Ruth Oosterman is a Canadian artist currently residing in Kingston where she works out of her home studio. Self-taught, she began exploring her creative side at a young age evolving into the artist she is today with work displayed at numerous exhibitions and private collections around the world.
The series, "Collaborations with my Toddler" has heavily influenced and inspired Ruth's artistic direction after it reached international fame in 2014. Prior to these collaborations with her two-year-old daughter, Eve, Ruth's style could be defined as structured and realistic with the occasional abstract flare.
Spending recent years collaborating with her children changed her artistic approach as she soaked in the spontaneous, carefree ideology of seeing art through her children's perspective. Painting side by side with her children, working simultaneously on paintings, has taught her to let go of control and be open to every and any possibility that can happen in the artistic process.
When a child paints there is no such thing as a "mistake" and that very reason is what gives them the freedom from the fear that holds back many artists from reaching their full potential. Being able to slow down and see the canvas from a child's perspective has given Ruth the priceless ability to see life in its true, raw form, something we all lose as we age. As Picasso so famously said, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.”
Ruth strongly believes art is not something to be contained and manipulated but rather meant to draw out the inner creativity in a raw, explosive manner. With "Collaborations with my Toddler" the concept is never known beforehand but developed throughout the process. It keeps both artists on their toes and pushes them to adapt to change, as art is always evolving. Mother and child become partners learning each others rhythm and flow in the dance called Art.
Ruth has adopted this fluid approach to her own solo work, learning to adapt and embrace any mistakes as limitless potential.
Working out of her home studio, Ruth is busy creating an exciting new series of paintings, illustrating children's books while continuing to collaborate side by side with her children, Eve, Theodore and Jojo.
If you want to inquire about custom commissions or simply say hi just use the CONTACT form to reach Ruth directly.