Artist: Carol Ryan

Medium: Acrylic

Dimensions: (2) 11x14 matted and framed diptych

The work of Carol Ryan represents her belief that art has the power to take us deeper into the mystery of life. She feels that too many images will distract the viewer's opportunity to go beneath the surface, using the emotions her art creates, to their own personal discovery. She relates strongly to a quote by Thomas Merton: "Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time". An abstract artist using acrylics, Carol's work is equally simple and complex.

"I love to keep my paintings a combination of spontaneity and purposeful strokes. They are extensions of myself. I take a question, an emotion, a belief and I paint it." Her technique involves using assertive color combinations, textural nuances - drips, spattering, and structural build-up to form each piece of vibrant art. She is willing to try to break the barriers of color risking failure in order to achieve the perfect balance.

Her main influence and breakthrough came from studying with author and artist, Jeanne Carbonetti, in Chester, Vermont. She continues to be strongly influenced by Mark Rothko, Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Miro', Helen Frankenthaler, and Georgia O'Keefe.

Carol relates strongly to a statement made by Henry Matisse: "Before I had no taste for anything, I was filled with indifference toward everything that people wanted me to do. The moment I had this box of color in my hands, I had a feeling that my life was there."