BFA Thesis Exhibit

Ryn Sczudlo

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Artist Statement


Painting is as much a bodily experience as it is one of the mind. It is as much a philosophy as it is a violent expulsion of the innermost thoughts. It is knowing when to dote upon the surface and when to start over with a clean slate. 
 
I have always struggled with how to transcribe my artistic thought process; how to mold my instincts into a palatable form; how to give the viewer something to digest.  
 
But, I have realized that I do not want my work to be merely swallowed. I want it to be sour -- or perhaps overly sweet. Maybe both. Either way, it should be a shock to the senses. It will draw you in, but it will drive you out as well.  
 
The landscape is something that remains tangible in these works. And while it is in grasp, as you reach for it -- something falls short. Because to use the word “landscape” to describe the space is not all encompassing. It is the presence of a human within this space that defines it; how they mold, shape, and alter it by simply interacting with the world around them.  
 
This is one of many reasons why I view these paintings as portraits.  
 
But, I do not mean to describe these as portraits in the traditional sense of the word. They serve to represent a person -- these endless complexities that come with being human. For, in the paintings, some forms may be easily understood, but many will leave you guessing. Quiet subtleties in form make you lean in. Fields of color make you step back.  
 
What I’ve come to understand about human relationships is that it always comes down to this push and pull. Knowing when to embrace and knowing when to give space. The understanding that though you may not understand them fully, you can still see their beauty, their promise, their intricacy -- but you can also see their brush strokes, their mistakes, the history behind the paint. 
 
And you love them for it.  
And sometimes, you hate them, too. 
Sometimes you don’t know how to feel. 
 
But -- this is why these paintings exist. As a document of my relationships with the people I know … the people I’ve known.
An abstracted, surreal landscape painting containing the colors; yellow, teal, dark blue, red, purple and lime green. Click to view An abstracted, surreal landscape painting containing the colors; yellow, teal, dark blue, red, purple and lime green. Full-Screen

intersection (self portrait) // 6.5 ft x 5.5 ft // Oil, acrylic and cold wax on canvas

An abstract painting with a red form on the left with a deep blue shadow. The ground is a fluorescent green and the sky is a similar, but more muted, green. Click to view An abstract painting with a red form on the left with a deep blue shadow. The ground is a fluorescent green and the sky is a similar, but more muted, green. Full-Screen

“Ryn, why don’t you just live a little?” // 18 in x 14 in // Oil and cold wax on canvas

A red, purple, yellow and blue painting portraying abstracted imagery of a tree’s shadow. Click to view A red, purple, yellow and blue painting portraying abstracted imagery of a tree’s shadow. Full-Screen

adust // 12 in x 18 in // Oil, acrylic and cold wax on canvas

A blue, yellow, red, green, and pink abstract landscape. The imagery of a blue and green face peaks out in the upper right corner. Click to view A blue, yellow, red, green, and pink abstract landscape. The imagery of a blue and green face peaks out in the upper right corner. Full-Screen

nous // 28 in x 16 in // Oil and cold wax on canvas

An abstract painting of various pink, yellow, red and green blobs. Peaking through the background is a lighter pink, purple and teal. Click to view An abstract painting of various pink, yellow, red and green blobs. Peaking through the background is a lighter pink, purple and teal. Full-Screen

gestalt // 45 in x 34.5 in // Acrylic, oil and cold wax on canvas

A painting containing the imagery of graphic green and blue shapes as well as pink brush strokes with an over wash of yellow. The image of a red hand-like form appears multiple times throughout the work. Click to view A painting containing the imagery of graphic green and blue shapes as well as pink brush strokes with an over wash of yellow. The image of a red hand-like form appears multiple times throughout the work. Full-Screen

bottle/body // 36 in x 43 in // Oil and acrylic on canvas

The left side of this abstract painting is a field of yellow and orange. The right side is covered in a pink wash with a little bit of yellow. On this side, there are three pink circles with a shadow of teal. As well, the shadows of two teal trees reside at the bottom. A line of hot pink runs down the middle separating the right from the left. Click to view The left side of this abstract painting is a field of yellow and orange. The right side is covered in a pink wash with a little bit of yellow. On this side, there are three pink circles with a shadow of teal. As well, the shadows of two teal trees reside at the bottom. A line of hot pink runs down the middle separating the right from the left. Full-Screen

a trust // 33.5 in x 22 in // Oil and PVA glue on canvas

The very top of this painting is a matte, textured green and teal gradient. Directly below this is a wavy line that gradually moves from a dark, warm brown to a light, cool pink. Below this line is another textured green surface, but this time it is lime green and is shiny. A hot pink shadow resides at the bottom of this form. The bottom half of the painting is a pink and light blue area with clear signs of wiping of the paint. Click to view The very top of this painting is a matte, textured green and teal gradient. Directly below this is a wavy line that gradually moves from a dark, warm brown to a light, cool pink. Below this line is another textured green surface, but this time it is lime green and is shiny. A hot pink shadow resides at the bottom of this form. The bottom half of the painting is a pink and light blue area with clear signs of wiping of the paint. Full-Screen

the ledges // 27 in x 21 in // Oil, acrylic and cold wax on canvas

The top half of this painting is a field of butter yellow, with the brush strokes radiating like sunbeams towards the center of the painting. A cobalt blue spiky form resides at the bottom of the painting. A small pink waterfall is in the upper left of the blue object, as well as two green towers near the bottom. Click to view The top half of this painting is a field of butter yellow, with the brush strokes radiating like sunbeams towards the center of the painting. A cobalt blue spiky form resides at the bottom of the painting. A small pink waterfall is in the upper left of the blue object, as well as two green towers near the bottom. Full-Screen

monument // 27 in x 25 in // Oil, acrylic and cold wax on canvas

The bottom of this painting contains pink and yellow imagery that references waves washing onto shore. Two figures are seen intertwined, one pink and one yellow. The background is a deep purple that reads as black, and subtle pink lines radiating out from the embracing figures. Click to view The bottom of this painting contains pink and yellow imagery that references waves washing onto shore. Two figures are seen intertwined, one pink and one yellow. The background is a deep purple that reads as black, and subtle pink lines radiating out from the embracing figures. Full-Screen

lovers // 20.5 in x 27 in // Oil, acrylic and cold wax on canvas