Artist’s Palette
Flamenco Dancer
Autorretrato The Wanderer
introducing the art of
Ryan Delgado
What brought you to Kansas City? I was born and raised in Kansas City, Mo., near the Raytown area. I currently live in Greenwood, and have set up my studio space at home. Describe your art. I think we’re seeing a shift in the dominant style of art happening in our lifetime now, from the pure abstract or non-objective “modern art” of the 20th century to a revival of traditional, representational realism that we haven’t seen since the 19th century. It is an encouraging shift, and I know I am not the only one who is optimistic
about it. This is the style of painting I strive towards, and one that I’ve always been drawn to. I don’t see it as necessarily being a new movement, but a continuation of a tradition of art that should have never disappeared to begin with. My work is mainly portrait and figurative painting in oils, as well as landscape or still life. With all the stimuli and craziness that constantly bombards us daily--cell phones, internet, TV, jobs, school, or anything else in our fast-paced lives--I think art is one thing that teaches us to slow down and to be still for a moment. What inspires you? I have a few answers to this question. First, God inspires me more than anything else. One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 64:8 – Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, And You are the potter. We are all the work of your hand. God has many names and descriptions in Scripture, and I love that one of those is God as an artist. He shapes and creates things with His hands, and we just happen to be one of the things that God creates. I can’t make things the way God makes them, but if I could sum up my mission and purpose as an artist, it is to create imitations of God’s creation. It is my way of honoring Him and acknowledging how impressive His creative hand is. Second, I’m inspired by other artists. Both past and present, artists who do or have done great work give me something to chase
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Lee’s Summit Lifestyle | August 2014