Ruth Scotch

Trying to find the color of light is something that I have pursued in my paintings for years, no matter what the subject matter of that period. I am fascinated by the way the color reflected on a person or thing is altered depending on the light and the environment. With the play of light on the figure in water, there is much to explore: the color of light, reflection, and distortion as well as a gesture that relates to a sense of place and moment. My pool paintings satisfy my aesthetic passions, while enabling me to explore a subject that gives me a sense of peace in these turbulent times. I was lucky enough to have been awarded a weeklong residency on an island in Maine last summer where I took a deeper dive (no pun intended) into people in water (as many of the island residents as well as my daughter were kind enough to pose for me). From those photos I have been working on a group of large paintings. This series is mostly comprised of a single figure in a pool that evokes a sense of calm, peace, and serenity. These paintings are created predominantly using a palette knife, so they have a visually arresting sense of texture.

View Exhibitions on Ruth's Profile Page.