Emerging Artist: Ryan Hardesty

Age: 32

Born: In Spokane, but raised in Western Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula. Hardesty now lives in Spokane.

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Washington, 1966; Master of Fine Arts, Massachusetts College of Art, 1999.

Day job: Manager of the Art @ Work program at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Influences: “There are paintings that I have visited from time to time,” Hardesty says. “Albert Pinkham Ryder’s ‘Constance’ for its obsessed surface quality and glowing light and Marsden Hartley’s ‘Carnival of Autumn’ that depicts an almost hyper-personal countryside scene. Also Robert Irwin’s ‘Homage to the Square’ project at the Dia Center, in New York City, which beautifully used scrim and neon to create an ethereal space of contemplation. Also, nods to Robert Ryman, Agnes Martin and Piet Mondrian.”

What kind of art do you make? “Currently, paintings and drawings using line work to instill a sense of presence and transformation.”

Talk a little about your process: “My process is based on a controlled improvisation. I try to react to the developing image as it builds through the accrual of marks. Consecutive thin layers of ground color are used to layer the image while developing the surface. Often there is a conceptual jumping off point at the onset, such as a memory of a place or ideas concerning structure. Ultimately, the process is exploratory.”

Where can we see your art? “Far and Near” exhibit at the Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague Ave., through Oct. 29.

Web site: www.lorindaknight.com

Contact: ryanh@northwestmuseum.org