Artist Collaboration: Ruta Stan

I am ecstatic to announce my very first artist collaboration, featuring Ruta Stan, also my 100th post! I love her unique look at everyday things & her work is truly one of a kind! I cannot put into words how grateful I am that she responded to my desperate plea on an art Facebook group. Please enjoy & follow her!

1. Tell me about yourself & what made you the person you are today. I was born in Lithuania in 1986. In 2016, I moved to Oxford, UK. Throughout my life, since I was able to hold a pencil, I've been fascinated by visual arts. So, very naturally, I was drawn to painting and drawing and kept on doing that during my teenage years, which further developed when I opted to take my Bachelor's Degree In Fine Arts. But being unique isn't as easy as it might look. I've faced loads of negativity about my art and painting style, heard loads of comments that I shouldn't be doing what I am doing, and I gave up. I've been affected by the surrounding people so much that I forgot who I really am. I tried putting myself in so many different jobs, trying to "discover" myself, when finally, after 10 years, my inner artist voice said: "fuck the world, life is too short to do what you hate, what doesn't make you feel happy. All those experiences made me stronger and grew amour on my sensitive soul to be brave enough and confident about myself. To dare to express my self exactly how I feel.

2. My favorite piece is Tree of Life, seen above. I keep getting drawn back to it. I've always liked the Tree of Life, having it tattooed on me. I love your fresh take on it. What's the story behind that one? I that whole thing that falls into the subject Tree of Life I discovered when I first saw the movie The Fountain in 2006. During all these years I've been doing research about it and trying to imagine how my Tree of Life would look like. And then, one morning, when I was enjoying my morning coffee and watching the wind dancing in the trees, I threw open my window and saw the shadow between the trees, which reminded me of a woman's silhouette. That moment I finally realized how my Tree of Life looks like- exactly how you see in my piece now.

3. You have a unique style, how do you come up with each piece? I am an intuitive artist. So every piece I make comes out from my inside, through my imagination filter, affected by gained experience from different situations that are happening either to me or other people. And it can be absolutely various emotions. My art is how I see the world.

4. What message would you like to leave when people look at your art? Simply be brave to be yourself no matter what is happening.

5. Do you have a muse? I don't have a muse. But the source of my inspiration mainly comes from nature and the unique human personalities that I can meet every day. The difference in human bodies, characters, and expressions- that's the inspiration.

6. Do you have a favorite piece that you've done? My Favourite piece is Scream Pt.2. (Pictured below.) There are two versions of it. The first one is black & white, the second is colour rework. I love how it came out when I finished it. Happy of myself & how I was able to express exactly that emotion, that I felt when I was drawing it.

7. Who is an artist that you admire and why? Actually, there are two of them. The first one is Salvador Dali- amazing art pieces with incredible personality. His painting style and manner- are absolutely marvelous. The other one is Tim Burton, because of his extraordinary art and movies.

8. Do you have any advice for up-and-coming artists?  We all have our own vision of life, we all are different and unique personalities. Just do what your heart says, and don't be afraid to live your own life. It's never too late.

9. Do you have a favorite place that inspires you most? My favourite place is Sardinia. I keep on coming to this cosy island each year. It's the place to reboot myself.

10. What can we expect in the future from you? I am preparing for a few grand contests next year and hoping that finally, I'll get ready for my first exhibition after 10 years of break.

Please check out this very talented artist & feel free to ask your own questions.

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