About the Artist Richlin Burnett-Ryan
My paintings are rich assemblages of layered forms, vibrant colors, expressive and gestures. Applied on canvas through dynamic interactions, a physical back and forth dialogue in which ground and figure continuously change until all the elements are balanced right, these colorful creations are my personal way of expressing myself. Through a series of spontaneous movements, directly inspired by the way canvas responds to layers of color tissue paper and black mark making. I compare my work to a dance routine with a familiar partner. And while impulsive and unconstrained in its core, the familiarity with materials is essential for the creative process that strongly depends on the ability to respond quickly and foresee the way the elements will work together. Layering color tissue with acrylics, accents the richness of my work by constructing a raw texture which directly captures the physical energy put into each piece. Serving as a channel to convey my thoughts, emotions, and visions, the artistic practice is my source of confidence and peace, while the finished work becomes a documentation of the process of achieving those feelings.
My formal art education is in graphic design at Rochester Institute of Technology and the School of Visual Arts, my artistic practice is influenced by my Afro-Caribbean culture, and graphic design, as well as the philosophy and attitude of the colorist, the fauvist, and the expressionist artist. Varying from simple forms and patterns over familiar shapes and the infusion of some typographic elements, the canvas surface becomes the workspace through which I exercise my ways of expression.