Ricky Wyrick

We spend our lives in constant motion. As much as we may try to avoid change, it is inevitable. The world around us changes beneath our feet and we are a living testament to transition. My work explores this process of metamorphosis. An image captured through the lens of my camera becomes more than just a simple photograph. I skillfully modify my images, transforming them into complex layered compositions hidden behind a simple idea. Every canvas tells a story.
Every piece of art embarks on a journey. It starts as an idea in the mind of the artist and travels to its intended destination, a wall where it can be admired and appreciated. The complexity of my creative process is not always noticed upon initial viewing of my work. To the untrained eye, it often appears as a traditional painting. However, it is not. Under closer examination, it can often appear to be an embellished replication of an original painting. But once again, it is not.
Instead, it is an original fine art photograph that has been digitally modified by hand, multiple times producing several underpaintings. These underpaintings are combined in layers to create an original work of digital art. The journey continues as the digital art is crafted onto museum quality canvas using an eight-color inkjet process. The art then travels into the world of traditional art as acrylic paint is added in several layers, highlighting portions of the final image. A transparent layer of acrylic gel medium finishes off the creative process, providing protection from dust and scratching while enhancing the vibrancy of the acrylic paint.
Like an orchestra comprised of multiple instruments, my work harnesses the complexity of these many layers and presents a symphony of emotion, beauty, and purpose. The melody carried by the stories told are only experienced by those that take the time to listen. It is the viewer’s story that connects with mine and sparks an epic tale that touches the soul.