This past November, the Friendswood Public Library
hosted An Evening of Art with local,
award-winning and juried artists, Ruby Allen, Glena Schlehuber, and Billie
Morris. Recently, I was fortunate enough
to have acclaimed watercolor artist Ruby Allen answer a few questions about her
artwork for from the reference desk. The
art images that accompany this interview are from Ruby Allen’s work:
MR:
Your amazing watercolor paintings are world renowned and many here in
Friendswood enjoy collecting your work.
My wife and I purchased one of your watercolors many years ago and it
still hangs in our living area. Can you
tell us how you came to paint in watercolor and how this medium lends itself
especially to your creative vision?
RA: I
have chosen water based paints as my preferred medium because it is more
challenging than working in oils. I also
appreciate the freshness of watercolors when used wet on wet. The fusion can be
very exciting.
MR:
In preparation for the art exhibit we held here at the library last November, I
had the privilege of seeing your studio and speaking with you about your
art. One of the subjects we touched on
was the diverse styles of painting and mixed media that you have incorporated
into your work over recent years. Could you share your thoughts on this and
reflect a little on your more recent work.
RA: After
painting in pure watercolor for many years it was a natural sign of growth to
want to reach another plateau by incorporating other water based mediums. I never forget that no matter how
accomplished an artist may be, they are always a student.
I paint many abstracts because I find that they
afford me the opportunity to use my creativity to the max. Acrylic paint gave me the texture and depth
of colors that I wanted. In addition, the paintings were consistently chosen
for juried shows and were prize winners.
MR:
And finally, could you share with us some of your experiences in the world art
community. I know that your work has
been honored in other areas of the country and overseas. Could you tell us
something about these experiences? Does your art take you out of the country
often and do you enjoy these experiences?
RA: It
is very pleasing to know that people all over the world are enjoying my paintings,
including a “Ruby Wall” at the Russian News Agency in Moscow. Whether a patron is visiting in this country
or leaving to live in other parts of the world, it gives me a great sense of
pride that they select my paintings to provide them with the happiness that
they receive from my works.
In the words of Pablo Picasso, “The artist is a
receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place; from the sky, from
the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, or from a spider’s
web.”
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| l to r: Ruby Allen, Glen Schlehuber, and Billie Morris |
