About Ruth

I hold an honours computer science degree with a minor in fine art from the University of Guelph and I worked in the technology industry for 30 years before exiting corporate life and becoming a full-time professional artist. I’m equally comfortable with a keyboard or a paint brush. My logical, process-happy side and my creative, chaos-loving side inform each other, no matter what I’m doing.

 

I work mainly on wood panel with acrylic paint and start my work by pushing and pulling paint over the surface, creating random shapes and lines. I'll sometimes add torn bits of petal infused paper before beginning to paint out the image. I work in many layers, highlighting some areas and deepening others. Bits of the underpainting poke through, providing interesting glimpses of colour and shapes in the final piece. I don't always fully understand why I work this way, but there is something so calming and satisfying about the process.

 

While I sometimes paint landscapes, dogs or people, I tend to gravitate back to flowers. They continually capture my creative mind and provide so much wonder, particularly zinnias which I grow in my front yard garden. I work from my home studio in Guelph, Ontario.