Makin’ Stuff!
SCU Art professor Ryan Carrington on art and life in the South Bay
Professor Ryan Carrington has spent most of the last decade establishing himself as a major player in the South Bay art scene. His skill in a variety of media and his bright personality have resulted in a network of connections that help him maintain a balance between life as an educator with his passion for working in the studio on interdisciplinary projects, and engaging in public art projects is working well—Carrington’s happy-go-lucky attitude is well known among the student body.
Even though he has forged a career in art, Carrington doesn’t want people getting the wrong idea about life as an artist. He may radiate passion and happiness with his work, but he wasn’t always so successful. “People have this notion of the artist living this utopian lifestyle,” he said, “but it’s hard work. It’s hours and hours of work.” His work has certainly paid off—Carrington has gallery shows and commissioned projects booked all the way through 2019, and he just finished a collaborative public art project at Guadalupe River Park in San Jose.
Carrington’s philosophy of life is based on what many students see as his catchphrase: “Makin’ stuff!” Adherence to that mentality has been a key factor in his success. The phrase punctures the air in his classroom and creates a vibrant energy that feeds his students’ creativity.
To Carrington, being a creative person means: “You work with what you got.” The most important thing is just to try to produce something. “Unless you get your hands dirty and aren’t afraid to fail, you won’t find success,” he says.
Carrington considers himself to be an educator first and an artist second, an attitude that results in true commitment to helping his students grow as people and as artists, whether they’re a first-year student in an introductory course or a senior studio art major finishing their capstone.
If you want to succeed in the eyes of Ryan Carrington, you just have to get into the studio and get your hands dirty. Even if art isn’t your “thing,” he still has faith in the ability of every student. “I have yet to have a student who couldn’t make stuff,” he said.
Check out more of his work on his website.