Meet Don Ruth | Graphic Designer, Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Don Ruth and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Don, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have been “doing” art since I was five years old. I found out early on that I was good at drawing. While in middle school whenever we did still life drawing or drawing people in art class, I realized I could do it pretty well and I received affirmations from those around me. When in high school, although I was an athlete, I also participated in the arts in a big way–choir and art classes. It was in those art classes in high school that I realized I wanted to be in art somehow. So, in college I earned a fine arts degree with a business minor. I had no idea what commercial art was, what a graphic designer was, but I loved to draw, to paint–to just create. Out of college I found myself in the graphic design field–but back then it wasn’t call that. I found myself in the publishing field doing paste up, working on magazine. Soon I was working for a different company as the creative director for a trade magazine and for the next 20-some years that’s what I did, doing illustrations, designing covers, producing magazines–creating. I loved it.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Although at this point I still work 40 hours a week at a job, what I’m starting to get into more and more is painting mostly scenery using mostly watercolor, but also pastels, oil pastels, acrylic. I’m not a realist per se, but my scenes are realistic in a post-impressionistic way. Those painters were about paint on canvas, not intended to be photo realistic. I have a similar philosophy. I started doing art festivals before the pandemic, had only done a couple shows when everything shut down. So in that year I painted almost every weekend and built up a large supply of original paintings, which I sell at the festivals for a modest price. in 2021 I participated in four festivals and in 2022 I intend to expand to eight festivals and hope to participate in art walks, but the pandemic has slowed that prospect still. I believe I’m set apart by the fact I sell originals. Most of the artists at several shows only sell prints. People come up and ask if I sell originals or just prints–I’m proud to tell them mine are original. I’m not were I want to be professionally, but I’m gradually expanding my outreach. Its not easy with a full-time job and other life events I must deal with, but I’m gradually growing, but I would characterize my self as in the infancy of being an artist and taking baby steps. I’m learning what festivals are worth my while and which ones are not worth attending. What has been about a third of my business is commission work for people–portraits, pictures of loved ones who have passed away, pets, vehicles and scenery. I work remotely and have shipped paintings all over the country.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course I would take those who are not from around here to the mountains; I’d take them to one of the mountain passes, like Guanella Pass, for example and do some hiking. Then we’d go to one of the mountain towns and have a meal. What we are doing with some visitors is renting an Air BnB house in Frasier, CO to go tubing, cross country skiing and snow shoeing. The Bug Theater in Denver is a fun little theater that not only has plays, but also hosts movie festivals.

Visiting the Denver Art Museum is always a great experience and right across the street of the modern art museum is the Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art. A favorite restaurant is the Acova across the street from the Bug Theater on Navajo Street in Denver. The Denver Zoo and Science Museum will take up two days to explore. Going to one of our professional sports teams games are always worth the time and expense. I love the baseball games because one can have good conversation as well as enjoy sports.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Many people contributed to helping me to be who I am. My parents taught me the ethic of working hard. I had some football coaches, coach Hauck and coach Ewing, who taught me to not give up, to push. Ben Steele was one of my art professors in college in drawing and painting–he informed me that I was talented, which gave me the confidence to move forward in my aspirations. Brad was the man that hired me as a graphic artist for the first big publishing company I worked for in Denver. I eventually landed with a crew of people with whom I worked with for 15 to 20 years, they liked my work and kept using me. But probably the most influential in that group was my publisher Rob Steurk. Even through he was the publisher, he is an accomplished photographer and pushed me to work to be better, to not accept mediocre work. Later, Athena Staton used me in a free lance capacity to do a once-a-year show daily magazines as the creative director where I designed feature articles. Finally, my wife, Audrey, and son, Tim, encouraged me to get back to my roots and start painting again after all the publishing years ended. That has rescued me from a so-what existence, and catapulted me into an fine arts life that I’ve only begun to explore.

Website: donruththeworks.com

Instagram: donruth27