Ruth Le Roux
Ruth Le Roux brings abstract nature to the forefront.
Art can be like therapy. While finding her own art therapy, she discovered a way to share stories of nature in visual form. From ocean waves to sunset botanical fields, she abstracts them into simple forms that everyone can bring into their homes. Discover her journey below.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m originally from Stellenbosch, South Africa, but have lived in quite a few different countries (and have lived in The Bay Area for the last seven years).
We read in your bio that you started painting while you were pregnant. Did you get any art education before? What urged you to paint?
My High School had a really amazing art program where the first two years we did general art and then for the last three years we could specialize in a practice. I did graphic design, which meant linocuts and woodcuts (as opposed to anything digital). But foolishly I decided to study international relations at university instead of art. It’s quite a big regret. I can’t imagine anything better than painting all day for four years! So anyway, technically I don’t have any formal training in painting. I chose that medium because I had tiny pockets of time when I wasn’t looking after my baby and very little space—and that seemed the easiest.
The urge to start painting four years ago came from serious anxiety around losing my job in the startup world just before going on maternity leave - and then looking after a baby, which I felt very ill-equipped to do on little sleep. :) Culturally I feel like we still believe women are naturally born to be mothers—but it doesn’t come naturally to all of us. Painting helped me get into a zone, which became my therapy.
How did you discover your style? Did it come naturally or after irritations?
I think my experience with traditional printing guided my graphic style. I love mark making - and it’s so easy to do with a pen in comparison to a wood-cutting tool. I interchange working on more expressive pieces with more measured pieces. The latter makes me feel quite frustrated at times (and always towards the end), but I feel compelled to do them again. It’s a weird love-hate relationship, whereas the expressive pieces are always fun to do but end up looking like shit 50% of time.
What attracts you to do abstract compositions?
I could make something up, but I don’t know. It’s just automatism. Whenever I plan a piece it doesn’t work. The best work happens when I’ve had two beers, am listening to music and have color guide the work.
“Color is almost everything. It’s the only thing I do plan. I hardly ever use warm colors and I use a lot of green.”
What role does color play in your paintings?
Color is almost everything. It’s the only thing I do plan. I hardly ever use warm colors and I use a lot of green.
If you could meet any artist who would they be?
That’s tough because I want to meet them all and see how they interact with one another. When I was a teenager I was very excited to see Picasso’s works in person when I went to Europe for the first time. But now I’m reading Francoise Gilot’s book about her life with Picasso and he sounds like such a dick. So although I love his art, I’d hate to waste a meeting on him. I wish we’d learnt about all the amazing women out there that had to work so much harder to get to where they did. It’s not too late of course, and I dedicate all my current reading time to them. But ok, if I can only pick one I think it’s going to have to be Frida.
If you had any piece of advice to artists just starting their careers, what would you say?
I feel like I’m really only starting my art career now, so if you have any advice for me please let me know!
I will say one boring thing though that goes against all the impassioned creative advice you’ll hear about giving it all one thousand percent. For me personally, keeping a part-time job has really helped me put less pressure on the whole ‘art thing’. It also means that when I do get studio time, it’s a huge treat and not something I force myself to do all day, every day. Everyone needs to figure out what works best for them, though. I’m pretty sure Picasso didn’t have another part-time job. :) He also didn’t live in San Francisco though, so maybe he didn’t need to worry about paying a gazillion dollars on rent.
Written by Diane Lindquist