Upcoming Solo Show — fine artist Dennis Ryan

WHEN: March 25th to April 23rd, 2011
WHERE: Gallery On High, Pottstown, PA

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Upcoming artist show in Pottstown, PA, at The Gallery On High, called "A Journey Through Anxiety".

As a fine artist in 2010, I had my artwork in art shows, on TV, on the front page of the newspaper and even on the radio! And these are all great, but I have a feeling that this upcoming combination of education and fine art show will top all I did in 2010, because it could actually help people.

And the way it will work is: I will go to The Gallery On High's school component about a month before the show and I will give a talk... hold an education session for an hour or so. In a sense, this is where I sit down with folks, of various age groups, that have been diagnosed with mental disorders/mental challenges — been given the 'labels' (i.e. Schizophrenia, anxiety, OCD, depression — a lot of these people are even on medications), and I will introduce traditional art examples to them, even show a few of the popular artists of the last century, and then go on to promote that this is not the ONLY definition of what art is or can be. My goal of this talk is to demonstrate arts usefulness as a tool: to help alleviate anxiety, to express abstract thoughts, to access its therapeutic benefits. Especially with respect to anxiety; in addition to tools like communication (talking about mental issues with someone), medication, deep breathing, etc., art can be an additional - powerful - tool to help and/or simply exercise the mind (AKA mental health).

I will then talk about my process as an artist and show a piece or two of my fine art. The group will then start to think about how they can use these techniques to create works that can alleviate or desensitize their anxieties, mental discomforts and disorders. They will then make their art on (estimated) 20'' x 20" canvases.

I will return to the school for another 1 hour group session to see what they created and to talk about the successes of such.

So here's my synopsis of how the session will likely go:

1. What is Art - dispel the traditional thoughts and show diversity - visual presentation - projection... some images - Van Gogh, Close, Pollock (5 min)
   
2. My work, [it] as art, concepts - my process, how art can help the mind, any mind (example: to desensitize oneself to ones fears). (10 min)
   
3. My process - abstract thought/concept, sketch it out/development, ideas for implementation, create, final piece. (15 min)
4. Q & A - ask "clients" what 'thoughts' they would like to 'see'? Abstract - to - tangible. Out in the open... exposed... easier to deal with, talk about. How can best convey these with art? What mediums? What technique/style? (30 min)
5. Students start their pieces.
6. Critique, discussion and wrap up. (1 hour)

For more information on the show: http://www.galleryonhigh.com/events.html

3 Faucets Triptych has been accepted for upcoming show—O.C.D

A few months back I got an invitation to submit my art to an upcoming exhibition in NE, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

I came across your website through a basic Google search for artists related to this topic, and I enjoy your work quite a bit. I will be co-curating this exhibition and I feel your "OCD Art" series of works would be a perfect match. The show opens on Friday, November 5, 2010 and will run for approximately one month.

Since the show is right up my 'alley' and aims to help raise awareness and educate its audience as to what OCD is, I obviously said yes.

I just got word last week that my artwork was accepted and will span approximately 9 feet of wall space. I submitted a brand new version of 3 Faucets for this show. It is a Triptych (collection of 3 giclee prints of 3 Faucets hung together) that will drive home the obsessive compulsive concepts by having three in a row; to repeat the repetitiveness of the compulsions people experience.

A mock-up of the piece is shown below:
More information on the show:
Opening Reception
Friday, November 5, 2010 - 7pm-10pm
http://www.alteredesthetics.com/events/72
Altered Esthetics
1224 Quincy St NE
Minneapolis, MN
612.378.8888

effin-A... here comes The OCD Project!

The OCD Project Supertrailer

Dr. David Tolin will attempt to treat six patients with OCD in 21 days. Check out the premiere on Vh1 Thursday, May 27th at 10 et/pt!

I will watch and Tivo! Dr. Tolin is Brilliant -- nice work VH1.

I especially love the Fear Factor element… but I guess this is actually how Cognitive (active) Behavior Therapy actually works. Obsessive compulsive disorder is typically treated with this behavior therapy exposure, but with response prevention, like licking the bottom of your shoe, and then NOT running to the medicine cabinet for mouth wash.

Dennis Ryan Interview

Dennis Ryan interviewed by a GCSE student from London, England, United Kingdom, UK

Dennis, I am a student studying GCSE art. For my exam I have to produce a sketchbook and final piece on a chosen subject. I have chosen to study fears, phobias and superstitions. One of the criteria is to have written essays on at least three artists of choice. I was hoping to be able to get a short interview from you discussing yourself and your work regarding phobias to help me in writing this essay.

1. Where did you grow up and study at school?
   
   I grew up on the south side of Easton, Pennsylvania, and studied art, to be a fine artist, at two different colleges: Pennsylvania College of Art & Design and Millersville University.
   
   
2. Have you always shown such a strong interest in art, and intended to follow it as a career path?
   
   Yes and no. The interest has always been there, but it is actually more than an interest. Being artistic and creative is part of who I am; there is no way around it. So with all that said, I never really thought of what I do as a career... even when I make money at it. It is just what I do, because I am undoubtedly compelled to.
   
   
3. What lead you to art related to phobias and disorders?
   
   The profoundly interesting stories in my head and the desire to get them out create the concepts of my paintings.
   
   
4. Is there a history of any strong phobias or disorders in your family?
   
   Interesting question, but frankly - it doesn’t matter. In fact when you look at my art Dennis Ryan doesn’t even matter. The concepts are so much bigger than any one person or single family. These artistically expressed concepts are what matter most.
   
   
5. Do you have any phobias yourself, if so can you talk to me about them, do you gain inspiration from your own phobias?
   
   Same answer as above #4.
   
   
6. Regarding your line of work with the subject ‘phobias’ can you explain any symbolism you have included for example the use of cows?
   
   Divinity; innocence; perception; factory farming; phobias: meat, parasites, etc.
   
   
7. I understand you have drawn on experiences of phobias of others for these pieces, are there any specific cases which you have found affect you more deeply than others?
   
   Not really, but if I really think hard about it I would say that stories about youth suffering mentally impact me more than any others. It is a blessing to be young and have fun.
   
   
8. Are there any influential mentors or artists you have taken styles or ideas from, or who have affected your personal artistic career in any way?
   
   No. I purposefully stay a bit ignorant to the contemporary side of art and artists. What others are doing is irrelevant to my art and concepts. It would hold little importance, and be purely coincidental, if my art were ever compared to someone else’s.
   
   
9. Can you describe yourself in one sentence?
   
   No. Well maybe, but it would be a really long and complicated sentence.
   
   
10. If you could meet any one person, who would it be and why?
    
    Another good question that I never really considered, so – off the cuff – I would say Picasso; but, oddly enough he died 10 days before I was born, so doubt that will happen any time soon; unless one believes in reincarnation, then maybe I already know him.
    
    
11. Which is your favorite piece of art done by another artist and why?
    
    Never really thought about it... but now that I am thinking about it... I would say Pablo Picasso’s - The Old Guitarist; because it is so blue, and I stood about a foot away from the original when I was living in the Chicago, Il. area (The Art Institute of Chicago actual hangs it in a kind of claustrophobic feeling hallway/corner area, which luckily, forces the audience to get a incredibly close look!)
    
    
12. And finally, which is your favorite artwork of your own and why?
    
    Sensational - my most recent painting. And maybe my excitement about this piece is that it is freshest in my mind, or maybe because it is the first of my concepts to segue into video art, or maybe it is just sensational.

Fine art on video

Conceptual art video presentation

Video adds another dimension to presenting fine art. It favors the tangibility of the artwork in light of relativity. A huge problem with displaying art on the web is the fact that all paintings, no matter what the actual size of the piece, looks like the size of a thumbnail image. With a person, such as the artist, interacting with the piece one immediately gets a feel for its true size, feel and weight.

Follow this link for more information on this anxiety art.

Conceptual art — Breathe — anxiety concept final

Conceptual artist

From an earlier post on this conceptual painting the final 20% is now complete. It will be one of the 5 in an upcoming showing from California.




I recently added ink touches to the art (such as yoga text that talks about symptomatic style, intensive, relaxation breathing). Yes, the road to a stress free day can start with yoga and/or Pilate exercises.

Conceptual art — Breathe

Anxiety art — "1999"

Part 3 in my anxiety art series of paintings titled Irrational Exuberance 1999

Click here to see more picks of 1999 -- close ups on Facebook.

All three paintings shown together — 8ft x 4ft:

Anxiety art painting by Dennis Ryan — "Exuberance"

This painting stands at 48 inches high by 32 inches wide. Its title is Exuberance.

This is the 2nd painting in a 3 part series. The third painting should be wrapped up by mid-December. I will post pictures of all three together at that point.

Close up 1 - click on the image to see a bigger version.

Close up 2 - click on the image to see a bigger version.

Click for more information on this conceptual painting about anxiety.

Anxiety art painting by Dennis Ryan — "Irrational"

This painting stands at 48 inches high by 32 inches wide. Its title is Irrational.

This painting is actually part one of a three part series. The three pieces are being created with the potential to be hung together or individually. When shown together the painting will be almost 9 feet wide!

Follow this link for more information on this painting and the anxiety art series.

My Fine Art on VH1? The OCD Project?

I'm currently in talks with The OCD Project, in LA, to see if my fine art is a good fit for the backdrops and scenes of their upcoming show on VH1.

The reality show is being produced by 3Ball Productions, Redondo Beach, CA. It makes perfect sense to me for my art to be on the show. I mean for the past 10-15 years I have been sketching, drawing, printing and painting about OCD. Google OCD art, phobia art or anxiety art and you will see that I'm usually on page 1—very popular! So who better to add some color to the show?

The terms are far from final and decision is yet to be decided. But one thing is for sure... since the popularity of OCD is on the flare-up, and the interest is high, I will continue to look for these unconventional ways to show my fine art.

Oddly enough, I also recently noticed that a smaller scale OCD type project is currently going on in the Philadelphia, PA area, so I will contact them next about possibly displaying my pieces in their project's promotional materials.

For some reason, it seems like OCD and anxiety disorders are more interesting to people nowadays, and are actually becoming quite popular.

This reality show on obsessive compulsive disorder should do very well with ratings. It all depends on the severity of the disorders and the quirkiness of the contestants though. Reality shows seem to almost have a formula for who they pick to be on their shows that keeps the audience interested.

I will watch it... will you?

Anxiety Art — If a cast could heal the broken mind...

People who suffer from mental disorders, like uncontrollable anxiety, wish it was that easy. The pain IS as real as a broken arm to them, but there is no easy fix like a cast.

A good bit of the concepts that derive my fine art stem from stories of obsessive compulsive disorder sufferers. Fact is, many people don't even know what the acronym OCD stands for though. If they or someone they know experiences obsessive compulsive behavior they just chalk it up as being anxious about something.

There are differences between anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive ones, but they can be subtle. Anxiety and OCD show up as separate ideas in my paintings and artwork.

I actually suggest that OCD is a subset of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  GAD can manifest itself as persistent worry about events or activities and produce physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, muscle tension and difficulty sleeping.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
  OCD is usually specific obsessions and compulsions. The obsessive thoughts are uncontrollable. And the compulsion is a repetitive behavior to relieve the stress caused by the obsessions.

GAD and OCD could actually mix in the sense that the anxiety can cause heart palpitations and then the OCD would obsess into thought patterns that drive the sufferer to the emergency room several times.

Any way you slice it, anxiety is very real to its sufferers. It is a disability.

Non-suffers can't comprehend the weight of the realness that anxiety can bare. Mostly this non-suffer incomprehension leads to a few facial frowns, with raised eyebrows as they subtly shake their heads in disappointment about the actions of the anxious ones. They see the sufferers as inconveniences in their daily routines... thorns in their sides... speed bumps in their roads to fruition.

This interaction of the sufferers and non-sufferers is unfortunate. In my fine art about anxiety I try to paint this dichotomy. The concept of complexity on one side of the human race and misunderstanding on the other.