Ruth Yuhas

Biography

“While I was growing up, art seemed like a fun thing to do,” recalls Ruth. “I liked painting, painting anything: walls, furniture, pictures...” She never really considered art beyond a fun hobby until she took a workshop with Robert Burridge several years ago. “I painted at his workshop for two weeks using wild colors... all I saw was color, my mind exploded with color, even when I shut my eyes I saw color! And I had a headache for a month afterward,” she grins. Ruth came back from this workshop a changed person, and she hasn’t stopped painting since. Ruth describes her style and methods: “I love painting still-lifes, landscapes and abstracts in a loose, colorful and juicy style, finishing them off with a very glossy clear coat. This makes the colors really pop. I strive to work in what I call the 'paint zone,' where everything around me disappears. All that’s left is me and the paint – even the brushes don’t seem to exist. Maybe that’s why I often use my fingers to paint with. What emerges is a wonderfully unique painting full of color, character and feeling.” There is no typical work schedule for Ruth. As a draftsperson by trade, she paints every moment she can. “I paint whenever I can steal a little time away from my day job,” she says. “I also like to take a lot of workshops. They help me find my unique talents and also allow me to paint and learn at the same time.” Ruth has participated in classes and workshops from Southern California to Italy.