ABOUT

Ryan B. Coover
Artist | Changemaker | Strategic Consultant | Creative Intuitive

In every person and every moment, there’s a creative energy. Sometimes that energy produces an outpouring of incredible ideas. Other times, the creative flow gets blocked by pressures of deadlines, team dynamics, client expectations, or just being overwhelmed.

As a creative intuitive, I help individuals and teams revitalize their creative energy and assist them as they evolve toward sound solutions and results. With my trained eye and artistic intuition, I see a project’s big picture and visualize the steps needed to bring about change. Guiding my clients through a process of visual mind mapping, I bring balance and perspective to their creative vision. I don’t come in with all the answers; rather, I inspire people to express their own ideas in a new light.

BACKstory

My enthusiasm to become an architect was sparked when my grade school teacher showed me the power of perspective drawing. I taught myself architectural watercolor rendering and went on to immerse myself in formal studies at rigorous institutions around the world. Designing projects of all types, my artistic sensibility continued to grow, as did my ability to motivate and inspire others.

Today, I offer consultation services that inspire individuals and teams to reach their creative goals and see results. In addition to my commitment to the arts, I am dedicated to serving my community and raising my two inspiring kids with my amazing wife, Shirien. We reside in Austin, Texas.

curriculum vitae

Born December 25 • Honolulu, Hawaii

World embracing visionary with proven ability to solve the most challenging issues through collective imagination, artistic intuition, and having fun!

Company Collaborations
The University of Texas at Austin • DELL • Toni’s Toffee • National Bahá’í Center of the Hawaiian Islands • UPLIFT Desk • HEB • Sugardoh • SAFE Alliance • Plein Air Austin • Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) • The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria • Silent Wings Museum • Bahá’ís of Plano, Texas • BP Capital • Ford Motor Company • University Federal Credit Union (UFCU), now UFirst Credit Union • Digital Blue • University United Methodist Church • Texas Tech University • Salt Lake Community College - Miller Campus • Utah Olympic Park • Bahá’ís of Dallas, Texas • Bahá’ís of Round Rock, Texas • LifeWorks - Austin • Rosh Energy • CTA Architects Engineers, now Cushing Terrell • AIA Austin • Radiance Bahá’í Camp • TXCT • Art in Public Places - AustinTexas.gov • Spicewood Surgery Center • Stanly Studio - Lars Stanly • Jackson Copyediting • Bahá’ís of Austin, Texas

Awards
Austin Art Boards Billboard Winner, Peeping Periscopes, watercolor and ink painting, presented by Reagan National Advertising of Austin, Inc., 2017

Frankie Fowler Volunteer of the Year, nominee, presented by The SAFE Alliance, 2016

Austin Art Boards Honorable Mention, Texas Friendly Painted Here, watercolor, presented by Reagan National Advertising of Austin, Inc., 2012

Art x Architects Second Award, My Journey, fabric formed plaster sculpture; Under Earth, painting, presented by American Institute of Architects, Austin Chapter, 2010

Honorary Citizen of the city of Austin, community outreach with the local Chinese community, presented by Peter Chen on behalf of the city of Austin, 2008

Celebrate Architecture Project Award, Infinite Threshold, a proposed Bahá’í House of Worship for the island of Maui, Hawaii, presented by American Institute of Architects, Dallas Chapter, 2002

FabStruct International Membrane Structure Student Design Challenge Honor Award, Gathering Point of Imagination, a proposed Bahá’í House of Worship for the island of Oahu, Hawaii, presented by Fabrics & Architecture magazine, published by the Industrial Fabrics Association International, St. Paul, Minnesota, 1997

Hill Air Force Memorial Design Competition Grand Prize, memorial design connecting a museum, active airfield, hanger, church, and barracks, presented by Hill Aerospace Museum, Ogden, Utah, 1994

Teaching
Studio Ryan Coover, Austin, Texas, private/group watercolor and sketching school, 2014-Present

The Contemporary Austin, Art School, faculty, Watercolor Basics and Beyond, 2013

The University of Texas at Austin, Graduate School of Architecture, visiting lecturer, Visual Communications & Drawing Discoveries, 2005

No. 8 Middle School, Yueyang, Hunan, China, public school English teacher for grades 6-12, 1998-1999

University of Utah, College of Architecture + Planning, Salt Lake City, design teaching assistant, summer 1993

Lectures
Visual Communications & Drawing Discoveries, AIA Austin, summer academy, 2006

Our Childhood Space, The Center for American Architecture & Design, Austin, 2005

The Phenomenology of Space and Healing Gardens, AIA Austin, 2004

Gathering Point of Imagination, The University of Texas at Austin, 1997

Infinite Threshold, National Bahá’í Center, Oahu, Hawaii, 1997

Publications and Television
Candy Industry Magazine (CandyIndustry.com), “Cultivating creativity through caramel,” January 2019 (link here)

SAFEaustin.org, participant in national ad campaign, 2018 (link here)

We Are Austin, CBS, August 3, 2017 (link here)

Austin American Statesman, Austin360.com, “Stay-at-home father starts sweet company,” by Addle Broyles, November 18, 2015

The Good Life Magazine, “Everything I Know about Architecture I Learned in Kindergarten, Well Almost,” page 40, December 2007

LUXE Magazine, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Houston, page 74, summer 2007

Fabrics & Architecture, page 23, March and April 1997

Bamboo Arts and Craft Gallery (www.bamboocraft.net)

Materials Research
Bamboo structures, independent research, converted own design to be made entirely of bamboo, Bamboo Temple for the Island of Maui, Hawaii, 2006

Fabric formwork, Center for Architectural Structures and Technology, University of Manitoba, Canada, fall 2006

Bamboo, independent research, created bamboo lanterns from one piece of bamboo, spring 2000

Fabric formwork, The University of Texas at Austin, School of Architecture, with Mark West, spring 1997

Community Affiliations
The SAFE Alliance (safeaustin.org), volunteer, donor, and advocate, 2013-Present

Tim Johnson's Ride on Washington, cycling advocate, 2010-2012

AIA Austin Executive Committee, facilities/gallery, 2007-2008

Wally Workman Gallery, artist, 2005-2012

Radiance Bahá’í School, program founder and committee member, 2004-2010

Bamboo Arts and Craft Network, artist, 2001-2011

Professional Registrations & Affiliations
Plein Air Austin, 2014-Present

Urban Sketchers, 2014-Present

Registered Architect in the State of Texas, 2001-Present

The American Institute of Architects, 2001-2010

Education
The University of Texas at Austin, Master of Architecture, 1997

The University of Utah, Bachelor of Science in Architecture, 1994

Denmark’s International Study Program, Copenhagen, Denmark, Summer Architecture Program, 1992

Exhibits and Donations
Plein Air Austin Exhibition, Dougherty Arts Center, Julia C. Butridge Gallery, 2014

AIA Austin, Zipper Zapper, painting, 2013

Wally Workman Gallery, group shows, 2007-2011

Austin City Hall - People’s Gallery, fabric formed plaster sculptures, 2008

Austin City Hall - People’s Gallery, bamboo lanterns and abstract painting, 2007

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, gala and silent art auction, 2006, 2007

Breast Cancer Resource Center of Austin, abstract painting, 2007

University of Utah, College of Architecture + Planning, Park City Minors’ Hospital, painting, 1994

Select Projects
Coover Caramels (www.coovercaramels.com); start-up confectionery company with unique packaging, playful branding, and award-winning caramels

Austin’s Art in Public Places, 2nd Street Project, Cypress Grove with Stanley Studios; design and creation of fabric formwork for Cypress Grove trees

The University of Texas at Austin, Brackenridge Field Laboratory; feasibility development study and design

Bahá’í House of Worship, Oahu, Hawaii; extensive documentation of research and design process for a proposed Bahá’í House of Worship for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the Hawaiian Islands

T. Boone Pickens’ Ranch, Mesa Vista, Texas; collaboration with design team and contractor on model making, interior renderings, and construction documentation; architect on record

Bahá’í House of Worship, Maui, Hawaii; design proposal for a new 500-seat open-air temple

The Mother Temple of South America, Linderos, Chile; design proposal for the Bahá’í House of Worship for the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chile

Jackson Copyediting (www.jacksoncopyediting.com); logo and webpage design, and extensive collaborations in creativity

The University of Texas at Austin, Welch Hall Courtyard; feasibility study and design

The University of Texas at Austin, Perry Castaneda Library; feasibility study and design for lobby and learning commons

The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Computer Sciences; feasibility study and master planning of new and existing buildings

The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Natural Sciences; new building study for the Veterans Administration Brain Imaging Facility Partnership

Radiance Bahá’í School, Round Rock, Texas; Bahá’í center renovations, education administration, and teaching

Flight 93 National Memorial, Somerset, Pennsylvania; design entry

Dell Lounge at Macy’s Harold Square, New York, NY; design and installation of a retail lounge promoting the release of Dell’s Inspiron

Crate & Barrel, Dallas, Texas; bamboo lantern proposal including research, design, and crafting

2007 International Bamboo Building Design Competition; entry with innovative detailing, joint mechanisms, and construction methods