Painting process
To create vivid colour palettes and combinations my painting process is vital, and at the heart of how I create these visual results.
I use oil paints, as the pigment tones and depth are unrivalled to any other medium. My painting process works in layers to create an intensity of colour, and blend contrasting colours. This means my work takes many months to create, as I let layers dry in between to layer up successfully, otherwise working with wet on wet paint it would become a muddy colour.
To get inspired, I collect imagery and use a sketchbook to experiment with imagery and colour. Before I start a new canvas, I have a few images for reference and a strong idea of what message I'd like to convey but the composition is not clearly mapped out. I use my instinct to make decisions on how I put together the various imagery and colour.
You can follow my paintings in progress on social media:
We bring together aspiring artists to become their most authentic, vibrant and purposeful selves. We share inspiration, champion each other's creative journeys and grow together through learning, practice and discussion. Together, we become confident, connected and committed artists.
An online membership for aspiring artists, accessible 24-7, go at your pace and develop your unique creative voice in a supportive environment.
Imagine what it would look like to..
Connect to yourself and express this through your art without fear
Trust your own intuition and use yourself as a guide to making authentic art
Be brave about taking creative risks and trying new things
Finish paintings with ease, and enjoy more of the flow state
Overcome blocks and allow yourself to shine
Be surrounded by a supportive like-minded community of artists
Confidently move forward with your art and get inner clarity on your next steps
All for just £20 per month
Why Art Hub?
Are you craving to make art that's more you? Maybe you're stuck in overwhelm, not knowing where or how to start. Or distracted by other people's opinions of what you 'should' be doing? Are you feeling like hiding just at the thought of creating authentic art that takes you out your comfort zone?
Art Hub is the solution!
We will build your creative confidence, to express your own artistic voice. This is what makes an enjoyable, successful and sustainable art practice.
You will have access to a community of artists, resources, information and interactive activities, all designed to find and support your authentic artist's voice. All this is available online through The Art Hub app - a friendly space (outside the noise of social media).
Become more you, build your own vision of success and create art you love!
How will Art Hub help me?
An online art membership
Accessible 24/7
Interact with an online community of artists
Watch back videos at your pace
Upload your photos and get feedback & support
Be inspired on the go (through your phone)
Benefits of Art Hub
Trust your intuition
Your intuition is the path to finding your unique artistic voice, and the compass for what 'success' looks like for you. Learning how to trust your intuition is key to being an authentic version of yourself.
Build your confidence
Having structured live workshops, chat forums to gain support and resources to build your confidence means Art Hub is a nurturing and supportive space
Meet your art community
There's nothing like being surrounded by like minded artists that are keen to share knowledge and support your development. As artists it's vital we have creative people around us to grow.
Create art with ease
With follow along workshops, challenges and more you'll have the perfect variety of activities to get you creating. As you find out more about your artistic voice and personal creative process, your art making becomes enjoyable, with more ease and clarity.
What Art Hub members say..
"I have thoroughly enjoyed the Art Hub, a lot of inspiration, that I didn't realise how much I had missed! I felt excited about art again. And found myself looking how I could use things that I came across whilst away on holiday or on visits! Inspired.” Lynn
”The passion the two of you have is great and shines through” Lisanne
”The app is great and I found it so intuitive” Lisanne
“I think all art lovers can benefit from a membership the knowledge and community it brings” Shell
What's included?
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Live workshops
Join us for a monthly live workshop, a follow along session to get you trying something new and connecting with other artists. You can also watch this back at your own leisure.
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Artists Inspiration
Get inspired by a monthly article, where you'll learn about artists (past and present), art movements and genres.
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Mindset Magic
Once a month we dive into a topic on mindset. We explore creative blocks, exercises to help you discover your authentic artist and ponder on the creative mind.
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Art in Practice
Each month we release a technical art tutorial for you to practice at home, in your own time.
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Challenge
We kick off the month with a challenge to gently stir your creative juices. Post your progress, see what others are doing and support each other whilst pushing your creativity.
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Art & Chat
A relaxed live chit chat you can join in on. There's no agenda, but it's a lovely space to catch up, work on your art, and ask any questions regarding your creative development.
Ruth's experience
I love to inspire other artists and help them uncover their authentic artist's voice.
I will share my experience with you throughout your membership:
Exhibited throughout Europe and USA
Participated and sold art through Art Fairs
I am a full-time professional (self-made) artist
Created and sold multiple commissions
Host of art podcast, Art Alchemy
Workshop host 'Art in the Park'
All my failings along the way have taught me much more than my successes!
Where it all started, my personal story
The calling to create art started very early for me, in fact, my earliest memories I remember creating, drawing, and crafting in all forms, and I even formed my own artist community ‘Ruth’s Art Club’ at primary school. Every birthday and Christmas had a long list of crafting supplies, and I was lucky enough that my father encouraged my passions. The first artwork I saw that viscerally moved me was Van Gogh, Cafe Terrace at night (1888).
Growing up in an unconventional family, with a single-parent father raising me and my brother, I experienced feeling left out of normal family life and society’s expectations. This life experience since led me to always lean into empathy, and being comfortable with unconventional ideas and celebrate differences. But as a child it was challenging having to navigate growing up without a mother. I had to become very independent sooner than I should, and also became a people pleaser.
I was lucky enough at school to have a very supportive art teacher, and my dad always encouraged me to create. But even as I was pursuing art at college, I had a wobble. Can you believe I considered going to university to study law? I enjoyed the subject and got good grades in my final A Level exams. Looking back it was a crisis of confidence, that I couldn't possibly follow my dreams AND have that as a sustainable career.
Having been selected to a top university at Winchester School of Art I couldn't believe my luck. But I was about to be in for a big culture shock. Having grown up in Walsall, in the West Midlands, a working class town moving to Winchester surrounded by affluence, different ideals and honestly people who had no understanding of how their financial heritage gave them an unfair advantage. Whilst I was watching every penny to ensure I could do the basic things, my flatmates ate sushi and went to yoga class. This is honestly no joke! Once again I felt alienated and less than.
Once graduating in 2008, I felt lucky to have got through 3 years of university on a small budget and came away with a small group of good friends. The next step was gaining work experience in textile design, but soon found again, to be pushed out. Design houses expect you to do unpaid work experience in London, something I couldn't afford. So I worked my way up in the retail world, starting in coffee shops, and eventually becoming a shop manager. Ambition and hard work was never lacking for me, but I have faced challenges.
I spent several years trying to get into the design world, but found it to be a case of who you know rather than talent leading the way. After years of trying I became depressed, hopeless and frustrated. That's when I decided to go back to what I love, painting, and just do it for the enjoyment. I had no idea it would lead me to becoming a full-time professional artist and co-leader of an Art Community.
So looking back if I could give that insecure, passionate, talented, confused young woman some advice it would be..
- Follow your passion and heart, you don't need to have it all figured out
- Your challenges and hurts will lead to purpose
- Trust your intuition
- ‘Normal’ people are boring (lol)
- Be proud of who you are and your background
- Mindset is the most powerful tool you can leverage
It’s all too easy to think (as an artist) of all the reasons it won’t work, and label yourself as a dreamer for wanting to follow your passion as a career. Our economical system that’s driven by ‘hard work’, we are conditioned to believe as a working class adult the best we can hope for is enough money for a holiday once a year when we can finally relax and enjoy ourselves. You can however, choose to step out this paradigm like I have and follow a purpose driven by making the world a better place, through art.
I’m really passionate about inspiring and supporting other artists to unleash their creativity and believe it’s never been a better time to be an artist. I’m living proof, as a working class female, that it’s achievable and also necessary that our voices are heard more in the art world, as our experience yields important truths.
FAQs
How much time does this take up?
We recommend you spend 2 hours a week to get the most out of Art Hub. Throughout the month we drip feed content into The Art Hub, to pace you accordingly. All content is also recorded to watch back at your own pace.
Where is Art Hub?
Art Hub is an online community, and accessed through an app called Heart Beat. This is not on social media, so will be a personal private space for artists. You will access it through a phone, tablet or laptop.
How much is Art Hub?
Our membership is £20 per month. This includes all the activities, access to chat forums, and past content.
What experience do I need to take part?
Art Hub is for artists who have foundation skills and knowledge but want to take their art to the next level. If you're a beginner but have the ambition and confidence to try new things you're also welcome.
What if I can't make the live workshops?
All our workshops are recorded to watch back at your own leisure
What materials and equipment will I need?
You will need a sketchbook, basic drawing and painting materials to take part in all the activities. For the live workshops we release the equipment list in advance for you to prepare.
Who is Art Hub for?
Visual artists (predominately painters) who are looking to find their authentic voice, develop their art, connect with other artists and stretch themselves.
Not ready just yet?
If you'd like more time to see whether this is the right art membership for you, sign up below to get more info delivered to your inbox.
If you have any specific questions on Art Hub drop me an email: ruth.egon.art@gmail.com