Artist Statement

My art is primarily inspired by aspects of Asian culture, folklore, street art, fashion, nature and everyday life. I often like to use bright colors and bold lines inspired by vintage and retro comics. So, I usually prefer working with marker, pen and gouache paint while a good portion of my work is created digitally. 

I love storytelling. Growing up I adored reading fairytales, folklore and literature about far away lands and imaginary places. As an adult, I still treasure those stories, but I also appreciate life’s little moments that would otherwise be considered mundane - taking a walk, listening to music, watching the colors in the sky change. I would describe my work as a mixture of both of these things - snapshots of everyday life with a whimsical twist. 

Artist Bio

Ruby is a US based illustrator, designer and educator currently residing in Elk Grove, CA. She has her Bachelors degree in Studio Art from CSU Sacramento and is primarily self taught in digital illustration. Ruby also has certificates in Fashion Illustration & Merchandising from American River College and recently completed the Children’s Book Illustration program at UC San Diego. Her works are inspired by Asian culture, folklore, street fashion, nature, daily life, comic art and Pop Surrealism. 

She currently works as a freelance illustrator, concept artist, digital content creator and graphic designer and has been teaching workshops and classes in art for almost 15 years. She began her journey teaching as an after school art teacher for Dream Enrichment Classes in 2013 before founding her own business as Nature Tales Creative Studio in 2017. She also taught as an art teacher for Work of Art Studios in 2018 working with adults with disabilities and helping them to curate their portfolios as professional artists before eventually rebranding her own business as Blank Story Creative Studio in 2020. It was at this point that Ruby decided to pursue a career as a full time artist and business owner.

In addition to teaching art, Ruby has worked as a cultural arts teacher for Makamae Melia O’ Polynesia as an assistant director, choreographer and dancer for over over 20 years. She has exhibited her works locally throughout California as well as internationally in Japan and creates art for her illustration and apparel brand as well as for books, merchandise, murals and more. Her goal is to continue learning and growing creatively while helping others to do the same.