We artists - the photographers, sculptors, ballet dancers, designers, the makeup artists, musicians, singers, writers, fashion designers, to name just a few - are HUGE on inspiration whether or not it comes from the same medium we use to express our creativity. There have been countless, beautiful moments of inspiration that have fueled the latest ideas and endeavors in my own photography over the years.
Ballet dancers have fueled my inspiration to capture the human body in movement through a dance series of photographs.
The valley of lights that flood the layout of Sensorio Paso Robles serve as a mesmerizing reminder of why I love the infusion of bright, bold colors in the expression of clothing.
Watching the careful ways a talented makeup artist unearths the beauty of women through their work with an array of shades of lipsticks, eye shadows, and brushes sparks my curiosity in trying a new, elegant makeup look on myself.
Observing the ways in which a musician becomes lost in focus in the world of melodic sound emanating from their instruments joined with other instruments is a more than familiar sight to me. I, too, have gotten that blissful look of a creative lost in concentration and creation of my own photography during the midst of a shoot.
Artists truly inspire other artists.
And what I am inspired by most with Ruth-Anne Siegel is she not only creates stunning works of art as a fine arts painter, but also that her joy for what she does and understanding of how art profoundly impacts people, their spaces, their lives is something I can deeply appreciate as a fellow creative.
It is my honor to feature the lovely, talented, and inspiring Ruth-Anne Siegel, a Bay Area-based fine art painter with Art4 Solutions!
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What do you enjoy about what you do? What are some of the challenges?
I love being an artist! It’s all I’ve ever been or wanted to be.
I realized my dream by studying graphic design in college at the Rhode Island School of Design and being a graphic designer for my entire career until now.
Luckily, design has many of the same principles and rules as painting such as color theory, composition, change of scale, etc. Yet being a fine artist is even more challenging than being a designer for various reasons. Unless I have a commission, I don’t have clients. I work by myself on my own. I’m my own client!
The work is solitary and self-motivated. I can put in lots of time and sometimes the work just doesn’t gel. It can be frustrating, but when work comes together, there’s no better feeling.
Knowing what you know now about your career, what would you tell your 18 year old self?
When I was 18, I had to choose my major during my freshman year. I really wanted to study painting, but I was too practical to study a non-professional major.
I would tell that girl to keep studying graphic design and not worry, you’ll get to paint eventually. Also, that cute guy from Brown you met at the Halloween ball will eventually be your husband.
Who inspires you and why?
My inspirations are varied including lyrics, books, and Instagram. My most consistent inspiration is looking at other artists’ work especially with creative curation. I love innovative museums and untraditional galleries.
My favorite artists are Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Mitchell, Claude Monet, and Franz Klein. Looking at their work, I see their hand; their marks are as alive to me as if they just painted them.
I am also inspired by my artist friends in Art4. They all think differently than me and their work causes me see other perspectives.
A fun or surprising fact about yourself?
I am a Peloton fanatic! I also love Pilates and downhill skiing. Surprising because I am SO not athletic. I am also an avid word puzzle doer. I love playing Anagrams (a variation on Bananagrams) and Boggle with my kids. They are formidable opponents!
If you could meet anyone in history , who would it be and why?
If I had to choose one, it would be Pete Townshend, the lead song writer and guitarist of The Who. His music and lyrics have had such a profound influence on me since I discovered The Who when I was 10. He has provided the soundtrack for my life. When I am not inspired in the studio, I put on a Who playlist or any of his solo work and the creativity just flows.
