Eep - Monday has come and gone, but I have yet to post my weekly interview with one of Portland’s finest. Though I am a day late, I’m no less excited to bring your my chat with Ryan Jacob Smith. Inspired by the beauty of the past and the ever-morphing punk scene, Ryan’s work features versatile narratives that range the environment and spirituality to survival, hurt, and healing.

In a previous interview, Ryan had this to say about how he expresses his range of concepts: “These themes are expressed through branches (which resemble arteries and veins), crystals, birds, moths, and anvils. Each of these elements represents the beauty of life, a hardship, or both.” Formally educated at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, Ryan now spends his days creating subtle yet powerful works of art (and some kick-ass vegan barbecue) in Portland, where he moved not long after graduating with honors in 2001.

Unlike those type-A artists, Ryan embraces the mistakes he makes on his own works, leaving scratches and slip-ups for all to see. Thanks to his formal education and desire for experimentation, Ryan’s pieces are a combination of illustration, painting, and collage; as well as the usage of acrylics, spray paint, silk-screening and graphite. Which one is his current favorite? You’ll have to read the interview to find out (wink wink).

The first thing I noticed about your work was a consistent use of pastel colors - has that been a conscious decision when creating your expressive artwork or more of a subconscious personal preference?

A little bit of both; some of my palettes are colors I find in science books and magazines from the sixties. Sometimes it’s more of a feeling I get when I paint something in a certain color. Also I enjoy using pastel colors because it reminds me of candy.

In an interview last year with Fecal Face, you mentioned going to vegan barbecues and eating vegan donuts; when do you first adopt the vegan lifestyle? What factors influenced your decision to change your eating habits (ethical, environmental … etc)?

In high school, I was way into the punk and hardcore scene. This music scene opened me up to alot of progressive and political ideas, including the idea of veganism. So basically, at 16 years old, I was totally a straightedge vegan kid. I haven’t really changed much.

It is often mentioned that you have an affinity for old science books and other vintage goods - what are some of your favorite places to shop and/or visit for inspiration?

In Portland there’s a lot to choice from. Let’s see, “Really Good Stuff” is really good, ha ha. There’s a used book store downtown, I forget the name, it’s on Stark and 3rd. “The Bins” is a really epic warehouse of a Goodwill, where they just have everything in bins.

Acrylics, spray paint, graphite, collage, and silk screening - which is your favorite and why?

I have been way more into graphite lately because I take it with me wherever I go. This was really important to me when I was subletting in New York and drawing in coffee shops.

Speaking of silk screening, you recently made a limited edition organic cotton shirt for Los Angeles’ Reform School website launch. What was it like working with sustainable fibers? You also did a solo show in their store last month; how was that experience?

Organic cotton is pretty rad, Browns and greens look really good on the cotton’s natural color. Everyone at Reform School was totally awesome. They treated me really well, I had a great time. Also their friend Jen made vegan cupcakes!

Growing up in Pasadena, California, how did you make the decision to move to Portland? What are your most and least favorite things about the PDX area?

A little more than four years ago, I came up to Portland for an art show. I had an amazing time, Portland is really vegan friendly, and bike friendly. Back then, I stopped driving a car and switched to riding a bike in Los Angeles. So when i visiting in Portland, it blew my mind: everyone rides a bike! Also on that trip, I met Dawn Riddle who had a room available the very next month in her house. She persuaded me to move in, I really didn’t need much persuading. I was already sold on Portland.

On a side note, the Los Angeles bike community has grown in the last four years and is still growing. BIG PROPS TO LA!

Back to Portland. most favorite things: the before mentioned progressive culture and bike friendliness. The best vegan breakfast in the world! Correction, best vegan food period. The music and art community here is really amazing. The people here totally rule. Don’t get me started about the summers here, totally epic.

Least favorite: Everyone’s going to tell you the rain and the unemployment. Those are the first two negative comments people say about Portland. Yeah, those get to me now and then. Portland is a smaller city, so natural is feels small sometimes. Every once in a while I get kind of an “island fever” here.

You once mentioned in an interview that you have a quirk for smelling every new book or music album that you buy - I have a habit of smelling every loaf of bread I buy, go figure. Do you tend to embrace more than your sense of touch when creating your works?

I thought about adding scents to my work. I really love the smell of lavender lately, that could be a start.

Living in what has been called the greenest city in the US, do you have any eco-conscious habits?

If you live in Portland you have to have at least a few eco-conscious habits. Being vegan is definitely one and riding a bike instead of driving a car is another. Those are my obvious first two. Recycling and reusing materials. I try to eat organic and local produce. Actually I buy a lot of locally made bread and baked goods. Also I take fast showers, sometimes I skip a day or two between showers. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that one. I smell good, I promise.

Do you have any other nifty, secret projects in the works that you could hint at?

I have 8″x10″ prints of the painting “Late Bloomer” coming up on Tiny Showcase and a “let’s just be friends” t-shirt from Receiver Gallery.

[All images courtesy of Ryan Jacob Smith]