Meet Ryan Hughes | Freelance artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Hughes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I believe life is best experienced when one is willing to take risks. Personally, risk taking has been helpful for the sake of new experiences, accomplishments, and interesting stories to tell.

Taking risks has also been an integral element of my path as an artist, all the way from experimenting with mediums to being part of shows. In fact, I believe it’s an inherent aspect of the artistic process.

Art/music history has shown us that artists who are willing to be courageous are key in setting a standard for evolving genres and movements. I often think about the career risks that Surrealist artists took when depicting their dreams in unsettling detail, or the risks that early rock artists took when standing in stark contrast to the social conventions of their time.

I aim to push myself out of my comfort zone more with each year by taking healthy risks. Most importantly, this will maximize my ability to bring my passions and talents to the world around me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am fascinated with translating thoughts/emotions into tangible images. There’s a purity and an honesty to this process that I connect with on a deep level – so much that I consider painting to be a second language.

Some ideas are simply better conveyed visually. I’ve always been a visual/hands on learner, so I took to painting and drawing very naturally. This form of communication can come with its challenges, but it has also helped me connect with people in a more genuine way than before I started.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m very grateful to live in a city as beautiful as Denver, especially for the diverse art/music scene we have.

Not only do we have the Rocky Mountains in our backyard, which are a painter’s dream, but we also have a diverse selection of museums to visit. Places like Meow Wolf, the Kirkland, Denver Art Museum, and the Western art museum are spectacular.

I also love the vibe of SoBo with its incredible restaurants and shops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a shoutout to all artists, musicians and creators who follow their voice and passions. Your drive has inspired me to keep my head up when I feel discouraged, and helps push me to reach higher goals.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintingsbyryanhughes/