Local countryside inspires Mai's first solo exhibition

Rambling around the local countryside has inspired an Athlone artist to transform familiar scenes into striking paintings in the abstract realism style.

The Shannon Callows, a stream in the autumn and local woodland all feature in Mai Ryan's first solo exhibition ‘In Colour’, which opens on Friday, June 3 at Athlone Picture Framing in The Village@Burgess in Lloyd’s Lane from 5.30pm.

Roscommon native Mai, who has lived in Athlone since 1991, paints mostly in acrylic, building up layers and often letting the paint take a spectacular journey of its own.

Her striking use of colour, brushstroke and depth transforms country scenes into arresting and eye-catching abstract realism pieces that result in a thoroughly fresh take on familiar local scenes.

Mai has previously exhibited with The Chancery Art Gallery, Luan Gallery and Athlone Arts Group.

Abstract realism, as an art style or movement, combines two contradictory terms, abstract art and realistic art, and generally involves using abstract painting techniques concentrating on colours, lines, shapes and rhythms to slightly distort a real object or landscape scene.

While the technique makes the painting recognisable, it is somewhat blurred and distorted. Artists believe when you combine these two concepts, you get a new style of art that attempts to depict the emotions behind a particular real-life object or scene.

Well known artists like Jackson Pollock, Franz Kline and William de Kooning are some of the leaders of the abstract realism movement.

Mai Ryan's first solo exhibition will be launched this Friday, June 3 from 5.30pm to 7pm at Athlone Picture Framing in The Village@Burgess (to the side of Burgess Department Store) Lloyd’s Lane, Athlone. Refreshments will be served.

'In Colour' will be on display at The Village@Burgess for the rest of June.

To check out more of Mai's artwork go to https://www.facebook.com/mairyanartist

https://www.instagram.com/mairyanartist