Meet Ryan Straut

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

Ryan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Growing up, I always had an appreciation for practical effects in a film. I remember being fascinated by characters like the Creature from the Black Lagoon or Frankenstein’s Monster and seeing the artistry in their design. I didn’t understand all of the work that went into creating these transformations, but I recognized the talent and time that it took.

I have been designing my own characters for as long as I can remember, and being able to turn that into a career was a dream-come-true. I worked primarily as a conceptual designer, sketching ideas for indie films, video games, trading cards, etc. Some colleagues of mine introduced me to SyFy’s “Face Off”, a special FX makeup competition. It was an entertaining show, and seeing the process of creating these characters was truly spectacular. I loved it!

Each week, the artists were given a design prompt to inspire their creations, and they would sculpt the forms, mould their sculpt, and run the prosthetics to be applied on a model and presented live. The show introduced me to this process, and I was inspired to draw along each week with my own concept for the challenge.

After following as a fan for three seasons, I ran into some of the former competitors at a Starbucks in Kentucky (of all places). Recognizing Beki Ingram, I introduced myself and she was kind enough to invite me to join her, David Greathouse, and RJ Haddy. We chatted for a while and amidst the conversation, I shared some of my drawings. RJ was impressed and connected me with the producers of the show.

From seasons 5-10, I was involved alongside the show producing art, and it was fabulous to connect with the artists and team at Mission Control.

Before season 9, casting thought it would make a great story to have one of our graphic artists compete as a makeup artist, and I was being drafted. I politely declined, knowing I didn’t have the chops to even audition. I had connected with artists Cig Neutron, Tyler Green, and Drew Talbot, and they kept urging me to try my hand at FX makeup and offered to share some of their knowledge. They would provide feedback or helpful advice. I always joke that I was peer pressured into this career, but I’m not mad at it!

When casting for season 10 came around, they asked me again if I would audition. This time, with only six months of basic knowledge, I boldly agreed. The pressure challenged me creatively and I felt a fire I hadn’t experienced in a long time and having the encouragement of legend/judge Neville Page gave me the courage I needed to press on. I made it through a few rounds of casting and was an alternate for one of the competitors. Production apologized to me for having to turn me down, when my feelings were quite the opposite; I was so thankful for the push to try this art form, and I wouldn’t have done it without them.

Following the show, I was signed with an agency in LA where I booked my first films. After some on-set experience, I enrolled in some courses to improve my skills and push my abilities as an artist. By this time, I was starting to develop my own brand as “Ryan Straut FX”. I saw what types of artistry were being offered by others, and wanted to match and raise it in my own work.

That drive to always improve is a double-edged sword because I would never settle for less-than-my-best, but I also felt myself working without the same excitement I once had; I was focusing too closely on the mistakes or what I could improve instead of enjoying the process and respecting my newness to the field. Growth takes time, and that journey should be fun. I needed to reinvigorate my passion for the work.

I reached out to an events group in Chicago after seeing one of their marketing campaigns utilizing amazing costuming and some bodypaint work. I shared my portfolio and was asked to provide concepts on an upcoming campaign they were planning. Myself and my assistant, Shannon Christie, were hired to build three characters in full prosthetics, and to date, these are some of my favorite concepts we got to bring to life!

Continuing to work on campaigns and events for a variety of companies, my work received wider recognition, I started working as an ambassador for some boutique brands, and I relocated to Atlanta to be closer to the budding film and entertainment industry. Since moving here in 2017, I have been fortunate enough to work in film and television, have my art published and shown in galleries, and showcase on the demo stages at the International Makeup Artist Trade Show when it came to Atlanta in 2018 and 2019.

Makeup artistry may not have been where I would have pictured my career as a kid, but telling stories, bringing characters to life…that is what I’ve dreamt of doing my whole life.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
People have this assumption about artists when they seem them as successful, thinking that work just continuously comes to them, and that isn’t necessarily the case. Good artists, those who love and value their careers, continue to network, to push themselves, to work hard to achieve new opportunities. The minute you sit still is the minute your career starts to slow down.

Juggling this with self-care is also challenging; 14-hour days are fairly standard onset, there are prep-work and travel times, etc. so most of us are running on caffeine and adrenaline, which isn’t ideal. Finding ways to eat right, stay in shape, get sleep when you can…it’s not easy. But knowing when to prioritize my own well-being and step back from work is something I’m getting better at.

We’d love to hear more about your art.
Ryan Straut FX (RSFX) is a team of artists that offer expertise in conceptual design, makeup application, bodypainting, fabrication, and costume design.

The work that we are most recognized for is our makeup and costuming work in the queer nightlife scene. We designed characters to headline an event at an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Chicago, the videos went viral, and suddenly we were working Pride events all over the country and even in Toronto.

I wasn’t expecting for our work to be so popular within the queer communities (including right here in Atlanta with a piece featured in Keisha Lance Bottoms’s art gallery during Pride month) but it has created a platform that I am happy to utilize for positive change.

Especially in those nightlife events, there is a very specific image of what people have come to expect, and we work to shatter that image continuously so that everyone feels welcome and celebrated in those spaces.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My family and I are very close, and I am so thankful to have their continuous support. They were instrumental in my start in makeup artistry, frequently helping on photo shoots to build my portfolio.

Now, living further away, they mostly see my work through photos. I was thankful to be invited to their hometown for an event and they got to see me do a live bodypainting, which was a fun moment to share with them.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ryanstrautfx.com
• Email: info@ryanstrautfx.com
• Instagram: @RyanStrautFX
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/RyanStrautFX

Image Credit:
Photography by Chad Barger
Photography by Brooklyn Hughes

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