“Shapes Gradient” (#SHAPESGRADIENT)
Exploration of color, balance, and time with pigment paint on natural canvas.
“The current painting series by Ryan Alexandre Snow titled "Shapes Gradient" explores the realms of visual space, time, and balance through monochromatic shapes of color on natural canvas. With a seamless blend of abstract minimalism and organic textures, each painting invites viewers on a reflective journey of inner peace. Within this meditative series, Ryan masterfully orchestrates the interplay of minimal repeating elements, balancing form and layering, color and gradient. Through his intuitive brushstrokes, he captures the fluidity of motion, creating a suspended sense of time where past, present, and future converge. With this body of work he also commits an environmental focus on source materials including making his own paint from earth pigments collected near and far with local foraged ochres from the mountains of Ojai to traditional indigos from Japan.”
Pigment Paint on Raw Canvas.
Exploration of color, balance, and time with hand made water based paint on natural canvas.
The current painting series by Ryan Alexandre Snow titled "Shapes Gradient" explores the realms of visual space, time, and balance through monochromatic shapes of color on natural canvas. With a seamless blend of abstract minimalism and organic textures, each painting invites viewers on a reflective journey of inner peace. Within this meditative series, Ryan masterfully orchestrates the interplay of minimal repeating elements, balancing form and layering, color and gradient. Through his intuitive brushstrokes, he captures the fluidity of motion, creating a suspended sense of time where past, present, and future converge. With this body of work he also commits an environmental focus on source materials including making his own paint from earth pigments collected near and far with local foraged ochres from the mountains of Ojai to traditional indigos from Japan.
Acrylic on Raw Canvas, Bees Wax Finish
Exploration of color and shape, how it penetrates the eye and informs the space around it. Inspired by the minimalism movement in the early 60’s that is rooted in the reductive aspects of modernism, this series examines geometric abstraction with clean shapes of color on raw canvas.
Medium Format, 35mm, Polaroid Film, Digital Media
I am particularly drawn to the timeless quality of black and white film photography, which allows me to convey the essence of the natural world in a way that is both raw and refined.
By using minimal shapes of color overlaid onto my black and white photographs, I seek to create a subtle interplay between reality and zen space. These pops of color are carefully chosen to complement the organic elements of the nature image. I believe that my approach to photography offers a unique perspective on the beauty of nature, one that is both timeless and contemporary.
Ultimately, my goal is to inspire others to appreciate the beauty of the world around them, and to see the magic that can be found in even the simplest of natural scenes. Through my art, I hope to encourage a deeper connection with nature, and a greater appreciation for the power and beauty that surrounds us every day.
Cumulus clouds are essential to the small water cycle and the creation of our natural environment.
In addition, cumulus clouds are often associated with the feeling of freedom and relaxation. They can evoke a sense of peacefulness and calm, reminding us of the beauty and majesty of the natural world. As such a beautiful and awe-inspiring part of the environment, they have inspired countless works of art, literature, and poetry throughout history.
This series focuses on the wonder and magic of healthy clouds as gifts to our environment along with their ability to bring us joy and inspiration.
This series explores the relationship between cirrus clouds and aviation exhaust, also referred to as “Contrails” and “Chemtrails” that we so often see when looking towards the sky.
Contrails, short for "condensation trails," are the long, thin clouds that form behind airplanes at high altitudes when water vapor and particulate matter from the exhaust condenses and freezes. These clouds can persist for several minutes or many hours, depending on atmospheric conditions.
When the humidity is high at high altitudes where contrails form, the ice crystals in the contrails act as a nucleus for the formation of additional ice crystals, resulting in the growth of cirrus clouds. These cirrus clouds can persist for hours or even days, and they can cover vast areas of the sky.
The growth of cirrus clouds from contrails is believed to be due to the process of "ice-supersaturation," in which the atmosphere is saturated with ice crystals at temperatures colder than -40°C. The additional ice crystals that form from the contrails act as a seed for further ice crystal growth, leading to the formation of cirrus clouds.
While contrails are a natural byproduct of aviation, their contribution to cirrus cloud formation and potential impacts on the climate are still being studied. Some research suggests that the increase in air traffic over the past several decades has led to an increase in cirrus cloud cover, which could have implications for global climate.
Geoengineering is a set of technologies designed to modify the Earth's climate system in order to counteract or reduce the effects of climate change, also known as climate engineering. Solar radiation management (SRM) is a subset of geoengineering that aims to reflect incoming solar radiation, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches Earth's surface and thus reducing the warming effect of greenhouse gases. SRM techniques include reflective aerosols released into the atmosphere, SRM is controversial, as it could have unintended consequences, such as changing precipitation patterns, and is not a substitute for reducing emissions.
Jet fuel is primarily made of a mixture of hydrocarbons (alkanes) such as pentanes and heptanes, derived from crude oil refining. The exact composition of jet fuel can vary depending on the crude oil source and refining process, but it typically contains aromatics, alcohols, and other additives for improved performance and stability. Jet A-1 is a type of aviation fuel used by most of the world's airlines. It is a kerosene-based fuel that typically contains the following components: Hydrocarbons (alkanes) derived from crude oil refining, including linear and branched alkanes with 10 to 16 carbon atoms. Aromatic compounds, such as benzene and toluene, which provide fuel properties such as energy content, volatility, and stability. Trace amounts of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen compounds, which are present as impurities in crude oil or formed during the refining process. Additives, such as anti-icing agents, antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, and detergents, to improve fuel performance and stability.
Aviation emissions are composed of a mixture of gases and particulates. The exact composition of aviation exhaust depends on various factors, such as the type of aircraft, the altitude of flight, and the fuel being used. Common components of aviation exhaust include:
Carbon dioxide (CO2): A greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
Water vapor (H2O): A potent greenhouse gas that can contribute to the formation of contrails and cirrus clouds.
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): A group of pollutants that contribute to air pollution and can form ozone in the lower atmosphere.
Particulate matter (PM): Small particles of soot, dust, and other materials that can contribute to air pollution and affect human health.
Sulfur oxides (SOx): A group of pollutants that can contribute to air pollution and acid rain.
Carbon monoxide (CO): A poisonous gas that contributes to air pollution and can affect human health.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): A group of pollutants that can contribute to air pollution and affect human health.
With this black and white film photography series capturing California skies under solar radiation management, I aim to explore the intersection of human intervention and natural landscapes. Solar radiation management, a controversial geoengineering technique, seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change by reflecting sunlight back into space. Through my lens, I examine the consequences of this intervention on the ethereal beauty of California's skies.
In each frame, I seek to evoke a sense of duality - the stark contrast between the natural world and human intervention. The timeless medium of black and white film allows me to strip away distractions, inviting viewers to contemplate the intricate dance between light and shadow in these altered skies.
By documenting these moments, I invite reflection on our role as stewards of the Earth. How do we balance the need for intervention with the preservation of natural beauty? Can we truly control nature, or are we merely temporary custodians of a complex and delicate ecosystem?
Through this series, I hope to spark dialogue and introspection about the future of our planet and our responsibility to protect its wonders. As we navigate the challenges of a changing climate, may these images serve as a reminder of the power and fragility of the world around us.
Polaroid photography of iconic Los Angeles summer heat waves. Shot with the Polaroid SX-70 on vintage TZ Artistic, a limited edition film designed by Paul Giambarba.
Polaroid photography of Corsica France. Shot with the Polaroid SX-70 on vintage TZ Artistic, a limited edition film designed by Paul Giambarba.
This series was featured in Urban Hardwoods showrooms in San Francisco, West Hollywood and national advertising campaign.
Polaroid photographs scanned and slightly cleaned up digitally.
Shot with Fuji Instant Color Film
This series continues to explore contrails and clouds using Midjourny Ai art bot with variations of the prompt:
imagine/ contrails in the sky that persist and spread, eventually forming cirrus clouds and diffusing the suns radiation.
