Ryan Metlen's Blogfolio

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:36:00 +0000

I occasionally design landscapes. The multi-acre property below is the largest I've worked on to date - and the conceptual was a great deal of hard work. The design process is time consuming (and includes the exercise of field measuring the property). There is much to consider; a good landscape balances the asthetic desires of the owners, existing views, maintenance issues, the watering requirements and eventual growth habits of the plant material, construction material call-outs, inter-site accesibility and movement, existing architectural elements... etc.

If you're wondering "what's what," in terms of plant material, that's because this is just a conceptual. The final planting plan was submitted seperately. Special thanks to Michael McDonnell for his help picking out the right pallette!

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:10:00 +0000

I make a living as a project manager for the unique construction firm Landscape Development, Inc. Check out some of our more recent projects! My team has successfully run between 30-40 million dollars of landscape installation over the past five years.

While most of my time is dedicated toward construction management, I get tapped occasionally for in-house artwork and marketing material. Recently LDI formed its Custom Gardens division geared toward high-end residential estates. I created the following ad, which appeared in luxe. and FINE magazines.

Here is a smattering of other corporate art done for LDI... each has a story of its own, but I will save you the pain and simply allow you to enjoy (or at least view) the images themselves.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:29:00 +0000

A few years ago, as a newly recruited landscape construction manager for one of the largest firms in CA, if not the nation, I was provided the opportunity (since I do not come from a landscaping background) to attend the Landscape Design program at CSUN. I learned much from that program, including (but not limited to) landscape design conceptualization, irrigation, plant identification, construction materials, and estimating.

These pieces were part of the coursework. They are to-scale cross sections of a fountain area I designed.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:10:00 +0000

Front and back of business cards I designed for Bucky Guido's Cockfighting Salsa...

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 06:11:00 +0000

Sigh... my hero.

Love poppin' this portrait between the cartoon roosters... I want to be able to work in as many ways as possible.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:49:00 +0000

Fact is, its been too long since I updated my blogfolio. Too busy!

Recently, I was asked by a friend to create a salsa logo for his new company. Thought I'd share. That, my friends, is a menacing looking rooster. I'd buy his goods, if I were you.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 19:00:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:58:00 +0000

This precious little guy is my son, Henry. Like most toddlers he's pretty much impossible to draw when he's awake. Dad has to sneak in and sketch quietly.

This is Sharpie marker - a favorite of mine.

And a couple of pencil sketches... warming up.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:21:00 +0000

Charcoal on paper.

Dance King

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:29:00 +0000

Life Drawings - 5 Min

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:14:00 +0000

Ink, charcoal, colored pencil on bond.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:01:00 +0000

Where I grew up there were literally miles of horse trails surrounding and running through the forest around our neighborhood. We roared through on our bikes - it was a great deal of fun!

The panel below is looooong in real life. It is about 14" high & and runs easily 8' across.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:07:00 +0000

Why is Clint Eastwood so cool? Man, I love this movie.

Cloak Lifedrawing

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:03:00 +0000

Nude

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:58:00 +0000

Dozer/Clearcut Pan

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:57:00 +0000

Frankenape

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:48:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:40:00 +0000

My Dog & Me

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:36:00 +0000

Cityscape

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:32:00 +0000

Painting Of Kit

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:28:00 +0000

Oil On Canvas 2' x 3'

Foxhall Layout

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:17:00 +0000

This is the house I grew up in.

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:10:00 +0000

Teamed up with Peter Ko, who is also from CalArts, on this strange sequence. He is a tremendous draftsman.

Big Dude With Gun For Arm...

noreply@blogger.com (Profile) — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 23:18:00 +0000

O.K., occasionally I sit down and doodle - and create something completely useless and fun that nobody asked me to make. I have an enormous backlog of work nobody has ever seen because of this.

This happened to be on top of the pile.

More to come when time allows.