Inspired by all things disfigured or ill-proportioned, his pieces combine serious talent with an off-the-wall sense of humor, for an illustrative style that is all his own.

Growing up in Kentucky, the outside world's stereotypes of Appalachian culture (not the culture, itself) became a major inspriation in his artistic approach. The characters are based on specific people that influenced Ryan's childhood; people that influenced the stereotype. Fun loving, simple, odd-looking people that loved their lifestyle of drinking, fishing, shooting and screwing.

Awards Include:
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies 2000 (2nd place Editorial Award for Illustration)

Press Club of Cleveland 2000 (2nd place State Award for Non-daily Newspaper)

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies 2001 (3rd place Editorial Award for Illustration)

Society of Professional Journalists 2001 (3rd Place Art Award for Illustration)

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies 2003 (1st place Editorial Award for Illustration)

Association of Alternative Newsweeklies 2005 (2nd place Editorial Award for Illustration

Society of Professional Journalists 2005 (2nd Place Art Award for Illustration)

Press Club of Cleveland 2006 (2nd place Multiple Illustrations / One Story)

Society of Professional Journalists 2006 (2nd place Art Illustration)

 

Clients include:

41st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Alberici Group

Animagic, Inc.

Boston Phoenix

Cincinnati CityBeat

Cincinnati Public Library

Cover Girl

Hasbro-Kenner

Houston Press

Minneapolis City Pages

New York Press

Procter & Gamble

St. Louis Magazine

St. Louis Riverfront Times

Willamette Week