Rob Ryan: A Man Full of Kindness

Rob Ryan’s stunning prints, patterns, and pages have embellished London and are now set to fill the skies of everyman. If you are not familiar with the name or face you will have sighed adoringly at the poetic simplicity of his work.


Handmade Portraits: Rob Ryan from Etsy on Vimeo.

Ryan’s studio, an Aladdin’s cave of paper projects, is located in Bethnal Green London where he works intricately and intimately with his team. Creations, that are predominantly paper-cuts and prints, occupy every inch of space and time. He also has Ryantown, a shop on Columbia Road where you can find his limited edition prints, paper cuts and some of his quirky keepsakes.

A Sky Full of Kindness, is the first children’s book that he has written and illustrated.  The pages tell a story of a world of birds, which he claims is really about love overcoming fear, and being human.  This follows Ryan’s 2009 This Is For You book of stunning poetry and paper cutting.

His own innocence and sensibility is very evident as he speaks of childhood and its natural translation into adulthood. For Ryan love is not the ‘obvious’ topic or inspiration for art, it is the everything...all consuming and all interconnected.

His work reflects the world as he sees it, capturing the beauty in the everyday and every man, woman, child...bird.

 ‘BEING ALIVE, BEING HUMAN AND BEING A PERSON...AND THEN OF COURSE THERE IS THIS OTHER THING, AND IT’S LOVE’ Rob Ryan.

Stamp that and send me happy...

Homemade cards have always been my thing. Initially it was about filling Birthday, Christmas, Congratulatory and Thank you cards with excited scribbling and detailed, illustrated, capitalised and (I like to think) witty correspondence. Of course this continues but I will now hand make any thing that I can stick a stamp to. 

Admittedly I do not embellish my letters to H M Revenue & Customs nor Lloyds TSB; perhaps I am yet to love them (nothing to do with the taxing matter of automated phone services and delayed repayments).  Ah I digress from my creative karma! 

Sourcing, cutting, cropping, sticking, stencilling and stamping cards are things I LOVE doing. I will cut out letters and words from newspapers and magazines to collage slogans and sayings for my adored (and lucky) recipients. These are often rooted in an ongoing family joke or episode, film quotation or of course something quite profound and emotive. To date, most have been for my Muma as it is she who epitomises many a person to me. Plus she must assume her maternal duty to love and encourage my creations and crap.

Inspiration is taken from my day to day life: articles, conversations, expression.  I am far more moved by the written or spoken word than pictorial art (ahem enter English lit degree) and whilst I appreciate photography and portrait art I am captivated by words.  

I love the Penguin Postcard collection and the classic titles and illustrations that fill both box sets. I also admire Rob Ryan's paper cuts and screen prints; and whilst his illustrations of a natural world (one at love as well as in love) are beautiful, it is the words that have holding power. Letters are the bunting of his wonderland, where love and joy are effervescent, and not in a slap you round the face with it kind of way. So simple and so eloquent, why wouldn't you want to "Believe in people" like he does. 

 

So my stuff, collection if you will, is similar in its outlook on and love of language. Minus the definite presence of romantic love! I am working on creating a range of genres without being overly generic. Ideally I would want to follow in Ryan's huge cut out footprints and sell and commission my work. Without selling out in any way that is, keeping total control and continuing to explore ideas and avenues...like going fabric! 

I think I could create a range that would stand out from the mundane, over priced and effortless ones that occupy shelves storing dust. Card fauxs and personal pet hates are: Clinton Cards, Card Factory, Cardfair and this is because they hold the vile, glossy, homogenised folds that are completely impersonal.

I also dislike the amateur attempts to be creative on the cheap: the lone paddle boat in some far off rural retreat, floral snapshots, female silhouettes...you know the ones. We're all guilty of that purchase, the six for a pound deal in The Works; but if you have the time to stick from scratch and make something creatively tailored for your recipient, guaranteed it will make their day, mantelpiece and even their box of keepsakes labelled 'sentimental shit'!

If time, patience or virtue are not on side but you desperately need a little something special to send to a loved one, then just drop me a line. My strategic business side would estimate that you can purchase my collection from selected stores by this time next year. Until then you know where I am, so let me know what your looking for and I will commission something especially. Don't be questioning my gluey antics, they'll be something to hold on to I promise...

Golden for Goulding

Teaming up with Nike is a sure game, set, match for Miss Goulding. Beautiful voice- Your Song actually gives me goosebumps- and a quality performer who is effortlessly chic with an edgy look that floors me every time. And she makes an undercut look HOT, along with champagne pink platinum locks...