Monday, May 29, 2017

YouTube Vlog #3 - Nelson-Atkins Museum Tour

Hello friends,

I just posted my latest vlog on YouTube.  For this one, we're going to one of my favorite places in Kansas City, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. 

The work of the Old Masters has always been an influence in my work, and one of my favorite things to do is to visit the Nelson and gaze/study these master works up close.  I always enjoy learning new things from these pieces every time I pay them a visit.  So today, I'm taking you all with me!  And hopefully you can be as inspired by them as I am with this quick video tour of some of my favorites.  Enjoy!





Friday, May 19, 2017

YouTube Vlog #2 - What Inspires Me?

Hello again, friends!

Here is my second YouTube vlog... This one on inspiration.  What inspires me?  How do we get inspired to create?  One way I find is to never allow yourself to become idle.  The act of creating itself may be all the inspiration you need.  And if not, there are plenty of ways to seek it out.  I will most likely be making multiple videos on this question because there are truly multiple things in which we can find inspiration. 


News From The Studio 5/19/17

Hello friends!

Here is the latest from the studio:

  • If you haven't seen yet, I have begun to revive my YouTube channel with new video content.  I am hoping to keep it up on a more regular basis, and I already have a long list of ideas for upcoming vlogs.  They are simply going to be on a variety of things including tips and techniques, art history, demos, and discussions about various art topics.  I'm also planning on including video trips to the Nelson-Atkins museum and First Fridays in the Crossroads in KC.  It's going to be an adventure!  If you missed my first video, check it out on my previous post.  And please go and subscribe to my YouTube channel!  My next vlog is called "What Inspires Me?" and will be posted very soon.





  • I am busy working on a new series of paintings called Imago Dei.  My previous series Light Up The Darkness is on hiatus for now.  I intend to return to it sometime, but a creative wave of inspiration (speaking of) came over me and led me to this new series of figurative pieces.  Many of these paintings are going to be nudes or partial nudes, and I have written about my thoughts on nude paintings before on this blog.  My thought is simply this:  A nude painting should be more than just a depiction of the body, unless it is an academic piece or a study.  Like any work of art, what is its statement?  For this series, I am painting what I believe to be the beauty of God's ultimate creation - the fearfully and wonderfully made human being.  But unlike the classical works of the past that saw the human being and his form as being god-like itself, my paintings for this series are going to incorporate an element of distortion.  This represents the fact that although we are God's ultimate creation and beautifully made in His image, we are still in an imperfect state.  As a result of original sin, we as humans are not yet who we were originally meant to be.  For me, this series is an exciting exploration of that tension of being perfectly made, yet living imperfect lives.
Repose
oil on canvas
18x24 inches

Muse
oil on canvas
20x16 inches

Recumbent
oil on linen
28x22 inches

Apparition
oil on linen
30x24 inches

Ascend
oil on linen
36x24 inches
  • The National Oil and Acrylic Society (NOAPS) has offered what sounds to be an amazing opportunity for its members, and I am hoping to be selected for it.  The RS Hanna Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas is going to be representing 60 NOAPS members from September through December, 2017.  Selected artists will be showing 3-5 works at the gallery for those four months, and will apparently have a large amount of First Friday and tourist traffic during that time.  The gallery will be promoting the exhibition through some major nationwide art publications and other media.  One of my goals for this year is to finally seek gallery representation outside of the Kansas City area, and I figured this would be a great opportunity to start trying.  So if you would please pray and wish me well on this opportunity, I would appreciate it!
  • Hey!  One thing I have failed to promote much at all are my current listings on Ebay.  I have 24 original paintings from the past few years listed, many of which are smaller works.  Please check them out!  They are among the lowest priced paintings I have available.  The link to my Ebay is under the "Links" to the left side of this page.
  • My Go Fund Me campaign is still going!  Again, please consider a donation to help me out with my medical expenses.  Truly, every little amount with which you are able to help me out is a burden lifted, and I appreciate it all.  Plus, there just might be a painting in it for YOU!  Please check out my Go Fund Me page, and share it with everyone you know!  https://www.gofundme.com/ryans-bogus-gallbladder-journey

That's all the news for now.  Please stay tuned for my next YouTube vlog on inspiration, and for new works coming soon!

Tuesday, May 16, 2017

YouTube Vlog #1 - My Studio Tour

Hello friends!

Today I want to share something new that I've been thinking about and working on for a few months now.  I thought it was time to start investing a little bit more effort and time into my YouTube channel.  I've had my channel for years, but haven't put any new, updated content on it for quite a while. 

So I'm working up several ideas for vlogs that will cover a number of different art topics.  My first one is a tour of my studio.  Future topics will include:  My library, drawing/painting demos, materials, palette, art terms, art history, etc.  Hope you will enjoy them!  Here's my first new vlog:




Stay tuned for more!  -Ryan



Saturday, May 6, 2017

GoFundMe - Ryan's Bogus (Gallbladder) Journey

Hi friends!

So as you may have read in a previous post, I recently had an awful gallbladder attack and had to undergo surgery to remove it. 

As it turns out, the one thing I was dreading is just about as burdensome as I was expecting.  I am talking about the medical expenses, of course.  After insurance, I still have quite an amount left to pay off.

So I am calling on you to help me with this burden with my new Go Fund Me campaign!  But I don't want you to think that I'm just asking for money.  It is actually really hard for me to do that even in situations like this when I know I need to.

So I want to sweeten the deal for YOU.  As incentive for your donations, I am throwing in a very special offer to the person who donates the highest amount to my campaign.  Please watch my story here:




I sincerely appreciate every donation.  Every little bit helps a lot.  I hope you will consider making a donation to help me out, and you may do so by checking out my Go Fund Me page here:
https://www.gofundme.com/ryans-bogus-gallbladder-journey

Thank you all so much, and God bless!