We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Meliza Ruby Abreu. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Meliza Ruby below.
Meliza Ruby, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
My confidence developed the moment I stopped chasing approval and started creating from honesty. Ella the faceless girl I draw became my mirror. She faces back, not to hide, but to remind me that healing often begins when we look inward.
Ella is my inner child. Through her, I learned to nurture the parts of me that once felt unseen. Creating her became a healing practice a quiet way of rebuilding my self-esteem through art, consistency, and faith.
Now, every time Ella appears in ink, in watercolor, in story she stands for confidence earned through creation, and self-love learned through the act of becoming whole again.
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’m Meliza Ruby, artist and founder of By Melrub a multidisciplinary creative brand rooted in art, storytelling, and emotion. My work bridges fine art, design, and cultural storytelling, bringing everyday reflection into visual form.
At the heart of it all is Ella my faceless muse and inner child. Through her, I created Dear Diary by Ella, a series that blends art, writing, and emotion “from heart to paper, one whisper at a time.” Each diary entry becomes both a story and a healing act, transforming vulnerability into art.
I’m currently bringing to life a new collection titled “Sharpie + Post-It,” a series of 717 original pieces created entirely with Sharpie on yellow sticky notes. It’s a raw, intimate exploration of expression spontaneous sketches turned into moments of truth, emotion, and humor.
Beyond the canvas, By Melrub curates experiences like The Still Room art nights and cultural festivals that celebrate Latin and Caribbean creativity. This year, I’m expanding Ella’s World and Dear Diary by Ella through new collections, public installations, and collaborations continuing my mission to make art a mirror, a diary, and a safe place to simply feel.
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?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey the most: resilience, storytelling, and intuition.
Resilience taught me to keep creating through uncertainty. As an artist and entrepreneur, there are seasons of silence, rejection, and reinvention but resilience keeps the art alive even when the outcome isn’t clear. My advice: don’t wait for perfect timing. Start with what you have and build rhythm through consistency.
Storytelling became my way to connect beyond visuals. Through Ella and Dear Diary by Ella, I’ve learned that art becomes powerful when it carries truth. Speak from your own experience, no matter how small it feels authenticity always finds an audience.
Intuition is the quiet skill that anchors everything. It’s the ability to trust your creative instincts, to know when something feels aligned before it makes sense on paper. For anyone beginning their journey learn to listen inward as much as you learn outward. Your intuition is often your most reliable collaborator.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
If I had a decade left, I’d spend it living slower but deeper documenting beauty in ordinary days. I’d fill sketchbooks, walls, and coffee cups with Ella and her quiet lessons, turning them into stories that remind people to heal, to pause, and to play again.
I’d pour into my family, my community, and my art leaving behind a legacy of connection rather than perfection. Ten years would be enough to expand Dear Diary by Ella into something living an archive of whispers, drawings, and truths shared between strangers who suddenly feel seen.
Mostly, I’d spend that decade being fully present sketching mornings, collecting sunsets, loving out loud. I wouldn’t chase more time; I’d just make every page count.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymelrub?igsh=MXJuMXYyc3hncHNkcw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bymelrubart?si=Z6cZjXHtFHIpy68y
Image Credits
Laura Fernandez
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