Ryan S. Brown studied illustration at Brigham Young University in Utah. Not satisfied with university studies, he took lessons from William Whitaker, a renowned portrait and figurative painter, after which he moved to Italy to perfect his skills at the Florence Academy of Arts under the tutelage of Daniel Graves.
“Studying at the Florence Academy really made me for the first time realize how powerful art can be—and by that I mean the sort of power that has been abandoned by modernism,” Brown said.
His characteristic soft colors and light absolutely bespeak his love of classical painting. Though some of his works may appear romantic, the mindset they reflect is a truly 21st century person’s. They’re not naive.
Brown most enjoys arranging larger pieces with multiple figures, making compositions, and making colors and characters tick. However—and this is rare among painters—he is equally at home in figurative, still life, and landscape painting.
Recently, Brown felt that the high output that comes from being a multifarious prolific was keeping him trapped at a certain artistic level.
“I was working under the fear of money,” he said. “I have five kids and felt a strong pressure to produce and sell. In retrospect over the last few years, I’ve realized that much of the works made with this pressure were mediocre and not at all my best. Based on this realization, I have determined to spend much more time creating works of art that are well designed, and in allowing my ideas for works to mature and increase in depth. Through this I hope to more effectively communicate to the public and create more of a demand for my work.”
With his art, Brown principally strives to add richness to society.
“I want to make paintings that are considerate to the viewer, paintings that feed the viewer, rather than mocking them; paintings that speak clearly to the viewer,” he said.
“Initially, art was here to serve the public,” Brown said. “Even though it has been used for political and religious purposes, it’s basic aim was, for a long time, to benefit the public; paintings were, overall, narratives for the public to enjoy.”
“Any great music, art, literature has the power to expand mankind’s thinking, and tie us together, from a human perspective. It transcends creed, culture and religion, and binds us together on a basic level. And that, is the work of a hand of genius.”
Ryan S. Brown is represented by S.R. Brennen Galleries, Trees Place Gallery, Principle Gallery, and Haynes Galleries. For more information, visit ryansbrownart.com and cas-utah.com
Wim Van Aalst is a painter based in Belgium.