“Life Cycle” from “In Search of Fortunes Not Yet Lost” by Ryan Habermeyer
The cultural and natural world of the American northwest inspires my art. Living near Seattle and Redmond, Washington State exposes me to the creative trends of the world’s most innovative minds.
My art is a response to this rich social and spiritual environment.
The abstract expressionist masters who produced haunting images from this region are constant inspirations.
The ethnographic designs of northwest native peoples, cave painting, Greek myths and statues and cryptic letters figure into my art.
The artists I admire tap unconscious feelings of longing for existential meaning that emerge from cultural icons. In my view, abstraction should be more than pleasing design. Instead, art should evoke connotations that permit the viewer to experience a sense of wonder, awe and new perspectives of being.
While the forests, mountains, water ways and damp skies of the northwest inspire me, I am moved to create by the contemplation of beauty where ever I find it.
Ideas for an abstract piece might appear in a dream. The next day I set out to capture the dream-world image (or at least the feel of it). Inspiration also come by studying the works of the masters. Alfonso Ossorio, Kadinsky and Lee Krasner influence me.
These and other artists I admire tap the unconscious feelings of longing for existential meaning that emerge from cultural icons. In my view, abstraction should evoke connotations that permit the viewer to experience a sense of wonder, awe and new perspectives of being.
Abstractions are my preferred style. Ideas for a piece might appear in a dream. The next day I set out to capture the dream-world image. Inspiration also comes from studying the works of the masters.
