Studio D
Savannah Ralph
Paint, Graphite, & Digital Illustration
“My interest in painting is borne from my innate desire to express my emotions and make sense of them. As a non-binary, queer person with mental illness, I find it cathartic to create artwork that represents trauma, hardship, politics, and social issues. I use my paintings to relate to others and the world around me, so I often paint figurative works and self-portraits. I paint in a contemporary realist style because I find it the best style to convey complex ideas in a simple way. I try to be as inclusive as possible in my work, so I depict subjects that are typically underrepresented in media. Through a colorful palette and expressive brushstrokes, I make every painting a personal statement. I also explore the idea of going beyond traditional art on canvas; I use unexpected materials and surfaces to expand the limits of painting, oftentimes coupling 2D with 3D art to create interactive pieces. Each of my pieces conveys the emotions I feel as I create them, and each painting carries a little bit of my identity with it, regardless of the subject matter. I am inspired by life, politics, social justice, and my personal struggle with my emotions.”
Biography
Savannah (Savvy) Ralph is a native to Greenville, SC and known for their expressive work. Using acrylic and oil paint, ink, charcoal, watercolor, and digital art as their primary mediums, Ralph is a figurative artist who works in an illustrative style. They utilize symbolism and surrealism to convey complicated ideas. Ralph values representation and equity above all else, and they prefer to depict groups of people who are underrepresented in art and media. Ralph also seeks to decrease the stigma that surrounds mental illness by depicting their own struggle with mental health. Ralph has always been an artist. Starting with crayons and fingerpainting, they steadily moved toward a professional career. Ralph attended the Fine Arts Center and Greenville Technical College for visual arts. Ralph displays their passion for the arts by working as an art instructor and freelance artist. To them, art is much more than a job or a hobby; it is a cathexis and a catharsis, and they plan to continue creating for the rest of their natural life.