R. THIES

Hello, my name's Ryan Thies. Coincidentally, there are others who have the same first and last name. I'm the cartoon artist and multifaceted weirdo Ryan Thies. I enjoy wordplay, and sign my work as 'R. Thies' because it's pronounced like 'ar-teace' (artiste). 

Inspired by a blend of cartoons, comics, pop art, psychedelia, and surrealism, I began describing my style as 'Cartoonism' in 2002. Since then, I've explored this concept across a wide range of mediums, including drawing, painting, comics, zines, animation, music, and writing.

In addition to my solo work, I'm the head founder and leader of the Cartoonism Collective. Established in 2008, this grassroots group includes artists from across the United States and beyond. In May 2025, we launched our third online exhibit and second zine: Plungin' Th' Depths! The project theme is aquatic life and sea creatures. Both the exhibit and zine progress through the ocean zones.

I value collaboration over competition, and I'm looking for like-minded creators who reject the scarcity mindset. Also, other weirdos who embrace originality, versatility, and DIY culture. If you're into authentic art, offbeat humor, and whimsical absurdity...I might know a guy...