#sparkchamber 012323 — Ryley James
“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart.” Victor Hugo said the words, and today’s #sparkchamber visitor, self-taught artist Ryley James brings that feeling to life. “Spring is only a season, and the flowers I paint represent life's most beautiful moments in bloom.”
Born with a huge imagination and a never-ending desire to create, Ryley’s journey as an artist has always been driven by the need for emotional expression. “As a child, I loved to construct extravagant fictitious realities in my mind and write them into stories or scribble the details into my sketchbook.” As she grew older and the contrast of reality against the beauty of her own imagined world amplified, she turned to art as a means to escape the mundane routine and return to the secret garden of childlike imagination. “Art is my therapy — a small piece of my soul and a page from my own book using paint rather than words.”
Interestingly, even though Ryley has always lived in her own imagination, “I would have never had the confidence or time to pursue my deepest passion if it were not for Covid. For most of my life, I have struggled with my mental health, and only after becoming an adult, I realized I had ADHD. Living alone for the first year of Covid forced me to face myself. And much like when I was young, I turned to art to help express myself.” Since March of 2020, Ryley has painted every day, literally painting the world as she wanted to see it — turning her “darkness” into something beautiful. “Covid, was truly one of the best opportunities I have ever received. I continue to learn so much more about myself than I ever would have imagined.”
Light in the darkness, a silver lining, holding a perspective of positivity, Ryley’s work is filled with blossoming energy and emotion — a celebration of beauty in life all around us. “Just like flowers, moments cannot last forever. However, my work serves as a reminder to take pause and open your eyes to see the world anew, a season of change as if you are once again a child. Live in your curiosity, linger to smell the roses and indulge every moment.”
1.] Where do ideas come from?
Literally everything, everywhere, at every hour. My brain does not stop. In my other full-time job [Sales & Marketing in Real Estate/Home Building], I have been limited to ONE idea a week. I have the next year of ideas already prepped and this started 3 weeks ago. Imagine my list of ideas to paint.
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
I struggle to express my emotions verbally and painting has become my own form of therapy. It really has changed my life.
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
Ideally, as soon as I wake up, until I go to bed. This is actually what I did throughout Covid. Unfortunately now, I have a full-time job and do not have the ability to paint as much as I wish I could. With that said, I paint everyday, every chance I get — at least 4 hours a day. In high school, the teachers would do this thing called “spark-break” — the students, midway through class, would get restless and lose attention, so they would take us on a walk or play a game to get our heart rate up, something to help refresh the students. It was honestly a fantastic idea and I still incorporate that into my work routine. Thankfully, I work from home, so when I feel restless, I pick up my paint brush for 5 minutes and it helps me feel rejuvenated. I honestly need to paint to live now. It became oxygen in my daily life; a way to remain connected to myself, so the motivation never goes away, it just burns brighter.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When the painting feels balanced.
