We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ruby R Scott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ruby R, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I am deeply concerned about our wasteful society and its devastating effects on our global environment. In response, I have created a mixed media collection of paintings that incorporate upcycled and repurposed materials—such as paper, plastic, metal, grocery bags, tags, cardboard, string, and other interesting items I encounter. My goal is to be part of the solution to our throwaway culture, showing that beauty can arise from even the most unlikely sources. These artworks illustrate that we can all contribute to creating beauty in the world, whether by making art from discarded materials or by supporting and purchasing transformed works that might otherwise end up in a landfill.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am Ruby R Scott, a published visual artist and owner of Arts a Daisy Gallery LLC, Suite 114 of the Sawyer Yards Silos, Houston, Texas, located in the largest arts district in the nation. I specialize in painting large acrylic and mixed media paintings using upcycled, repurposed materials. My taste in art is displayed in a wide range of styles: abstract, figurative-abstract, impressionism, realism, modern, and contemporary. My color and composition choices are examples of emotions I am trying to project, both vivid and passionate. I have been a creative for many years, opening my art gallery in 2022. I am an active member of Women in Visual and Literary Arts (WiVLA), Visual Arts Alliance (VAA), Houston Visual Artists Network (HVAN), Coeur d’Alene Arts & Culture Alliance (CDAACA) and The Houston Club. I have facilitated art enrichment courses and participated in invitation-only shows and juried shows throughout the state of Texas. I recently exhibited at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show 2024 as an invited artist representing the City of Houston. I was recently involved in a collaborative project with published author and poet Gabrielle Langley. I painted “On Pointe,” a lovely painting of a ballet dancer, in response to her poem “My Father Makes Me Dance On Pointe” – Marie Taglioni 1822, about Marie Taglioni, a ballet dancer of the 1800s who was the first in ballet to dance on pointe. The painting and poem are currently on exhibition, and the book of visual and literary artists’ collection of artworks, including my painting, has been published in a table top book.
I provide original artwork to my collectors. My desire is that each of my collectors have a one-of-a-kind piece that is their prized possession alone.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Today, being an artist involves much more than creating gorgeous art pieces. It involves marketing oneself. Now, because of social media, artists often represent themselves. We often are independent of gallery representation, although that can undoubtedly have perks. The downfall of self-representation is just that: self-representation, keeping up with our own representation through social media presence, pursuing connections, being present in the gallery every day, moving art, framing art, applying for shows, photography, etc.
Apart from creating art, which I do even when vacationing, I find the most rewarding aspect of being a visual artist is when a collector makes a solid connection with my art. I thoroughly enjoy the excitement the collector brings to the art.
My audience on social media is just getting started. I wasn’t on social media for several years, and when I got back on, things had changed dramatically. I didn’t even know how to make a post, reel, or story. It’s only been since I opened the gallery that I’ve been on Instagram. I believe posting daily is essential. My followers are the real thing. To my knowledge, I don’t have fake followers, and especially not for the sake of having a large number. I believe in
authenticity in my personal life and social media, as well as in what I create. People seek authenticity. We gravitate towards it.
Just in the Houston area alone, there are 6.5 million people, 6.5 million people to reach with my art. I have a lot of work to do. I hand out business cards in the grocery line, restaurants, elevator, and everywhere. I think it’s unwise to decide in advance and make assumptions about whether anyone will find the heart for what you create or if they can afford it.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Creatives often overlook the business side of art, but it is equally important and sometimes more valuable than producing the piece itself. Without marketing, who will know about it or appreciate it?
Most people wouldn’t know it from talking to me, but I am an introvert. I have personally had to push myself to put myself out there. An example of that was when I was to attend a meeting in downtown Houston alone, not knowing a single soul. I made every excuse in my mind not to attend. In the end I set my fears aside, I went, made connections, and because of those connections, had my first solo exhibition. It was a win-win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ArtsaDaisyGallery.com
- Instagram: @artsadaisygallery
Image Credits
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