Beauty and the Macabre

In his hauntingly obscure and masterfully executed computer-generated imagery, Danny van Ryswyk creates surreal, dark artworks using two-and three-dimensional software. His work is a mixture of traditional methods but executed with advanced technology. Combined with the nostalgic feel of the 19th century photography his work increases the tension between beauty and the macabre.

Van Ryswyk about his Process:

“The computer is my tool for the exploration of my inner landscape. A sketch is never made, I see the work as a whole
in my imagination. I start building each piece using three-dimensional modeling software. This is a complex stage
where my subjects are meticulously sculpted from the ground up as if they where made of clay. Then life-like textures
are applied, environmental lighting and a virtual camera are set-up, just like in a theatre. The staged scene
will then be rendered and finally painted and further refined in two-dimensional software to achieve its obscure
quality I am aiming for. I use many of the same skills needed for most traditional artwork. I consider my techniques
as a 21st century mixture of sculpting and painting. The final result is like a mirror of what’s inside my own head.
Depending on the complexity of the work the whole process can take many weeks to complete.”

Danny van Ryswyk lives and works in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
www.dannyvanryswyk.com