We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ruth Ross a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ruth, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
It was a tough slog. I believe it was a mix of looking inward and then looking outward and then taking note of the feedback. I also had my feelers open to opportunity offered by several mentors throughout my career and post-career.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am a retired Art Director whose career was spent in publishing art directing book covers. In my case, I worked for almost 20 years for Random House in NYC where I also raised my son as a single parent. In 2000 after Random House was reorganized as an acquisition by Bertelsmann Publishing, I left NY for Portland, OR where I had never been to “remake” my life at almost 60 years old. I had to learn how to drive. I was a refugee and a menace on the road. But knew that I had no desire to commit again to a corporate job. I wished to continue my artistic path as a jewelry designer, using unexpected materials and silver. I was hired as a gallery assistant and learned a bit about the gallery business through the Widney Moore Gallery who also represented my work. Eventually, I took on the mantle of printing, learned monotype; started printing image to textile, via transfer, monotype, and cyanotype on vintage donated fabrics embellished with embroidery and assemblage. I have continued this work for the past 10 years. And my work has been exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest. This story can be told visually by checking out my website: ruthrossart.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1) My ability to empathize with other people; to tease out what they need emotionally and professionally and create a creative relationship based on that.
2) My belief in and ability to look through the many layers of memories and my unconscious, and fish from that what is important to me in my art.
3) To not be afraid.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Raise me with a social conscience. Very important in my artwork, my life, and in this country right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ruthrossart.com
- Instagram: ruthross123
- Facebook: Ruth Ross Gnu
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