & Frame Designs Gallery, Fredericksburg, VA.  Display of Artwork by Invitation 1995 – 1998
  • Pots & Palettes, Fredericksburg, VA.  Featured Artist, June – October 1998
  • Display of Artwork by Invitation at Great Meadows for Gold Cup Steeplechase

 

1997

  • Central Virginia Watercolor Guild Juried Art Show, Charlottesville, VA.  (Honorable Mention)

 

1996

  • Fredericksburg Juried Media Show, Hurkamp Park, Fredericksburg, VA
  • Virginia Horse Festival Equine Art & Photography Show, Lexington, VA  (Best in Show & Reserve Most Popular)
  • 45th Annual Fredericksburg Fine Arts Exhibit, Fredericksburg, VA  (Honorable Mention)

 

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