Ruth Austin | About
I’ve always been someone who feels things deeply. Even as a child, I remember coming home upset and instinctively reaching for my paints. I didn’t have the words for what I was feeling, but in those moments, I discovered that art was how I processed the world.
Like so many of us, I got busy with life and tucked away my dream of becoming an artist. I went to college, built a career in graphic design, and opened a print shop with my husband. While raising two daughters and pouring myself into motherhood, art quietly slipped into the background.
It wasn’t until my daughters left for college that I finally gave myself permission to start painting again. But as excited as I was, the doubts crept in. I hesitated to share my work, battling thoughts like, Who do I think I am? Am I really an artist? The imposter syndrome weighed heavily on me, especially when I was encouraged to post my work online. I remember thinking, No way am I showing anyone this!
But slowly, with the guidance of a mentor, I began to see that I had a voice, and that my art was worth sharing. I wasn’t just learning techniques anymore. I was finding what had been missing all along: my own sense of self. With each brushstroke those fears loosened their grip, and art became less about proving myself and more about finding freedom—freedom to express the beauty I see and feel every day.
Living in Northern Arizona, surrounded by its breathtaking landscapes, my inspiration is endless. Whether hiking with my husband or friends, I often find myself asking, “Are you seeing this!?” We’ll come across something awe-inspiring—the way the light hits the trees or a deer tucked away in the brush—and I can’t help but want to capture that feeling.
That’s what I aim to bring into my art—the wonder and joy of truly seeing what’s in front of us. It’s a reminder to pause and take it all in. I hope my art shows people that, no matter how challenging life can be, there is always sweetness and light waiting to be found—we just have to choose to see it.