Plum Thicket Painting

Artist's Statement: My current work is based on memories of the Oregon farm where I was raised. I paint abstracted aerial views of the fields and forests with an emphasis on color, shape and mark making. Rich, vibrant color embellished by narrative and symbolic pencil and brush marks tells the stories of my connection to the land that has been home to my family. While my earlier work explored family relationships, this series focuses on relationships with the natural world. I am interested in linking the ideas of nature and farming to heredity, inheritance, history and birthright. As a fourth generation Oregonian, the character of the land and its seasons and changes over generations is of particular importance. Stewardship is not just a word, but a daily practice for farmers. I work in watercolor, acrylic and oil mixed with cold wax, but viewers often have difficulty telling them apart. Use of strong, saturated color has become my hallmark. My strongest artistic influences have been Bonnard, for his translations of domestic scenes into shimmering kaleidoscopes of color, and Milton Avery, whose quirky shapes were drawn from his family and surroundings. Ruth Armitage is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society , Rocky Mountain National Watermedia, California Watercolor Association and the Northwest Watercolor Society, and Past President of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. The Watercolor Society of Oregon has awarded her its Outstanding Service Award and nominated her as Oregon's Delegate to the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies. Ruth's work has received many local and national awards. Ruth’s award-winning work has been included in numerous national publications and exhibitions. In 2004 her work was profiled on Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Oregon Art Beat. You can find Ruth's work in Portland at the Attic Gallery, Portland Art Museum's Rental Sales Gallery, and Mary Lou Zeek gallery in Salem, Oregon. Ruth is a gifted instructor and has juried several local and state exhibitions. She enjoys sharing the creative process in the classroom and watching lightbulbs come on in her students' eyes. Read their comments about Ruth's classes on her 'Workshops' page. Ruth and her husband Marc, both fourth generation Oregonians, maintain a small farm and studio in rural Oregon City.