Florida Artists Group

Biography:

Weldon Ryan (b. 1962) was born in The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, W.I. Graduate of the H.S. of Art and Design 1981, Attended the State University at New Paltz, 198182, Graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology 1984, A.A. In General Illustration.
Interned at Quato Book Publishing1985-1986 and Comp artist for Ad Agencies. 1987 to
1989 NYC Urban Park Ranger. In 1989 worked for NYPD as a Police Officer and Forensic Artist Unit in 1994. Weldon retired from NYPD in 2004 and resides in Palm Coast, Florida.

Artist Statement:

I paint Carnival
Whether clothe or nude I enjoy painting the human form.  As a youth I was fascinated with the human form and how it works.  I excelled in the board game “Operation”.  One may laugh at this but the notion of this is that a steady hand is important to win.  A steady hand is essential for painting in my style. This is probably where the quest for me to paint realism stems from.  Painting in oils came from my love of fantasy artists such as Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta. I love Luis Royo with his soft airbrushing and of the pin-up genre.  My twist is I paint Caribbean women in carnival costumes. Please note that Carnival originated in Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.  and not Brazil.  Carnival is a cultural phenomenon now celebrated year round.  Painting women from carnival gives me the best of both fantasy and real world representations.  The challenge is painting the flesh of differing hues. Painting curvaceous women contrasting softness and hard edges and of various shapes challenges me as well as with the textures in the costumes I paint.  This gives me a challenge as well.  I try to capture pure rawness from each subject in my paintings as the freedom of sensuality, joy of no constraints and pleasure to express is displayed.  This fascination keeps me honest because I walk a tight rope with paying attention to details while being patient.

Exhibitions:

Art Fort Lauderdale Art Fair, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. 2020
The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Museum of Art 2019 - 2020
Oasis Miami Broward Carnival Launch Pop-Up show, Miami, Fl. 2019
Art League of Daytona Beach, Daytona, Fl. 2019
WIADCA  Carnival  Event Guest Artist, NY, 2019
Bronze Kingdom Museum and Art Gallery, Orlando, Fl. 2019
The Ritz Museum, Jacksonville, Fl. 2018
Gallery at Avalon Island, Orlando, Fl. 2018
Adriala Gallery Brooklyn, NY. 2018
The Ritz Museum, Jacksonville, Fl. 2017
Kroma Art Gallery, Miami, Fl. 2017
Art Basel Spectrum, Miami, Fl 2017
Calypso Fine Art Gallery, FL 2016 - 2017
Clover’s Fine Art Gallery, BKLYN, NY 2016
Ritz Theater and Museum, FL 2016
Clover’s Fine Art Gallery, BKLYN, NY 2015
SALVO Project 2015 - 2016
The Peabody Rose Gallery, FL 2015
Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural and Education Center, FL 2013
Daytona State College, FL 2014
Mary McLeod-Bethune PACVAG, FL 2012, 2013
The African American Museum of the Arts, FL 2012
SEACCA Tree Studio 2010 - 2015
The Hollingsworth Gallery, FL 2011
The Flagler Art League, FL 2005- 2010
DUMBO, Weldon Ryan Studio, Brooklyn 1995 - 2002
The Skylight Gallery, Brooklyn 2000
The Fulton Street Art Fair, Brooklyn 1999
The Salmagundi, Dale Meyers  Cooper medallion Award,  NY 1993
Diorama art Pelham Bay Environmental Nature Center, NY 1988
The Fashion Institute of Technology, NY 1983
The Bronx River Art Center, NY 1980

TV Appearances:

WDSC 15 Painting Florida with Weldon Ryan 2016
Dave Chapelle Show ( art for a comedy skit)
The Riki Lake Show for his art skills
The Geraldo Rivera Show
CNN
Nature of The Arts BCAT

Publications:

April, 99 issue of Nickelodeon Magazine
Marie Clair Magazine
Cover illustration IDD, M&A, VCJ & Financial Planning Magazines

Organizations:

President of the Flagler County Art League 2010
PAL Executive Board

Education:
Fashion Institute of Technology
S.U.N.Y. at New Paltz
H.S of Art and Design