Life & Work with Ryan Wehner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Wehner.

Hi Ryan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been doing this artist thing for as long as I can remember. Back in elementary school, I’d design birthday banners on our dot matrix printer and album art for everyone’s mixed tapes. I was the ‘art kid’ who’d doodle characters on math folders and make the school windows look festive during the holidays.

In High school, my interests expanded from graphic design to all things animation and filmmaking. Fortunately, I had an awesome community that encouraged me, helping me navigate those awkward art phases that I didn’t realize were happening at the time.

Then, in the years that followed, it was a bit of a whirlwind. I chased every opportunity that would let me learn something new. From being an Assistant Director on commercials in Detroit to traversing the country to shoot dance competitions and directing music videos up in Vancouver, I was all over the place. I even produced a feature film in Iowa and did some Visual Effects work for TV down in Albuquerque. By the time I hit LA in ’08, I was 21 and felt like anything was possible. There’s something about Los Angeles that makes it easy to dream big.

To make this artist gig a proper career, I focused on specializing as a visual effects artist and motion designer. I put together my first demo reel and scoured Craigslist for opportunities, taking on any job I could find. Those initial months in LA were busy but fruitful. I established the foundation for my career and formed relationships that continue to thrive today.

The next five years were spent hustling, making connections with clients, studios, and creative friends. Freelancing was great, but I started itching for something more exciting.

In 2012, I took the plunge and started my own animation studio. With a decent client base to back me up, I rented studio space in downtown LA. I knew I needed to specialize again, this time I focused on practical effects and stop motion, and I gave the studio the name ‘Digital Twigs’. We offered a blend of practical and digital effects, adding our own special tactile charm to the mix. We got noticed through a few early projects, which set us up for steady growth. Our studio grew, and we began collaborating with some of our favorite artists.

But by 2018, I was living a bit of a double life. On one hand, I was surrounded by artists and friends I adored, working every day in a space I helped create. On the flip side, I was running on empty, feeling the burnout on projects that just didn’t light my creative fire. So, I found myself at a crossroads again.

Option A: Keep pushing ahead and hoping for the best.
Option B: Make a change, leave behind the things that weren’t bringing me joy.

So, I scaled things way back. I hung on to some clients I could handle on my own and set up a remote studio that I could run projects through while traveling. And then I went full nomad mode. With LA as my home base, I’ve traveled to 20+ countries, all while working remotely, even before COVID made it a trend. Now, with minimal overhead, I take on work that I genuinely love and keep adding new skills to my toolkit. My plan is to keep telling stories through beautiful design and animation with people I deeply respect.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road hasn’t always been smooth. Definitely some detours. At every step of my career, some jobs would come along that seemed like the right opportunity but would end up drastically shifting my creative path. Knowing when to reject a project has been tough, and I’ve certainly stumbled along the way.

Typically, my future work comes because of my past projects. If I accept a job that doesn’t align with my goals, I tend to get more similar offers. It’s a mixed blessing, but looking back, I’ve learned to rely on my instincts and not stress about rejecting unsuitable jobs.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an art director and motion designer. I collaborate with teams to create artwork that tells a story and sets the project’s visual style. Then, I breathe life into them through animation and motion design.

I’ve contributed to major Marvel films, designed rides at Disney parks, and played a role in numerous tech product launches lately. Yet, my work with NGO clients is what makes me most proud. Using my skillset to tell impactful stories for a meaningful cause is the most fulfilling part of my work.

How do you define success?
Success is always simple but never easy. It’s about listening to that persistent inner voice nudging you toward what you truly want to do. Success is rarely about reaching that goal but rather always working towards it. Easier said than done, though.

Contact Info:

• Website: ryanwehner.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ryanwehner
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-wehner