Landscapes from Ireland, Spain and New England: A Must-See Exhibit at Roxbury Latin

If you get a few minutes in the next two weeks, you really should see “Landscapes from Ireland, Spain and New England” by Jim Ryan at the . I had the pleasure to view this watercolor exhibit and it was truly a visual journey from Cobh, Ireland to Wareham, Massachusetts. The exhibit runs in the Great Hall at Roxbury Latin School through February 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Can you tell our readers a little about your background?

Ryan: I grew up in Dorchester and studied at BC High and Holy Cross.  My Mom is quite artistic.

When did you first discover your passion for watercolor?

Ryan: I always enjoyed art, but caught the bug for watercolor when someone in high school first showed me the works of Winslow Homer and John Singer Sargent.  I was so inspired by the color and ability to represent nature in swaths of color that I said, "That's the kind of painting I'd like to do..."  I was about to take part in an exchange program to Spain for three months and my host family learned of my interest in watercolor.  Unbeknownst to me, the host family organized what would be my first-ever watercolor classes with a close friend of theirs.  I'll always be indebted to my Spanish family for those classes which set me on my path!

What about landscapes that most intrigues you?

Ryan: The variety!  The light!  But I'm mostly intrigued by the ways in which man-made structures (buildings, barns, lighthouses, bell towers, for example) echo the natural ones -- the interplay, maybe even dialogue, that these structures have.  We inhabit nature but nature has a way of inhabiting us as well.

In one of my favorite painting in your show “Air Dry” you mentioned that you were inspired by Winslow Homer… what about him inspires you?

Ryan: His use of clean color (a constant challenge for watercolorists) and the strong elements of design and composition in his works.  He was a master at drawing the viewer's eye into his paintings.

When was the last time you were surprised or impressed by someone else’s work of art?

Ryan: This fall I saw a few Winslow Homer pieces in the new Art of the Americas wing of the MFA that I hadn't seen before.  

Your paintings all tell a story, they are so educational. The exhibit forced me to research the many places you have visited and I even found out that Winslow Homer grew up in Cambridge, MA. Was that your intent, to include a geography, history and social studies lesson for your viewers?

Ryan: Since I can't do a gallery talk for everyone who views the show, I have included annotated placards in which I try to give some insight into the choice of scene, what I was aiming for in the piece, and how I created a certain effect.  I also included comments on how an element of design -- one perhaps that the viewer might not notice -- helps to create a visual whole.  I see my job as helping others to "see."

What do you hope people walk away with after viewing “Landscapes from Ireland, Spain and New England?”

Ryan: I hope that they leave with a sense of beauty, one that stays with them, that they've "visited" the places with me and I've communicated to them a sense of place, beauty, or a feeling.  I suppose I'm appealing to the intrinsic appreciation for nature's beauty that's knit into the fabric of each person.  It's very exciting and satisfying for me as an artist when I feel as if I've captured that beauty in my work.

Where can we see your work next?

Ryan: I don't know.  Stay tuned!