Posts
Soaring to Success
Interviews of Artists, Writers and Photographers
their work, creative spaces and techniques
by Joan Carver
I find it so interesting to hear from other artists across the world. We are so much alike in our passion to create art - yet our lives are so distant from one another. I am grateful to "meet" and get to know these artists through our amazing technology. Thrilled to be able to share these interviews on my blog for others to enjoy their interesting stories.
Interview with Isle of Bute, Scotland, U.K. artist :
Ruth Slater
Ruth Slater
1. Introduce
yourself: My name is Ruth Slater, based on the Isle
of Bute, Scotland, UK. My passion is drawing and painting with a bit of textile
art and sculpture thrown in!
2. When did
you know you wanted to be an artist, writer or photographer?
When
I was eleven I went to high school and realized that my real strengths lay in
art and design. I struggled in English and Math’s and when I was allowed to use
my creativity in any subject I realized how much I thrived. I also had an
amazing art teacher called Mr. Fiddes who worked as a professional artist in
addition to teaching. His work consisted of huge canvasses and mural which my
Mum would drive me to see in the town. He was a bit different than any other
teacher I had at the time and seemed to suggest that there was more than what we
were officially being told we could do. I saw him about ten years after I had
left school and we were exhibiting at the same exhibition. I won the award from
the judges with a small lino cut of a crow and he was the main exhibit with a
huge triptych, it felt such a momentous milestone.
 |
| Ruth's Art Studio |
3. What are
your fears?
My
fears are paying the bills if I’m a full time artist, losing inspiration if I’m
trying to make a living so I stop experimenting. I know I’ll work hard enough but what if
people don’t really like my work to pay proper prices? With a young child and a
self employed husband it might be too much of a risk if I was ill or my work
simply didn’t take off.
To
be honest even though I can rationalize I need to move gradually into this role
and maybe as I get things like Etsy more established I can cut down on my
teaching job when I know the money will come in.
4. What makes
you different…unique from others?
My
location makes me unique to start with, based on a small unspoilt island off
the West Coast of Scotland. I’m inspired by the dramatic landscapes that
surround me and I’m very lucky that my studio faces the Isle of Arran and Mull
of Kintyre. I use what surrounds me to paint on and inspire me e.g driftwood,
animals.
Although
I experiment with different styles and try to develop I come back to the same
subjects, Highland cows, chickens, seascapes, my daughter’s shoes, wild birds
and people who appeal to me. A new style I started working on a few years ago
was Wire Work in drawing, it has been really popular both in originals and
cards. I’d like to take this further into mugs and maybe paper napkins etc.
 |
| Breathtaking view from Ruth Studio window! |
5. Any
secrets to reveal about the tools you use or your techniques? Tips or tricks?
I
always paint in my coffee merchant apron from when I worked at Whittard’s of
Chelsea. Part of wearing it reminds me of how far I’ve come and the other is it
feels like a comfort blanket when I’m painting and I don’t feel properly
dressed without it. I write inspirational quotes on the walls of my studio to
remind me each time I look up. One from KKR (www.kellyraeroberts.com) is right
in the middle at the moment, Thank you life for…
 |
| Lone Sheep on Driftwood |
I’ve
also made short rhyming stories about events that have happened since my
daughter has been born and intend to make them into a set of children’s books
called Ballinalay Tails, as most of them are based on the animals we have here,
four donkeys, two pet sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys, cat, dog and quails.
Most
of the things I use are recycled and I do talks on making and being creative
with pre-loved things. I love working out a way of incorporating packaging
paper into a painting or adding driftwood into a box frame.
 |
| Chicken on a recycled envelope |
6. What are
your goals & inspirations?
In 2 years? October
2014, A successful Etsy shopwww.etsy.com/RuthSlaterArtist selling my full range of cards and prints. A
studio open to the public on the last Sunday of each month with delicious
refreshments, for chat, sales and new friendships.
5 years? 2017, working as
a full time artist with talks, demos and exhibitions regularly. Card sales are
worldwide and my name is starting to become recognized as a professional
artist.
10 years? 2022, My ‘Artours’ bus is up and running around the UK.
Bringing mobile art lessons to remote locations, whatever the weather, along
with on board art shop. My daughter travels with me in school holidays and we
see some of the most amazing places and meet interesting people who love art.
 |
| Red Shoes |
7. Where is
your creative space or studio?
I
am really lucky to have a custom built studio in the house. We built our house
four years ago and when we planned it a studio was a must. The main studio
is and led into through a room that we
can use as an exhibition space, playroom, and open plan bedroom, whatever we
need at the time. Most recently at the Open Studio event people were able to
browse, sit and have tea and coffee or step out onto the Velux platform we have
built in to help me draw the landscape. Unfortunately due to the lack of time
in the studio it is frequently very messy and I would love to have it working
more efficiently.
 |
| Another angle of the art studio |
8.How much
time do you devote to your work?
I
work as a secondary school teacher with teenagers from Mon-Weds, on Thurs and
Fri I spend the day with my three year old daughter. She loves to draw in the
studio so I can get card orders and small things done while her attention
holds. Most of my work is done in the evenings when she has gone to bed or
bartered time with my husband and in-laws at the weekend. School holidays are
great as I still get my three days, as my daughter still goes to the child
minder and I work as furiously as I can to use the time effectively. When I am
able to I use my lunch break in school to work on reading or drawing projects,
ten minutes here and there all add up in the end.
 |
| "Come on Then" |
9. What are
your “whispers” or callings begging you to do?
(Paint, write a book, sell your items on-line) What made you decide to take this e-course
with Kelly Rae Roberts? What do you want to achieve?
I
took the Flying Lessons e-course to give me the confidence and knowledge to
take my business where I know it can get to. Sharing the experience with others
in the same boat has been amazing and much more than I could ever have hoped
for. It has pushed me to learn but in such a positive and enticing way which
has shaped all of us share success.
The
whispers call me to paint big canvasses with movement and depth, inspired by
where I live. I really see my books based on daily life here succeeding and
becoming a set to treasure. I would even consider working in conjunction with
an artist I admire to illustrate the stories.
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10. Do you
keep a daily journal or sketchbook, or write in a diary?
I
keep a daily book with everything that inspires me from clothing tags to
receipts. I sketch, take notes stick in articles and always carry it in my bag.
I have kept book like this since 1998 so have amassed quite a collection and
will go back through them to remind myself of ideas and inspiring quotes.
 |
| Lapwing |
11. How do
you market yourself? How do you plan to get “the word” out there??
I
use my website, www.ruthslater.com, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RuthSlaterArtist , blog http://ruthslaterartist.blogspot.co.uk/ and twitter @ruthslater to promote my work but seem to spend
more time on these ‘promotions’ than actual work lately! I’m trying to set up my
Etsy shop currently but sell my work locally in shops and the odd craft fayre.
My card range sells well and as I print them myself I am able to change lines
that are slower and extend ideas that are good sellers.
12. What type
of music (if any) do you listen to when you create?
I
listen to radio plays while in the studio working, I find that by concentrating
on the dialogue the right hand side of my brain works more creatively. Other
than that I have BBC Radio 2 on for good tunes and interesting discussion.
13. Who is
your favorite artist?
This
will sound contrived but Kelly Rae Roberts for me really sums up everything I
would like to be, her focus, drive and positivity are very infectious and I
love how you feel she is talking to you personally. I also follow Carla Sonheim
as I love her style and methods.
 |
| Ruth's lovely family..husband and daughter. |
14. Are you
encouraged to follow your creative path by your family or friends?
Oh
yes most definitely, my husband is my greatest supporter and he is great for
constructive criticism and tweaking ideas that are nearly right. My mum is
lives quite aways from me will email me to say she’s read my blog and is
forever promoting my website to everyone she meets! My in-laws are very proud
and on the island word of mouth is very important so I have been privileged to
have some excellent commissions via them. I know all of them worry that artists
don’t make ‘proper’ livings so I have to make a success and not rush my
transition to full time self employment!
15. How do
come up with titles for your work?
Oh
this is nearly impossible every time! Sometimes I go for humorous other times a
quote or something poignant. I try not to be too ‘arty farty’ as some would put
it, I feel it doesn’t fit with who I am.
 |
| Painting homegrown produce! |
16. Do you
work on one project at a time ..or have several going on at a time?
 |
| White Bull by Ruth Slater |
Several
all the time.
Thank you so much Ruth for allowing us to get to know
you..and giving us a sneak peek into your life as an artist in Isle of Bute, Scotland in the U.K.!
Your artwork is delightful. You are a very talented artist and we will all keep an eye on you because your wings are ready....we will be there to watch you SOAR!!
Joan
Joan
I owned an
art school in Charlotte, NC for 16 years before moving to Jacksonville, FL., so
it thrills me when a classroom full of
students, given one assignment, produces such a variety of ideas. …We are all
unique, we are all special. We all have
a different path, a different way of approaching our art. That is exactly why I
want to do these interviews, to celebrate what makes us, US!
If you are an
artist, writer, or photographer and would like to be showcased with an
interview on my blog, simply contact me and I will certainly consider you for a
post. Thank you for participating :
)
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