Brought to you by The Ryan 'not Bryan' Adams Fanzine:

R.I.P. Paintings
a selection of crap paintings
2002
BY RYAN ADAMS

A CRAP ART REVIEW Photos: Fiona
Opinion: Jane with interruptions by Fiona

Disclaimer: Neither Fiona nor Jane claim in any way to be art experts, critics, intelligent or otherwise. This is just an attempt to review the art on show and everyone should make their own minds up about the images - not everyone will like it but hey - give the man kudos for being brave enough to put it on show for all to see.

Click for full version 1. Sadness
Fiona said - the figures in the front are surrounding a bed - must be hospital - referring to Carrie's death? The emphasis on strength of colour of the planets perhaps showing the overwhelming vastness of the universe compared with an individual's suffering. The idea of how small we are in comparison to the universe around us - also that life goes on regardless. Jane said - the alignment of the planets with their strong colours against the blanked out people expressing the feeling that everyone else is on track while you aren't. The larger planet in front is what your eye is drawn towards indicating that all you can see is the obstacle in the way.

Click for full version 2. Amy Approximately
Fiona said - nice use of earthy tones showing warmth towards the subject. Jane said - agreed saying it gave off a happy, welcoming vibe. The laterally painted brushstrokes gave focus to Amy against the more random strokes around the sides. A lot of love and feeling in this picture.

Click for full version 3. Crying Is Bad
Fiona said - hmm I'm not an art critic I know nothing about art. What's with all the hands - struggling to claw their way out of something? Scary. Jane said - Was he on drugs?

Click for full version 4. Self Portrait With Demons
Fiona said - has he been watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer again? Smacked on the head by Jane again for being foolish and flippant. Um - tortured artist, inner demons - hand reaching out as plea to be saved? Streaks of colour like the bars of a prison. Jane said - suicidal. Mocked by people (demons) around him. Looking at the hand reaching out to someone but only finds himself. Mark under eye and red for face significant - sees himself as flawed. Lines of paint - tortured in his head. Demons undefined.

Click for full version 5. Me On Cocaine
Fiona said - ouch. Self-loathing or just others opinions? Jane said - comment on media coverage. Media doesn't listen or buries you and defines who you are, kills with you being the willing participant. Use of newspaper suggests anonymity - destroyed by people you don't know.

Click for full version 6. Jesse and Ryan
Fiona said - basic drawing style emphasising simplicity of friendship - pose typical of those of men in bars who have reached the - let's drive to Mexico and get tattoos - stage of drinking. Jane said - minimalist. Absence of detail portraying the things you feel for friends but can't express for fear of losing them. Friendship is unlimited.

Click for full version 7. Just Apples
Fiona said - warm childhood memory. Jane said - hallucinatory and crap.

Click for full version 8. Did It Stop Raining Yet
Fiona said - what no purple rain? Blurry and rushed - like when people run in the rain. Jane said - everything around the people is rushed but the people are stationary. Lot of movement around the figures who are observing but not being part of the movement.

Click for full version 9. Intrinsic NYC Bowling
Fiona said - what does intrinsic mean? (look it up!). I like the figure on the right and the large hand is frightening - there's that flower again. Jane said - destructive hand threatening to wipe out rest of picture, looks like it will destroy the flower. Figure cowering in subservience? Emotive - if painted post September 11 could be linked to that - a snapshot of what happened - the red destructive force against the subdued blue of NYC. All the building are lined up like pins - a very destructive form of bowling.

Click for full version 10. She's Not Really Leaving
Fiona said - striking female figure is angelic in its whiteness against the warmer background. The smaller darker figure appearing to sleep whilst the other dark figure is taking the girl away. The figure sleeping is possibly dreaming the girl beside. Must be referring to Carrie's death. Jane said - agreed. Regret and lot of passion in the brush strokes.

Click for full version 11. Wood Tiger and the Monkey
Fiona said - it's like a cartoon and I haven't got a clue. Jane said - Err, very odd.

Click for full version 12. I Am So Alone
Fiona said - very depressing - death and angels - wishing he could die too? Jane said - he's rooted to the ground whilst everyone else can fly - everyone leaving?

Click for full version 13. Beth
Fiona said - good likeness - use of warm colours again to show love? Not sure about the watery blue bit. Jane said - don't like this one, it's crap.

Click for full version 14. For The Strokes
Fiona said - nice lamps - no picture was there when I took the photo. However, it magically reappeared another time apparently after having taken a surprise flight from a window - art in motion I guess... Jane said - I can't give my opinion on something that isn't there, you muppet (Jane would like to explain that she hasn't seen the picture yet).

Click for full version 15. NY Green
Fiona said - this is a bit like that crayon drawing I did in that bar with Melissa and Dave the other night - cool - I draw like Ryan! Jane said - impending storm, dramatic use of brush strokes. Red seeping in from the side surrounding the buildings. Green equals life - still growing, red equals death. Green of rebirth (Emerald City?)- possible September 11 linking - yellow brick road - all our hopes answered. Fiona said - you've seen that Answering Bell video haven't you! No, said Jane.

Click for full version 16. My Dark Places
Fiona said - this is like a landscape all in red. Jane said - this is someone trying to convey an image that they haven't seen but know intimately all the same.

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