Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Berry.
Ryan, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up on Star Wars and Jim Henson Films, both working as massive influences in my early art. My sketching mixed with fabrication as I was taught leather work and saddle making by my God Father. Later I worked on set-design and costuming throughout High School, while also focusing on drafting and fabrication through electives. Video games, horror movies, hard science fiction, cyberpunk and fantasy games helped to influence my developing art style as an illustrator and sculptor throughout college.
As a professional I have enjoyed a good foundation in both illustration and fabrication, which has allowed me to work on everything from polymer toys to illustrating a children’s book.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I work most often as a Leather Workers and Costume Designer. My Fabrication and design background allowing me to create functional fashion accessories, recreation leather armor, or Post-Apocalyptic costumes and props. I am mostly inspired by the cyberpunk, post-apocalyptic and horror genres, I like to think and challenge others to think about how and what we are doing to change our world… for better or for worse. In my private art I work at the extreme ends of the horror/monster genre.
I like to make small cute representations of some of the stuff that has scarred humanity for thousands of years. On the other side a lot of my paintings and illustrations deal with the darker side of horror, from the elder gods to demons and sea monsters.
Any advice for aspiring or new artists?
Practice, practice, practice!
I have also had to learn a lot of the digital painting and digital art techniques I know through experimentation, none of it was new enough to be taught when I was in college, I would recommend getting the programs early and learning as much as you can before taking classes with them.
A good professor will teach you and challenge you, seek them out. A bad professor will shove their ideas down your throat and try to make them your ideas… Never be afraid to leave a class, you are there to learn and change not to be converted.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I am notoriously slow to update most everything! But Instagram is the best! My Illustration can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/thegrav/. My leather work and costuming can be found at; https://www.instagram.com/brakkenwood_armory/.
Contact Info:
- Website: theartofryanberry.com
- Email: ryan@thegrav.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrav/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtofTheGrav/
Image Credit:
Alien Watercolor, Ryan Berry.
Goblin Adventurer, Ryan Berry.
Nordian Arms, N15 Enforcer, Ryan Berry.
Imp Sculpt, WIP, Ryan Berry.
Blue Ring Octopus, Ryan Berry.
Cthulhu Sculpt, Ryan Berry.
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
