Ruby…what can I not say about the talent of this amazing young woman? I found Ruby’s blog purely by accident and she is one of the most soulful creatives I have encountered. I am sure you will enjoy her interview as much as I did.
Ruby, where do you get your inspiration for making art?
I get my inspiration from many different places. Other artists especially. There are so many fabulous ones out there with a variety of styles. It is so incredible. Books are also very inspiring. A lot of authors describe the environment in their story with heaps of metaphors and similes.. a lot of the time I just want to paint these pieces. I believe that you can gain inspiration for anything, from anything. Having a simple conversation with someone can lead to great ideas, you just have to be willing to look for them and accept these ideas. I am now keeping a book nearby so I can write my ideas down and who inspired them.
2. When did you start getting serious about art journaling and scrapbooking?
Well, I started scrapbooking about two years ago. I have only been serious about it in the last year. With art journaling, I am fairly new… I have been doing it for about three quarters of a year now and I totally love it. I find that scrapbooking allows you to write and document those funny/stupid/silly/sad memories, but still be able to make it pretty, whereas art journaling, you can just be free to make a mess… to put paint everywhere and mix heaps of different colours.
3. Whose work inspires you?
This is a hard question for me to answer. Like I said in the first question. It all depends what ‘mood’ I’m in. Whether I am inspired by a mixed media artist because I feel like creating mixed media pieces or whether I am inspired by a very simple and ‘clean’ scrapbooker because I feel in the mood to create like that. All of my favourites I keep in Google Reader… and if I named all of them, well, you’d be here for an awfully long time!
4. What is your favorite piece of work you have created recently and why?
One of my favourite pieces lately is my framed art journal page. Why? Because it has a story behind it. I went on holidays with my sister and mum to my Aunties house when she wasn’t there. She lives in the country so it’s an oldish homey type of place. I went to their local op shop and bought some childrens books for about 10c each. Using their old wooden kitchen table I painted in my art journal. I only used paint because that was all I brought. I cut up the images from the childrens book to add to it. While doing this I talked with my mum about art. What I could do with my finished pieces (i.e the framing) and what should be added to the piece. I explained some of my techniques and we looked through my art journal together. I have a great relationship with my mum, and this was one thing that made that bond stronger.
5. Do you have any advice for young creatives looking to express themselves?
Don’t hold back. Now I say that all the time. But it is so true. When I first started Art Journaling I was scared. I wanted everything to be neat and in balance. I wanted all the colours to work nicely together and I wanted the page to look ‘pretty’. But, if you don’t worry about that sort of stuff, you don’t limit yourself. You are able to produce work that is from the heart and is true, because you haven’t held yourself back. Just have fun, add meaning and journaling if you wish. It is for you. Not for anyone else.
If you liked this interview, make sure you check out these recent Guest Slammers:
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