Ryan J. McCarty is a craft artist, focused on creating aesthetic forms from clay, metal and wood. Born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area, Ryan considers LA his home and enjoys the contrast between the urban excitement and the peace of the neighboring mountains. Ryan currently attends California Lutheran University and plans to graduate in 2011. During the week he also works as a graphic designer, making print medium advertising for various local companies. He loves exploring the world, be it on the internet, in the library, at museums, in a garden or out and about; he feels that it is especially important for artists to know and connect with the world they live in.
Ryan views contrast as a prime element in art; he is constantly switching between projects and between mediums, using the uniqueness of each material to enrich his artistic ideas. The son of a L.A. firefighter, he had a natural attraction to very hot things, and found himself best suited working in high temperature materials. In his works he combines the skill and articulation of a craftsman with the creativity of an artist, and enjoys the challenge of creating art in mediums traditionally considered as crafts.