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Ken Ryan Draw Enterprise / Ken Ryan
	Medium(s): wood leather metal mixed media Contact Info: Web: drawenterprise.com
Artist Statement I have always had a love of wood and woodworking, especially wood with character in the form of various grain patterns, knots, shapes and textures. My first wood projects were rooted in thrift: staining and varnishing naked furniture, as well as refinishing, refurbishing and/or re-purposing discarded or second hand furniture. I once traded a rusted out, broken down 1966 Volkswagen Beetle for a vintage domed pine captain?s steamer trunk, which I restored and still have to this day. My initial inspiration to begin building furniture came as a gift to my Daughter, as an act of love and a means of sharing myself. Building a queen size, large four poster log pine bed complete with an engraved headboard was a means of hands-on therapy for me in a troubled personal time. Today, Mother Nature certainly inspires me! I love working her offerings in the oak, cedar, juniper and ponderosa pine wood varieties. I draw from the creations of the early American furniture builders; with their simple lines and seemingly crude but very solid construction techniques. Southwest designs, especially Native American artwork, petroglyphs and pictographs, Spanish and Mexican woods, shapes and colors, and their architecture also influence my furniture designs and construction. As I embark on a project, sometimes the heavy grained or knotted material, twisted log, or piece of drift wood dictates the piece of art or furniture design; at times vice versa. However, then it is my artistic and craftsman?s duty to bring out the best of the material, to highlight what it has to offer. Refined rustic is a good description of my work. Its uniqueness stems from its simple flowing lines upon first glance; however, a closer inspection reveals intricate details and complex designs. I enjoy working with my hands, building something practical, functional and aesthetic from raw materials. I love the smell of the wood, the tactile feel of it and the character different wood varieties offer; from the deep dark richness of walnut to the royal color of purple heart. To make a piece that is truly distinct, I utilize one-of-a-kind log and wood pieces as the foundation and combine them with various joinery techniques, embracing the use of traditional joinery and featuring it prominently in my pieces instead of concealing it. The mortise hole and the tenon in its basic form is both simple and strong. I believe that emphasizing dovetail, butterfly or finger joints in contrasting wood varieties adds eye-catching character and contributes to the aesthetics of the piece. I specialize in custom, artistic furniture and functional art designs and my objective is to create a solidly constructed family heirloom that will accentuate the character of the wood, its shape and form and natural beauty as Mother Nature presents it.

Member Profile:

Draw Enterprise creates distinct rustic art and woodwork in a refined rustic fashion with wood, leather, metal and other mixed media elements. The objective of Owner, Artist and Craftsman, Ken Ryan, is to create a solid constructed family heirloom that will accentuate the character of the wood, its natural beauty, shape and form as Mother Nature presents it.

Member Photo Gallery

Eucalyptus wood sculpture, five separate components, all with natural oil and wax finish. A two-part epoxy turquoise accents the disks. The weight is approximately 90 pounds with overall dimensions of 20'' wide x 12'' deep x 86'' tall.

Eucalyptus wood sculpture, five separate components, all with natural oil and wax finish. A two-part epoxy turquoise accents the ''star''. The weight is approximately 65 pounds with overall dimensions of 24'' wide x 10'' deep x 60'' tall.

Mixed media of mesquite wood, copper, leather, barb wire and desert skeleton wood from cholla and saguaro cacti. Dimensions are 34'' long x 29'' tall x 14'' deep.

Mesquite wood sculpture, 58'' tall x 24'' wide x 19'' deep, weighing about 80 pounds.

Mesquite wood form mounted to a mesquite base, with a copper lamp shade

Burnt mesquite wood form on a rotating mesquite wood platter

approximately 24 x 42 x 49 wood sculture

20 x 29 x 21½ high coffee table, with two tractor seat chairs 16” diameter x 20 tall. Table and chair bases are Eucalyptus wood with turquoise epoxy fill accents; finish applied is a natural Tung oil. Chair and table legs are hand forged and bent steel.

The chair is approximately 32 x 33 x 58 with a 30 x 22 x 19 ottoman. The chair is ponderosa pine logs with mortise and tenon joints, red cedar plugs and accents and a natural Tung oil applied finish with a camel leather head rest, pillow seat and ottoman.

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