I paint animals using exaggerated color and brushmarks, in expression of the joy they bring out in me. I consider it an omen of good luck to see any animal in the wild, and I want to provoke a similar sense of pleasure in my audience. Waterfowl are fascinating in behavior and appearance, and often feature in my work.

One of my inspirations is artist Amarins Lyklema. Her portraits of still life with birds invite the viewer to read into it a story of how the human world interacts with the animal world. I seek to do the same, with a more vivid, abstract style.

About Mab Ryan

The artist Mab Ryan
The artist Mab Ryan

For example, in The Guest, we see a table laid out for a tea party with a surprising visitor. Was the bittern invited or did he crash the party? Perhaps he is the host, and the viewer is the titular guest. The whimsical brushwork and lush setting evoke Alice in Wonderland.

I use a variety of materials in my work including acrylic, gouache, watercolor, oil pastel, or whatever new media I can get my hands on. I collage using my own painted papers. I am driven to experiment with new methods, and I love to recycle materials and eliminate waste wherever possible.

Having recently moved to the coastal city of Wilmington, NC, I am delighted to be surrounded by the ocean, dunes, and tremendous birds. My goal is to capture in paint the essence of peace and wonder this scenery elicits.

The Guest acrylic painting on wood panel
The Guest acrylic painting on wood panel