Sculptures And Painting By Robert Ryder To Be On Display

Dr. Robert Ryder has been involved in the Falmouth Art Center for many years as an artist exhibitor, volunteer, student and teacher. His one-man show opens this week in the Sigel Gallery at Falmouth Art Center.

The show, “An Exhibition of Paintings and Statues: Works by Robert R. Ryder, DMD,” runs through January 31. An opening reception for the exhibit, as well as the other two exhibits at the Falmouth Art Center, is planned for Friday, January 14, from 4 to 6 PM.

There are 16 sculptures in the show, including busts of well-known historical figures such as Babe Ruth, Ludwig van Beethoven and Mark Twain. There are 25 paintings in the show with a variety of subject matter, including local scenes and portraits.

Dr. Ryder, who had a long career as an orthodontist, had his first formal art training at the Museum School in Worcester. He devoted himself to art full time after retiring from his dental practice in the mid-1990s.

His choice of medium has been as varied as his choice of subject matter. He has been characterized as a realistic impressionist, working in watercolor, acrylic, pastels and oils. In recent years his focus has been three-dimensional, making busts of historic figures from photos and also teaching sculpture at the Falmouth Art Center.

Of his early interest in art, Dr. Ryder said, “When I was a young boy of not more than 4 years of age, my father would draw pictures and challenge me to copy them. This did little to promote originality, but it did teach me to draw. I believe drawing is the common denominator of all representational artistic expression, and I will always be grateful for this early start.”

He added that by age 10, “I was allowed to use the brushes and paints in his sign shop. Through this experience, I was ushered into the wonderful world of color. From that time on, I was hooked. I had to paint.”

“Sculpture is a recent endeavor,” Dr. Ryder said. “I was impressed with the work of Phillipe Faraut and after viewing his many videos, I visited him in his studio in New York. I have been back many times to take his excellent workshops.”

Dr. Ryder said that his sculpture experience has had a positive impact on his ability to paint: “I believe all two-dimensional artists would benefit from the sculpting experience.”

Seeing his sculpture students develop “the artist’s eye” is the inspiration for his soon-to-be-published book, “Portraits in Clay.”