Art: Oil Paintings
Flowers, people and everyday objects come to life when local artist Kerry Ruschhaupt picks up a paintbrush. Torn paper and old photos are also transformed into art with she works in collage. Before starting a new project, Kerry reviews photos she has taken and starts sketching ideas. Then she plays with color.
“This is my way of communicating,” said Kerry. “Sometimes you can say so much more with color than words.”
As sun streams through the window of her in-home studio, Kerry addresses a large canvas. Containers of colored pencils and a plethora of paints beckon her artistic muse.
“I think I have always been creating art in some form,” said Kerry. “My favorite part is when I finally get lost in the process of creating and the painting takes me in new directions.”
From Art Studies to Art Connections
After graduating from Marian College and taking art classes at John Herron, Kerry began her career as an architectural illustrator. She created pen & ink sketches of homes for builders in Indiana and Illinois. Then she spent several years working in colored pencil and took classes at the Indianapolis Art League (now the Indianapolis Art Center) in botanical illustration.
“When I was younger I was more concerned with detail–now I am always looking for ways to convey a feeling or idea,” said Kerry. “Art for me has become more about what I am feeling at a certain moment, more of a language than just another mode of recording images.”
Three years ago, she began painting in oils after taking a class downtown at the Stutz building. Kerry enjoys working on large canvases but also loves painting mini canvases she calls “Art Connections”.
“They are fun and quirky, like a charm bracelet for your house,” said Kerry. “I like the way you can take several small canvases and by linking them together come up with one cohesive piece of art.”
Artistic Inspiration:
Kerry’s uncle is a painter and her grandfather was always building or making something while she was growing up. Both men inspired Kerry to follow her artistic passion. Ellie Siskind, a favorite teacher at Marian College, also inspired Kerry to paint. When asked what fuels her art and what medium she works in, Kerry painted two mini canvases shown here. One is of a coffee cup, her fuel, and the other a tube of paint and a brush, her medium.
“My inspiration comes from simple everyday moments that bring me joy,” said Kerry. “The beautiful color of cranberries in a colander, or the way our kitty looks all curled up in a sunbeam. Painting is my way to express how I feel at those moments.”
When she’s not painting, Kerry enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with other artist friends and her husband and two teenage sons. Kerry’s artwork is in private collections and can be seen locally at Gallery 116 in downtown Fishers and in Gourmet Grounds coffee shop on Olio Road.
Artist of the Month Registration:
The Fishers Arts Council (FAC) will feature a different Artist on its website each month. Local actors, dancers, musicians, painters, writers and ceramic/glass/metal/textile artists are encouraged to apply online.