Ruth Ellen Hoag

Having been a musician all my life, I come to painting through a side door, from a world of sound to a visual one, but the language is the same: tones, harmony, rhythm, color. In this visual art, I enjoy using watercolor as an oil painter would, fresh from the tube and without an overabundance of water. This direct use of paint brings a distinctive dynamic to the medium, from vivid and strong, to soft and contemplative. Drawn to the figurative genre, I find musicians, dancers, cowboys, skateboarders, anyone involved in activity, as engaging subjects. The intention is to have movement and mood resonate throughout the painting plane. More quiet subjects, such as landscapes and nude studies, can be intimate and serene. As my work evolves, it's progressively more about expression, than specific subject matter. I love using the figurative as a view to an inner reality, of thoughts, of music and poetry.

In the last few years my paintings have been in numerous national and international exhibits. This year, Jumpin Jive was accepted in Watercolor West 40th Annual Exhibition. Sideman has won two awards in the San Diego Watercolor Society s International Show. And last year, Red Tango was also awarded in The San Diego Watercolor Society Annual International Exhibit. Team Penning is at the New Jersey Equine Artist s Association Annual Exhibit, Art of the Horse . Accomplishment this year also includes a major exhibit at the A.E. Backus Museum in Florida, and publication in Palette watermedia magazine in the Spring, 08 issue.

For more information, recent solo and group shows, publications, or resumé, please contact the artist.