How do you draw a good vibe?

Christopher David Ryan

“I ride my trusty unicorn through rainbow clouds”

Christopher David Ryan, or CDR, is an illustrator and artist who is best known for his naïve, irresistible and magnetically charming army of smiling characters that he regularly unleashes on the world to try to make it a better place.

It’s true. Investing ten minutes bumbling around CDR’s Instagram page is a great way to feel better about life. And it’s a lot cheaper than talking to a therapist.

CDR has worked with brands like Google, Nike and Victoria’s Secret. His ‘Sunday Styles’ (#cdrsundaystyles) series is where he draws his illustrations on random print ads, his little people sabotaging commercial and political content with their simplicity, smiles and good vibes.

In addition to drawing, CDR produces spacey soundscapes under the name Symbolized, is a partner at More & Co., also operates Satellites + Telescopes, a weekly podcast featuring DJ mixes of "diverse sounds for inner space explorers".

Back to those drawings though. Christopher David Ryan, how do you draw a good vibe?

The marketer in me wishes I had a brilliant short answer to this.

Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg

One of those kind of answers that makes it all seem magical and amazing like “I ride my trusty unicorn through rainbow clouds to the kingdom of good vibes where I use markers handmade by tiny faeries to fill the land with bursts of positivity!”… or something like that. I could never write something like this about myself (although I just did) with a straight face (my face is not straight right now). Although, I love the idea that someone else might possibly imagine what I do in that way. Ultimately, I am just a 44 year old dude who just wants to be free from all of the things in life that we have created for ourselves that hold us down. When I’m drawing, it’s all good. It’s been that way for me forever.

Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg
Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg

When I am creating, I am working on myself. I am working on understanding myself, my thoughts and emotions with the hope that I can make myself a better human… and thereby possibly help others. I feel truly blessed that others my look at what I have done and connect with it.

Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg
Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg

I want to be in a positive space (although I am often not). My drawings are my way of expressing this… explicitly. They are therapeutic to me. I want to share them with others who may need them too. I do not overthink them; I am happy to use trite, over-used symbols and tropes. I want them to be as obvious and immediate as possible. They are not about me. They are about all of us who want to live on the bright side.

Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg
Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg

So how do you draw a good vibe? Feel it, and free it.

Christopher David Ryan, A Curate's Egg

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