The paintings and multi-media prints of artist, Abigail Cossette Ryan (Abby), are featured in an exclusive exhibit titled, “Colorful World” in the Leesburg Town Hall through the month of November. The exhibit features art created using watercolors, brush pen, and/or inktense pencils. The Leesburg Town Hall will be open until 9 PM for Leesburg First Friday on November 1.
Abigail Cossette Ryan 
Multi-media Exquisite Owel
Red Panda
Abby responded to a question about her inspiration to create art, “The world needs beauty and imagination. I play with pigments, mostly watercolors and brush pens, because I need beauty and imagination, too.”
Asked about her preferred themes, Abby replied, “Back to nature, beauty, exploring the moment. My favorite subjects are usually animals and landscapes.”“I try to capture the personality of the animal. In landscapes, it is feeling rather than fully representational that is important. It is that moment and the place that inspire me,” she continued. For Abby, it is about time and space.
About her background as an artist, Abby told of her childhood, “After dinner, my father would read to us for long periods of time. He would read and I would draw. In college, I made detailed drawings while taking notes. Today, I listen to stories while I draw and paint. The stories are not related to the art, but they put me in ‘The place.’”
The process of creating a painting is multi-layered. Abby explained that she uses a variety of media to create and capture her subjects. “Daniel Smith watercolors are my favorite watercolors. They are soured from organic minerals . They are made from real jade and real amethyst. These produce vivid colors and are amazingly colorfast. Brush pens provide a wide variety of use options and are portable and a fantastic for detailing; they can be ‘bled’ with water. Inktense offers opportunities to be used dry or can be wet for different textures. To be permanent, it has to be wet.” How did Abby develop the knowledge and skill to employ the wide variety of media? Abby smiled and said, “My mother-in-law is an artist and challenges me to experiment.”
The beginning
The Process
The Chickadee Appears
Drawing form photographs and experience is Abby’s preferred method. The horses that she loves and rides, the barn cats that frolic through the barn, the beautiful pastures and trails that she sees and rides provide material to her imagination. “It is about the beauty, the movement, the particular moment” that inspire me,” said Abby. She freelances, takes commissions, and sells her work on Redbubble, Etsy, and through local galleries. Her website is Rave’s Landing – https://theravenslanding.com/ What better gift can we give than one made with love and imagination – with talent?
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