Reflecting on my Year & Growth
As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the journey I’ve been on as an artist. It’s been a year of growth in my practice, challenges, and some great moments thanks to the support of my followers, friends, commissioners, those who have invited me to exhibit & and those who have bought my paintings this year.
Looking at where I am now, I’m slightly amazed by how far I’ve come in my painting skill & technique, continuing to learn the classical methods. There've been many lessons (and paintings that I never even want to look at again!!) but what I learned was immeasurable. Whether honing new skills, experimenting with different styles, or stepping outside of my comfort zone to share more vulnerable parts of my work (a part of myself I have to remember how to show), this year has been about pushing myself to get better and embracing change.
RPF: Travelling
Singed, Limited Edition Art Book
One of my biggest milestones this year was releasing my first limited edition art book, RPF: Travelling. It was a collection of the many surreal digital collages I have made over the years. I wanted to make a product out of my oeuvre that was a beautiful artwork in its own right, whilst being a more affordable, editioned piece of art. Releasing it, I was nervous, but I was amazed that only a few copies are now left!
To purchase one of the remaining editions, please contact me at info@ryanpeterfrench.com
£50 + p&p
I was honoured to be invited by the Portico Library to have a look through their collections, and have my painting featured in their ‘Weird as Folk’ exhibition, a colourful and collaborative exploration of folklore of the north west;
‘Designed to evolve and, in doing so, incorporating a variety of contemporary artistic responses, Weird As Folk‘s opening piece is a painting by Ryan Peter French, Skies And Flesh, a canvas which conjures a Vatican ceiling from passing clouds. It elegantly suggests the arguable genesis of all that surrounds it; the creative imagination which joins dots of meaning to the shapes traced by stars in the night sky, that puts words together to ward off what’s feared in the darkness, yet shapes the same words to manifest the thing that’s feared. Therein, perhaps, lies the weirdness, and therein, certainly, the artistry of folk.’
You can read this review of the exhibition, by Desmond Bullen for Northern Soul, here.
Of course, growth isn’t always smooth. There were moments when doubt crept in, where I didn’t feel like I was advancing enough, or making enough, or skilled enough. Life even got in the way when one fateful night at a restaurant led to a tropical parasite stopping me in my tracks for months (whelp), and even that was more bearable than facing some of the rejections artists can often face on a regular basis, particularly from… well, that’s a story for another time. Setbacks aren’t failures—they’re lessons. And each challenge has shaped me into a more resilient, confident artist.
‘It’s got to Hurt a Little Bit’ (2024)
Oil on Canvas, 100x150cm
One of my latest oil paintings completed in 2024.
With this painting, I wanted to portray a dramatic moment between two figures in a way that feels sacred or mythic, yet also deeply human. The second figure features the head of a minotaur to symbolise the animalistic side of human nature. I feel this work is a contemporary take on the central themes of the Baroque era, a time when artists sought to bridge the divine and the earthly, capturing raw, human emotion with representation and realism.
I also want to highlight the comments & messages I’ve received from my supporters… Knowing that my work resonates with people out there is really what being an artist is all about.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what’s to come. I’m currently working on my biggest, and most technically impressive paintings to date, and that is just the beginning. As always, I have some very exciting projects in the works! My focus for next year is to continue sharing even more authentic pieces of who I am, an artist.
Thank you for being part of my journey, here’s to a new year full of creativity & connection <3
To own one of my art books, purchase a painting or commission an artwork, please contact me on info@ryanpeterfrench.com
– RPF