biography of Ruth Collis

An Explorer into the Mind of Figurative Beauty

by
~ Anthony Sisneros ~

 

Introduction

As an artist, Ruth Collis revels in the nature of structure and free form. Trees are not merely plants on the landscape, they are hidden treasures of figure and shape, unseen entities, that she wonders why is only noticed by an artist. Her illustrative long luxurious hair of a woman is not just a fashion but a swirling vortex of passion and shape that give rise to a beauty far more than skin deep. Ruth’s art is of such a very rich texture and meaning, that she even goes to lengths in making her signature a part of it. Not wishing to detract from the viewer’s eye, her "hidden" signature turns up in a variety of clever and subtle ways.

Obstacles

Like all artists, the road for Ruth has not been smooth or unobstructed. Ruth has waged battle with those in her life that have pushed the more "practical, sensible" road toward her. She chose to be true to herself and educate in Southern California, for the sake of her art. Through the trial and error process of her inventive designs, certain techniques for creating her art have met with exciting results in light of the grade that she demands from her canvas of ideas. She can be found capturing subjects of interest photographically that catch her attention, peaking her inspiration that further spin the artistic wheels of creation.

Techniques 

Ruth’s artistic techniques are varied with the effect that she wishes, and sometimes even for the sake of the medium. Evolving beyond the old masters, Ruth’s best art is not content being flat on the canvas, but uses a new technique to lift the art into rising above the surface creating texture, not just a propped up effect, but an integral part of the subject that could not be merely contained flat against the surface. Whether it be pastel, oil, or acrylic, Ruth’s art takes a person to another place, showing the viewer another option of how to see the beauty in natures curves and turns.

Inspiration

Inspiration of art typically occurs faster than Ruth can actually render it. So as to capture the most creative of ideas she makes notes of her mental design concepts for future reference. Though a blank canvas can hold intimidation for many, it is a welcome relief for Ruth. She does not look to other artists for inspiration as she would for appreciation, but to a feeling, values held, a vision of success over struggles, the fashion industry, or textures and forms of nature that are in line with her own concepts. The quiet beauty of Victoria’s Secret models offers an elegance she has come to identify with in representing the figure, as well as her own appreciation for long hair that has resulted in a series of exotic hairstyle concepts, revealing outer reflections of beauties inwardly felt.

What led her to create and bring about this figure-tree style? Certain figure-restrictive and confining environments, has left Ruth wanting to be part of nature itself and observing it as free like the wind, and contemplating why those following more mainstream ways find it difficult to allow her to be different and unique in her values and thoughts. Although she has studied famous Art Deco artist, Erte in school, Ruth has found a more applicable figure form that relates to her own course of life as well as what variety may hold mass appeal. As a result of this unique perception, many real live forms in nature have presented themselves as human in shape following this discovery, like a tree passed daily by others that Ruth’s eye has caught, and sometimes going home to illustrate what photographs have captured. Observing nature to having limitless forms and shapes of beauty that can be integrated to the human figure in unending artistic ideas and concepts, has lead her to combine figure and landscape into her defining style, and yet still retain focus as a figurative artist.

Conclusion

The Art of Ruth shows in its own way and style the expressions of a mind that looks beyond restricting measures, and has reached out to the material and celebrated the expression of that dimensional realm which is not always seen or appreciated. Expressions of the natural beauty that surrounds as well as resides within us, is the vein that Ruth has tapped into with her works.