Meet Ryan Sinner | Creator, Engineer, Scientist

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

Hi Ryan, why did you pursue a creative career?

Well, initially it was out of necessity due to the pandemic spreading to the US. I also didn’t anticipate it doing well enough to support myself during months of lockdown. Back when I was in high school, I had made the decision to not pursue art professionally, as I didn’t want the pecuniary pressure to add anxiety to creating, an activity that I liked to use as an escape. It seemed counter-intuitive. However, during my time working as a freelance artist, graphic designer, and eventually as a creative director during lockdown, I started to learn how to balance expression and emotion with commission-work and business. This is when I realised that I had a lot more that I wanted to share with the world and first considered being a creator professionally. When I started my job at the material science lab, I encountered even more inspiration from learning more about how different materials found in consumer products interact chemically and how they can impact people and the environment. Jumping back into engineering has also reignited my interest in creating installation art. Ideas have been pouring in so I’ve just been making plans and gathering materials passively as I work on commissions.

Another reason I’ve started pursuing an artistic career is because it is fulfilling to share my creations and knowledge. The more I learn, the more I want to share it with others. This is especially true when it comes to STEM. Science communication is very important for societal success; When combined with smart graphic design, it can be effective. My desire to share with others extends to when I learn more about the human experience as I live through it. It feels easier to represent this through my art since the human experience is composed of interaction, perception, and consciousness, all of which are difficult to simply put in words. The goal is to create something that will affect a person in any combination of these ways and to give the viewer insight to what I’m thinking or feeling. The drive to achieve my own form of communication in a world where being heard can feel rare is what gives me drive and keeps bringing me back to my career as a creative.

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.
Sure! I describe my art as multi-faceted and the subjects, media, and motifs can vary greatly. I specialize in human portraiture and architectural drawings, but try out new media every chance I get. I lean towards darker aesthetics that range from gothic to futuristic. The subjects I choose typically depend on how I’m feeling, current events, or what’s currently inspiring or fascinating me. For example, a lot of my work will touch on topics relevant to environmental sustainability, social equity and justice, and various topics in space and science. I’m also just a huge fan of those cyberpunk and neon light city aesthetics — I tend to play around with those more in my digital work and modeling, but have recently implemented some ideas using inks. Alternatively, my commission work typically pushes me outside of the tools and ideas I’m comfortable with to achieve the vision of my client. This keeps me excited about my work and challenges me to improve and broaden my skill set. It can range from colored-pencil pet portraits to modern and animated Twitch overlays, emotes, and graphics. I’ve even designed both realistic and neo-traditional tattoo designs for many clients!Lately, I’ve been experimenting with acrylic painting techniques and my songwriting, but have been focusing on commissions including several ink pieces, painting a custom leather jacket design, and charcoal pet portraits. I’ve also been modeling in more photography projects and hope to get more exposure and experience with that as well.

Since we last spoke, I’ve continued working as a resident artist at Half Crown Creative. I’ve been working hard on finishing commissions while also making time to work on personal projects. Using my gallery and shop space for selling handmade prints and original paintings has been a fun experience as well! Having people from California contact me to buy a painting when I live in Colorado is not only exciting, but an honor. Knowing that people are excited to have one of my pieces in their home warms me and motivates me to keep making more.

Currently my focus has been directed towards some new projects that I’ve been preparing behind the scenes. I know I should get better at it, but I really don’t share much of my art publicly on social media. If it’s not on display at my studio, it’s most likely only in my phone’s photos or on my Patreon. I’ve been working with a lot of different material and new media and I’m just really antsy to start implementing my new ideas. I’m also writing more and experimenting with my music and visual media. I’m trying to shift my attention more on these projects since they’ve been on the back-burner for far too long. I’m also just trying to continue to build up my stock for the studio’s shop; printmaking has been a whole new beast and making relatable and true-to-style graphics for stickers has also been fun.

Looking back, I can’t be entirely sure how I really got here in my career other than an unusual series of spread-out simultaneously fortunate and unfortunate events? I know the work and effort I’ve put into this has certainly had an effect, but sometimes it seems like opportunities can blind-side you when you’re not expecting it. If the pandemic didn’t happen, would I have jumped back into art so heavily? If I hadn’t met that friend that introduced me to many of the clients that I now work with regularly, would I be worse off? Or would a better opportunity have found me later? Regardless, I can’t say it’s been easy.

I’ve learned a lot, but at times it can feel like I know nothing at all. A couple things I’ve learned and advise to those starting out:

Require a deposit for commission work or take payment first. If the client backs out after you’ve put time and materials into something, this protects you financially. Alternatively, have contracts prepared, but this may not be the first thing you want to do when still figuring out how you want to work. I had a guy commission me for a very specific military portrait, then never show up to make the transaction. To this day, I have a drawing that nobody wants and no money to show for it.
Network, submit to galleries, and enter art contests. There is no downside to talking about your art, meeting other artists, and scouting out places to sell your art. I saw that an alt-scene bar in Denver that shared some of the themes present in my art, so I asked the server for the owner’s card to ask about getting some of my pieces on their walls. The worst that happens is I get no response or they say no. The same goes for submitting your piece to a gallery or entering an art contest. Shoot your shot, kid.
Don’t wear things you like to the studio. This should be self-explanatory, but I will tell you that the outcome is tragic..
Last, there is no right way to create.

As a professional, I’m more confident now that I’ve overcome a lot of challenges. One that I’m still facing is insufficient space for creating my work and for storing it. My projects require a lot of unique materials and I live in a tiny, zero-amenity, one-bedroom apartment with my partner (and our cat). The lack of a larger workspace, or even a yard, prevents me from working on a lot of my project ideas safely or efficiently. A start to a solution includes having a small public art studio only a short drive away from my place. It helps, but it is only a temporary solution that I’m treating as the first step to a better solution. I’d like to have a garage or workshop that can manage all my tools and supplies, and ideally fit multiple workspaces so I can easily switch between multiple projects.

In terms of my collaborative and commission work, I just hope my community understands that I try to avoid ‘selling out’ regardless of the money or opportunity being presented to me if it doesn’t seem right.

As a creator, it’s important to me to stick to my values, so I will not work with anyone or anything that contradicts what I think is right and I strive to cause no harm.
I’m just out here doing my best to engage and interact with this world with the tools I have.
I’m always changing. I’m always learning. I’m always creating.
I value the health of the environment, the natural life within it, and humanity.
I value ethics and my opinions align with sound science.
I’m not a ‘one-trick pony’, as they say. I am capable of so much and I love challenges. I think that’s why I’m here talking with you today.

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.

Unfortunately, I’d say a lot of my favorite spots to eat or lounge in the city have closed due to the pandemic or similar reasons, but a few gems remain and many new spots to explore are starting to spring up. I’ll focus on Denver and the surrounding area here.
The Denver Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS), the Denver Museum of Art (DMA), and Denver’s Meow Wolf are also all amazing. DMNS was my absolute favorite place to go when I was a kid. The space, ancient Egypt, and gems and minerals exhibits were always the first places I’d want to check out when we’d arrive, despite having basically memorized them at some point. All three have actually recently been updated in the past few years, so now there’s even more to explore even if you’ve already been there. I also highly recommend the Meow Wolf in Denver. If you want a better glimpse into the aesthetics that I find pleasing and try to incorporate in my own art, this is the place to go. I find everything about the neon lights, cyberpunk theming, and strange lore absolutely exhilarating and inspiring to say the least. I won’t try to describe it further since it is better experienced first-hand.
There’s Sam’s no 3. I went there religiously when I was in university and I still go whenever I get the chance. I love being downtown and I love diners, so Sam’s is definitely my number one. If I’m planning on being downtown all day, Sam’s is good for any meal, but there are other bars and restaurants I’ll go to as well. Some spots I recommend in no particular order: 1-Up (barcade), The Crypt (vegan food and hardcore vibes), Bar-Nun (spooky church themed bar in Capitol Hill), City O’ City (bomb vegan food in walking distance to DMA), Williams & Graham (speakeasy), Linger (old mortuary turned modern eatery), D-Bar (restaurant specializing in desserts and drinks), Miriam’s Cafe (small family-owned spot serving crepes and coffee near DMNS).
If you’re not about alcohol or simply appreciate coffee and tea, I recommend Corvus Coffee Roasters, Procession Coffee, The Weathervane Cafe, Roostercat Coffee House, The Bardo Coffee House, Capital Tea, Queen City Collective Coffee.
I’d also recommend a stroll through the Sante Fe Art District, especially if it’s a First Friday! All of the galleries open up their doors and offer cheese, wine, and beautiful scenery. There’s also The Molecule Effect, an artsy science-themed cafe right there on Sante Fe that I used to frequently study at when I was in school.
Red Rocks. It’s not like it’s a hard sell, but I don’t think everyone is aware of all the events that are held there besides the concerts. I’ve attended movie screenings, group classes, and special events held during solstices. Many people even just go there to hike and hang out.
The Fiske Planetarium in Boulder also holds fun shows! Yes, there’s educational science shows, but they’re also known for putting on laser shows featuring classic music from ACDC, Pink Floyd, etc. Once in a blue moon, they’ll even host an actual concert with bands like STARSET. You can’t go wrong with just a day trip to Boulder, sipping on tea at Dushanbe Teahouse, getting lunch on Pearl St, and concluding with a show at Fiske.
Finally, whether you want to learn how to swing dance or throw down some slam poetry, the Mercury Cafe has it all. They do all kinds of events and classes, offer food and drink, coffee and tea, and are within walking distance to other interesting restaurants and shops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I mean I could go on and on trying to list everyone whose support I’m grateful for and everyone who has ever inspired me. Currently on my mind are the friends and family who supported me in 2020. I was in a bad accident and multiple family members were all experiencing bad health and were in the hospital. Without getting into too much, my community really pulled through with emotional, financial, and physical support during these months. Being bed-bound during a pandemic and not being able or even allowed to visit my family in the hospital has left a permanent mark on me. I still feel deeply indebted to everyone and I hope they all know how thankful I am and how often I find myself thinking about them.

Then there’s my Mom and my Concert Parents – My mom deserves a shoutout for encouraging creativity throughout my childhood (and to this day) and for teaching me how to even hold a paint brush. I remember doing crafts on the kitchen table and the special cabinet we had dedicated to all of the supplies. I also remember her painting portraits of us when we were kids. Maybe this is where my focus in portraiture came from. My Concert Parents, Stacey and Dave, also deserve a shoutout for supporting me and helping me get my website when I was first starting off. The three of us met at a concert almost ten years ago and bonded over music, another passion of mine. After running into each other at a few more shows, we joked that they’ve ‘‘adopted me” as their Concert Kid and that they were my Concert Parents. Since then, we have attended many more shows and events together over the years.

Then there’s my brilliant partner, who has a knack for matching my energy and my passion for anything creative. They’ve also taught me so many new skills in a variety of subjects and just so much about myself. I don’t think I would’ve been able to get here without them.

Oh, definitely a shoutout to my therapist too.

Website and Selected Works: https://ryansinner.art/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ryan.sinner.art/

Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/sadandspacey All Other Links: https://linktr.ee/sadandspacey

Image Credits
The red mirror portrait and the two field portraits are (c) Veda Holden. The rest of the photos provided are (c) Ryan Sinner