Ken Ragsdale

Bus Ride

30"x40" photograph of created landscape of paper. from the series: "The Hundred- Acre Wood" signed on reverse edition of 5. The installation landscape scene created by Ken Ragsdale exisits only to be photographed. With each scene, the artist meticulously cuts paper and folds each component to be captured by his lens. This photograph of cut paper constructions depicts a bus ride through a forest scene from the artists memory. The hues of ambient amber, green, red and blue are created through lighting the staged scene created in white paper Ken Ragsdale’s process begins with rough sketches of places and things from his past that are relevant to current themes he is considering. This series focuses on a time period of 1974-78, in the regions of Northern Idaho, to Eastern Oregon and the areas between. As his working drawings solidify the dimensions of the objects which represent his memories from that era, Ragsdale considers the landscape, terrain and weather, filtered through his personal memories and experiences. 

Once the composition and components are determined as to capture the aura of a memory, schematic drawings are documented and prepared for hand assembly. Laboriously the schematics are cut out, folded and tabbed to create their final 3-dimensional formats. As each object is placed and the structures oriented, Ragsdale modifies the scenes to perfectly frame each scenario for the final photograph. From simple sheets of white Bristol Vellum, the atmosphere and lighting brings each image to life and allows for a reminiscent view of a wistful past. Pacific Northwest native Kenneth Ragsdale’s work, derived from personal memories, involves a mixture of drawing, painting, sculpture, paper-craft, theatre...

available unframed edition of 5 From the series: "The Hundred Acre Wood" Ragsdale’s process begins with rough sketches of places and things fro...

Artist Commentary: Using ICM (In-Camera Motion) and a long-duration shutter speed, I created this collection of impressionistic landscapes through a moving bus window while visiting...

I make the images by first creating drawings on clear mylar. These drawings are then laid on top of light sensitive paper in the darkroom and then the paper is exposed to light. For ...