Cover Artist Ryan Jensen

Cover Artist

‘Western Fun Along the 101’ Starts Early for Artist

By Meg Wall-Wild

Ryan Jensen Courtesy of the artist

If you think cowboys get up early, you haven’t met artist, fi tness trainer and nutrition coach Ryan Jensen, who created the artwork for this year’s Fortuna Rodeo poster. He rises at 4 a.m., motivates others to work toward better health, then feeds his artistic soul.

Jensen, a California-born artist who began sketching as soon as he could hold a pencil, was destined to pick up a brush. His parents, both artists, met at an art store. His mother was a graphic artist and his father an oil painter, giving him a double dose of creative genes. Their art helped to develop Jensen’s eye and their work ethic his commitment to his craft.

Jensen’s dedication to his art is tied to his well-being. The U.S. Marine Corps veteran served for eight years. The experience of combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan refocused his life and inspired a return to art school. Initially a sketch artist, he fi nally picked up a brush and hasn’t looked back.

Since then, Jensen has become one of California’s rising plein air painters (artists who paint outdoors to take advantage of natural light). Racking up an impressive number of accolades up and down the state, he has garnered people’s choice, fi rst place and best in show awards in Borrego Springs, Laguna Beach, Mendocino, and Oceanside.

The fi tness aspect of his life comes in handy while wrestling large canvases on windy seashores. Jensen states the formula of health and art provides him a kind of accountability — a feel-better-to-paintbetter alignment. He declares himself happy with his purpose-driven life, which motivates him to encourage others to pick up the weights and the brush. Although not at the same time!

Jensen wants to help others with a new instructional video for beginning and seasoned painters. “Most art instruction videos are boring,” he says, adding it was better for him to learn through messing it up and learning from the mistake, so it sticks. His understanding of the struggle to learn helped him craft his video with relatable steps, and guiding principles. Jensen’s voice fi lls with excitement when he speaks of encouraging budding artists, emphasizing that with art, it’s about their hearts.

Although an oil painter, Jensen used a graphic art approach in his crowd-pleasing “Western Fun Along the 101.” The signed original artwork will go home with the lucky person who bids the highest. Have that wallet ready during Saturday’s rodeo for the auction. Pony up some dough and support the Fortuna Rodeo by buying a cool piece of original framed and signed art! If you are outbid, hope that your size is still in stock because Jensen’s artwork makes for one rip roaring T-shirt.

You can check out Ryan Jensen’s work at www.ryanjensenartwork.com. Whether his subject is cattle, cowboys, surfers or soldiers, his talent is evident. Follow him on Facebook or Instagram @ryanjensenart for updates, and keep an eye out for his new video. Maybe you’ll fi nd yourself in a sunny fi eld with some brushes and a few posing cows.

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