Ruth’s interest in Australian animals is broad and constantly expanding. She depicts the everyday, commonplace, well known, and abundant creatures, as well as the rare and endangered, secretive and little known, or just plain unusual.
“My life is enriched by my relationships with animals. Over the years I have had the opportunity to get to know quite a few creatures at close quarters while they have been in my care.
“Sometimes I am able to get to know an animal intimately through first hand experience, other times I must research thoroughly. The challenge is always to capture the character, personality or essence of the animal and strive to give the work a life of it’s own.”
The animals you’ll find in Ruth’s collection include … frogs, lizards, snakes and bats … birds such as the pelican, forty-spotted pardalote, parrot, honeyeater, blue wren, wedgetail eagle, cockatoo and kookaburra … marine creatures including the octopus, weedy sea dragon, seahorses, green turtle, humpback whale and seal … our unique platypus, echidna, and marsupials — bilby, eastern quoll, koala, wombat and wallaby … possums are particularly featured — the ringtail, brushtail, sugar glider and diminutive pygmy possum. And of course, out extinct friends, the thylacine and dodo.
Some animals are created in brooch form only, others may exist as earrings, bracelet, pendant or ring. While in some designs the animal stands alone, others may be depicted in their natural environment.