Artist Statement
The process of making art is a captivating journey of self-discovery that demands an openness to the unexpected. I often feel like a hitchhiker on a road in the desert – thumb extended, waiting impatiently for a ride. Some days the roads are deserted and all that comes my way is frustration. Yet on other days, often when least expected, I am transported down great avenues of discovery. Each of my images is a marker on the mysterious highways and byways of this artistic journey. They are the ideas and feelings that I catch sight of as they pass through me, often inspired by the beauty and magic of nature or the absurdities of human nature. My aim is to capture the essence or spirit of things that are not easily defined or articulated; those things that are often lost in the hustle and bustle of daily routines and obscured by endless distractions. I endeavor to create images that not only capture the eye but also stir emotions and provoke thought. This involves immersing myself in the stillness that surrounds us.
In the end, my art bears witness to the capacity we all have to connect with the fundamental essence of things that often slip past our awareness.
Series Statements
TRAVEL NOTES
With this series, I trace my journey across Central and Eastern Europe—from Bulgaria to the Czech Republic—creating visual impressions that capture both the beauty and tension of places in flux. These photographs evoke streets where empire meets transition, architecture balancing grandeur and decay, and fleeting moments discovered in the landscape and among the people. View in Portfolio
SLOW MOTION PARADE
Slow-Motion Parade presents a surreal procession of figures, some marked with echoes of Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo art, others existing in intensely moody, emotionally charged spaces. Together, the images unfold slowly, moving between beauty, tension, and unease. The series invites viewers into a dreamlike space where imagination, and emotion drift, sometimes calm, sometimes unsettling. View in Portfolio
WHISPERS
A snowfall turns a landscape into a silent spectacle. Woodlands become serene sanctuaries – fields are transformed into ivory meadows – gnarled vines and twisted branches reveal usually hidden universes. It is a time when the earth whispers, and the soul listens.
Whispers is an exploration of transformations that occur within a wooded landscape during a winter storm. The images are details captured from the ephemeral scenes shaped by falling snow. View in Portfolio
MOODS AND CONNOTATIONS
Moods and Connotations is a photographic series that delves into the intangible quality of atmosphere. This collection prompts viewers to engage in a contemplative exploration of the feelings and moods that the images elicit. It offers a glimpse into the subjective and multifaceted nature of perception. View in Portfolio
BODY LANGUAGE
Body Language explores the nuances of human interaction through the gestures of the body. Using mannequins in dance-like poses against abstract backgrounds, the series highlights the beauty, awkwardness, and tension inherent in nonverbal communication. By removing the distraction of faces and identity, the work invites viewers to focus on the subtle ways we express ourselves through movement. View in Portfolio
COALESCENCE
Coalescence fuses photography and painting into a single visual experience. Each piece begins as a photograph, which is then combined with a painting created on various surfaces using oils, acrylics, pastels, or watercolors. The results range from realistic to abstract, challenging traditional boundaries and inviting viewers to explore the interplay between the two mediums. View in Portfolio
PARADOX
Paradox examines the universe through contrasting scales, ideas, and symbols—moments that blend the sacred and the everyday. The series invites viewers to reflect on tension, belief, and the struggle to understand our existence. View in Portfolio
RUMINATION
Rumination is a black-and-white photographic series that explores the breadth of human emotion through lawn sculptures set in natural environments. Each image transforms these familiar figures into expressive studies of mood—joy, isolation, awe, and release among them. Titles such as Merging, Evanescence, and Rebirth suggest the range of feelings captured in the series. View in Portfolio
FUSIONS
Fusions is a 24-print photography series combining three sub-series: Rhapsody, Beaches, and Requiem. Each explores a distinct theme: Rhapsody celebrates creativity through jazz and dance; Beaches turns the beach into a stage for desire and display; and Requiem presents a dystopian vision of political chaos and violence. The images are created by merging figurines representing different periods with live models posed to mimic them, producing figures that feel real yet unreal. Staged within set-like compartments, with objects and silhouettes adding depth, the series captures theatrical, unsettling, and often provocative moments. View in Portfolio
WINTER ARIA
Winter Aria captures the stark, quiet beauty of winter in rural landscapes. The images focus on mood and atmosphere, revealing the subtle textures, light, and forms that emerge during the season. View in Portfolio
AGRARIAN EXPRESSIONS
Agrarian Expressions explores the ways nature expresses itself, both in grand gestures and subtle details. The series highlights the rhythms, patterns, and textures found in rural landscapes, revealing a quiet dialogue between the land and its elements. View in Portfolio
A CONTINUUM OF STREAMS
A Continuum of Streams is a meditative study of water in motion. Using extended exposures, the series captures streams as they flow over and around rocks, revealing both the drama and quiet rhythm of these natural currents. View in Portfolio
FOLIAGE, FRUIT & FLORA
Foliage, Fruit & Flora presents still-life compositions blended with abstracted backgrounds. The series celebrates the shapes, patterns, and delicate nuances of plants and produce, transforming familiar subjects into quiet visual explorations. View in Portfolio
WANDERINGS
Wanderings is a chronicle of diverse encounters and experiences, reflecting the unpredictable journey of life. The series doesn’t follow a strict structure but explores the many directions, moments, and emotions that shape us. John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” Wanderings is what happens. View in Portfolio
GHOSTS
GHOSTS is a short, playful take on spirits, blending humor and the uncanny. The series features ghost-like light distortions in unexpected settings and figures draped in sheets within old houses, creating images that are at once whimsical, mysterious, and a little creepy. View in Portfolio
MICRO DRAMAS
Micro Dramas is a short series of images shot in Greece, where figures and ruins evoke the timeless tension of Greek drama. Each composition blends myth, narrative, and symbolic objects—such as masked figures, orbiting spheres, and ancient stones—to create scenes that feel both theatrical and mysterious. View in Portfolio
About the Artist
Ron Paras was born into a family with a deep appreciation for the art of photography. His father, a television writer and news anchor at NBC, instilled in him a love for photography and film-making from a young age. Ron remembers the smell of developer mixed with the musty scent of the cellar darkroom where he first learned to develop and print images at the age of five.
As he grew older, Ron found inspiration in the works of master photographers like Edward Weston, Minor White, Harry Callahan, Man Ray, Aaron Siskind, and others. He spent countless hours honing his photographic skills and expanding his visual vocabulary, eventually gaining acceptance into the prestigious Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he had the privilege of studying with his boyhood heroes Harry Callahan and Aaron Siskind.
After graduation, Ron pursued a career in fashion photography, shooting ads and spreads for top magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and L’Officiel. However, a chance encounter with a multi-screen presentation at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City ignited his fascination with multiple screen presentations. This led him to start a multimedia/video production company, Paras Productions, which produced environmental experiences, as well as music videos for MTV, and videos for corporate and educational venues.
Ron’s talent as a writer was also recognized when he met film director and choreographer Herbert Ross during the shooting of a music video. That led to a side career in television writing, contributing to shows produced by Aaron Spelling. However, Ron found that writing for television did not fulfill his creative desires. He returned to Paras Productions, which, under his leadership, grew into a high-end design studio with clients including the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America, and numerous organizations, companies, and museums. Paras Productions also designed and produced the official graphics for four Presidential Inaugurals.
In the early 2000s, Ron’s passion for photography was reignited, prompting him to return to his roots as a full-time artist. He found that his experiences in the intervening years had reshaped his vision and opened up new paths of expression. Ron’s work has continued to evolve and move in unexpected directions. He sees this ongoing adventure as the most exciting part of his creative journey. In the words of his mentor, Harry Callahan, “The mystery isn’t in the technique; it’s in each of us.”
Education
Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA)
Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)
Exhibitions
Ron’s works have been exhibited at galleries in New York, Washington and London, and in shows at the Baltimore Museum of Art, The Corcoran Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art, and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. They are also in private collections from Los Angeles to Paris.