Juror for:
- August 2026
Juror: Robyn Ryan is a Virginia artist who 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)
