Ryan Birkland: A Lovable Rogue
Ryan is a painter living in Portland, Oregon. His main technique is painting directly
on glass, otherwise known as `reverse painting.' You can find Ryan painting at his
studio on NW 19th and Pettygrove if you're lucky. Over meeting several times to
discuss art, learning to know Ryan has been a reward of it's own.
On first Thirsday; on his opening night, Ryan no doubt gave a stellar performance
30 minutes after the doors were opened he had already sold a painting priced at $2500.
The piece was a ten-times scale re-creation of fish swimming in a pond as seen from above--from
say, a fisherman's view. It was painted with acrylic cobalt blue as water; with cadmium red as
blood stains masquerading as goldfish spots and immediately caught the attention of most
observant folks, especially due to what seemed to be a vulgar scene, actually on closer inspection
turned out to be at least a conversation piece.
The local kids seeking to mingle with the artist, a handful of local eccentrics, tattoos and dreadlocks,
budding and amateur artists congregated around Birkland. When asked how he felt about his artwork,
he replied, "I like the process - `just doing it.' And, when [the piece] is done, I don't really like talking
about it or even looking at it." But, why not? If the outcome of the show was so successful so soon,
wouldn't an utterance of celebratory revere surely follow? Ryan, who comes from a military
background feels that to insert his opinion of his work would be to supplant an opinion
for someone else. That is indeed how he treats the subject with friends. Testament to
his style, he had worked this way for 10 years: of never having an artist statement or "Bio."
Where there are so many different people, to try and answer every question and to try to sum up
what he thought would be pointless. “It just doesn’t matter.” To quote him. If you look at his Gallery
you'll see paint everywhere: spattered on the floor and some on the walls. The fact that he has a studio
tells you that he is an artist somewhat attached to results. He has to make concessions somewhere, and,
meeting with him has conjured the assumption that he accomplishes this by putting on an affectation
to be over-confident. His casual manner of dress and personable character have worked out for him,
and he has gained a wife and daughter. He's just an ordinary person and once you get to know him better
through examining his mode of painting, you can get a glimpse into the real inner character of Ryan Birkland.
"Why should I have to explain my artwork," he explained, "When someone asks me what I think about [the artwork]
I ask them, `What do you think?’" And how do you talk about your work with someone close to you, such as
your wife, Ryan? “That’s just personal; not for the world to know.” There was a wife, in fact, standing with her
one-month old daughter. She was as beautiful as a doll.

thanks for sharing that, dan.

It's really a pleasure to read this verbage of yours, written in a way for the common man to understand. He sounds like a great artist. I'll have to look him up, esp. as a fellow Oregonian.

Here ya go, http://stumptownart.com/home I'll save ya'll the trouble.