RYAN JENSEN
ARTIST BIO
Ryan Jensen, born in the San Francisco Bay Area, is an award winning oil painter known for his brushwork and the way he handles light. One of Jensen's earliest memories are of his father, a painter, and his mother, a graphic designer, arched together over a drafting board in their in-home studio, a memory which led him to becoming a professional artist later in life. At age twenty-one, Jensen chose to pursue a career in the United States Marine Corps and subsequently served eight years, with three combat tours to both Iraq and Afghanistan. His time in the Marine Corps gave him crucial life experiences that helped him "see the world through a different lens." After being honorably discharged, Jensen changed course and returned to school, majoring in Fine Arts. Now as an accomplished artist, Jensen finds inspiration in the coastal atmosphere of Northern California. He enjoys focusing on subtle details in his daily life such as the play of light and shadows and combinations of complimentary colors and shapes.
CURATOR'S COMMENTS
Ryan Jensen is a phenomenon. With tens of thousands of Instagram followers, obviously I am not the only one fascinated by this phenomenon. I had the opportunity to watch Ryan in action when I asked for a few big paintings, and he offered to paint three 5-foot by 9-foot canvases here in Arroyo Grande. Painting in my studio, Ryan created three masterful works.
Many people get to watch Ryan paint during the many plein air competitions he attends, often walking away with ribbons and prize money. Ryan attacks his canvas with bravado and speed. He will often use acrylic to fill the canvas with abstract color and texture before he starts. Painting over what seems like a completed abstract painting creates opportunities for those “happy accidents” that a painter treasures. This process helps Ryan start a dialogue with the painting itself, working the whole canvas, adding and subtracting. The result is a loose painting best seen from a distance that is rich in color and texture.
Follow this phenomenon: Ryan is going places.
ARTWORK BY
RYAN JENSEN
Get to Know Ryan Jensen
Who is contemporary artist Ryan Jensen?
Ryan Jensen is an acclaimed California Impressionist painter known for his expressive landscapes and remarkable ability to capture light and atmosphere. Painting both en plein air and in the studio, Jensen has earned national recognition for his vibrant paintings that celebrate the beauty of California's natural landscapes.
What is Ryan Jensen known for?
Ryan Jensen is best known for his luminous landscapes, energetic brushwork, and extraordinary ability to portray the effects of light on the landscape. His paintings combine confident color and expressive mark-making to create scenes that feel both immediate and deeply atmospheric.
What inspires Ryan Jensen's work?
Ryan Jensen draws inspiration from painting directly from life and from his deep connection to nature and the changing landscape around him. Whether painting the coast, forests, or open countryside, he seeks to capture fleeting moments of light and atmosphere, creating works that invite viewers to experience the beauty and emotion of a place.
Where can I purchase original artwork by Ryan Jensen?
Selected original paintings and available works by Ryan Jensen can be viewed and purchased through The Gallery Arroyo Grande online and in person. Collectors are invited to explore available landscapes and inquire about current works, exhibitions, and opportunities to add Ryan Jensen's nationally recognized California Impressionist paintings to their collections.
Interested in collecting work by
Ryan Jensen?
Explore available artwork online or contact The Gallery to inquire about current works, commissions, and upcoming exhibitions.