Rumor has it that on a mystic morning in Cerrillos, New Mexico, 1982, a young child riding upon purple clouds descended upon earth. That child was Nube (cloud) Ryder Armstrong. Through his childhood Ryder traveled much of the Southwest with his family of nomadic hippies inside of a magic school bus. Growing up with the freedom to explore unforgettable experiences such as concerts, cultural gatherings. sacred Indian sites/powwows and endlessly vibrant desert sunsets, Ryder was granted the space to live in a world of total creative freedom.

Soon there after his nomadic family made a big move from New Mexico to Northern Wisconsin, where Ryder would develop into a young man. He was home schooled until the 6th grade, allowing him to explore life on his own terms and figure out what he enjoyed. Ryder’s creative imagination found his voice through art, his mother always pushed him to do what he loved and he says, “I always knew I wanted to be an artist.” Throughout high school Ryder focused on art and as soon as he graduated in 2000, he moved to L.A to seek his fortune.

It is hard to imagine a free spirit wanderer moving from a rural paradise to the harsh, fast paced streets of Long Beach, California, but if anyone could make it happen, it would be Ryder. He studied graphic design in Long Beach and received an AS degree in 2002. His passion for creating arts had now been introduced to the world of computer design and his hard work in school soon reveled his skill as a budding graphic designer.

As luck had it Ryder hooked a job working with a Santa Cruz based production team and art gallery. The Full Support crew was an energetic bunch of artists looking to create a grass roots production team. Ryder was there from the beginning of the journey and was allowed the opportunity to put his newfound skills and ideas to fruition. He was also able to help design the look of the company and meet many incredible friends and contacts. Ryder is now his own boss, working freelance with clothing companies, advertisement design, bands, art shows, poster design, newspapers, magazine layout and web design projects. In 2004, Ryder also spearheaded the Sum of Love campaign, www.sumoflove.com, with the simple message of spreading love. Ryder’s raw skill as a graphic designer has greatly matured in the last 4 years and the Collectic family is blessed to have such an amazing talent.

We took a moment to ask Ryder about his life plans, future and dreams. The following response will show you the genuine nature of this good-hearted New Mexican cloud child.
“In life I think that it is important to take that step into the unknown and to gamble with your situation. I think that it is also important to stand tall and proud but to always stay humble, and to respect all life on this earth no-matter how small and insignificant. What I want in life is not much, just to have a heroic youth, find the woman, that in my eyes is the most beautiful woman in the world and live out my life in peace with many stories to tell. I want to have a positive influence on this planet. Live in peace without pollution and the exploitation of ancient cultures.”

Peace, Nubé Ryder