Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Drew Tye Ruby-Howe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Drew, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Yes, that’d be great. My art practice is fueled by my desire to create intentional space and a sense of calm and healing for others. I believe in the liberation of visual expression – and for me, it’s ever-evolving manifestation through the physical and emotional. In that vulnerability, I think we are most powerfully positioned to capture the ephemeral beauty of our lived moments and from that beauty, find greater purpose.
My art practice – like each of us – is ever-evolving and my hands-on, brushless approach – physical, messy and filled with color – is richly informed by my constant desire to open myself to the complex textures of life. With each piece, I am digging deeper to feel more and seek a clearer understanding of the human experience.
I was forced to navigate a lot in my young life when so much of what I knew about my world and the people in it miraculously unraveled. I lost both my parents [my father died of lung cancer when I was 20, and my mother disowned me when I fell in love with an incredible woman – now my beautiful wife – and made the painful decision to divorce my wonderful husband and come out as a lesbian]. And through it all, in the darkest and most enlightened moments – the practice of painting became my survival – my therapy, my voice. And I keep doing it because I can’t live without it.
When I’m working, I paint completely brushless, and use only my palms and fingers directly on the canvas. No two strokes or sweeps of color are ever the same, and the unpredictabilty and freshness that comes with each piece is like a steady comforting hand on my shoulder, encouraging me forward to evolve and grow. My unique hands-on approach has allowed me to understand change as richly life-affirming. I feel lucky to share that gift with others through my work.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Sure! I discovered my passion for painting as a kid, and it has always been a form of comfort and release – where I’ve always felt truly at home in my own body. As I got older, the practice of expressing myself through art has allowed me to find solace and a sense of inner peace through some enormous personal losses and breakthroughs. As I honed my skills and began sharing my work more widely, I decided to turn my practice into a small business in 2013. My goals were simple – show my work, share my story, and support myself financially, as best I could.
When I’m not creating new bodies of work for solo and group exhibitions or art fairs, the majority of my time is spent on client-based commissions. My clients are amazing, and they respond so enthusiastically to my untraditional style. As we work together to map out the right size and design for their homes, the ‘handmade’ quality of their pieces adds such a magical touch.
After many years of juggling motherhood, painting, building my art business and working full-time, I am celebrating the ten-year anniversary of my business with two big solo shows this year.
The show is titled ‘Amplifying the Ephemeral’ and will tour two cities – first in February at a special gallery in Pennsylvania, and the second in April at a gorgeous gallery in Georgetown DC. More information can be found on my website [www.drewtyerubyhowe.com] and my Instagram account [@drewtyerubyhowe].
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Of course. Early on in my art practice, I truly believed my paintings were only ‘good’ if I got the colors and composition right on the VERY first try. If I stood back to assess the piece after that first go, and it didn’t work or look right, I had somehow failed.
Looking back, at that stage in my life, I didn’t yet have the confidence to dig deeper and work through my doubt. The way I was defining ‘success’ as an artist – and perhaps as a person, too – was limited, and limiting.
Now, the joy for me comes from the opposite experience, and I let my art speak honestly and truthfully through my hands. I relish in the magic of mistakes – of kneeling down, adding paint directly to the canvas without a plan, taking a scoopful of acrylic in my fingers and diving right in – totally open and unafraid.
My advice to others is to relentlessly pursue the things that make you feel whole. Keep making, find community to inspire you, and work through your doubts in pursuit of something beautiful. You just might surprise yourself.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Some of my most favorite relationships in the world are those that have developed with clients, collectors and fellow creatives. If readers would like to connect about my art or have any questions about the upcoming shows, feel free to connect on Instagram, sign up for my newsletter, or submit an inquiry through the ‘commission’ tab on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.drewtyerubyhowe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewtyerubyhowe/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-t-ruby-howe-she-hers-09587b16/
