View from the Edge

I created this 24”H x 36”W acrylic painting of Austin, Texas’ iconic Pennybacker Bridge, which spans over Lake Austin on Highway 360, specifically for my two grandchildren’s elementary school PTA fundraiser this past month. I am delighted that it was auctioned for a high price, and coincidentally to the daughter of the lead designer and architect of this bridge. He passed away in 2024. the buyer/daughter is a parent at the school and I am delighted for my painting to have this special connection, as well as to help out with the education of the children of the school.

"Tree Mates" Awarded Second Place

Juror Lynn Ferris, AWS, NWS, TWSA, awarded my watercolor painting, Tree Mates, (on the left in the photo above) second place in Waterloo Watercolor Group’s 47th Annual Spring Membership Exhibit. Lynn stated about this painting, “Wonderful use of color. Wonderful patterns. The design pulls you in and the colors lead you through the painting. Excellent use of negative space. This is a painting that could easily have two focal points, but the artist has skillfully created a more dominant one and a secondary one for balance.” This exhibit was held at Bee Cave Arts Foundation Hive Gallery, 12912 Hill Country Blvd, Suite F160, Austin, TX 78738 from April 2 - May 4, 2025. This painting is 27”H x 18”W, framed 36” H x 24” W. It was inspired by the cardinals in the trees in my backyard.

Also juried into this exhibit is “Spice Market”, (painting on the right in photo above) watercolor, 18”H x 30”W, framed 24”H x 36”W. This is a scene in a market in Bangalore from my travels in India.

"Cosmos and Hydrangeas" Awarded Third Place

Cosmos and Hydrangeas, 22” x 28”, was awarded Third Place in Waterloo Watercolor Group’s 47th Annual Juried Fall Exhibit. Michael Holter, AWS, NWS, juror, states, “This is a more traditional watercolor. There is a nice contrast of lights and deep darks. The composition works well: the main flower is off to the right of center, with other flowers balancing it on the left. The light cool shadows and patterns within the flowers are just right and show the shapes. There is a nice variety in the shadows: some are warm, some are cool, and some have reflected light.”

"Market Fruit Sellers" Awarded Judges Choice

Martha’s painting Market Fruit Sellers traveled on to the WWG & CAS Canopy Show in Austin Texas and on June 1, 2024 was awarded Judge’s Choice by judge Don Andrews, AWS. He stated, “I just love the organization of the backlighting behind the figures – who are just waiting for a customer to come by. All of the fruits and all of the background is wonderfully handled in that nothing takes away from the expressions and the gestures of the figures. Wonderful watercolor painting.”

"Market Fruit Sellers" Awarded First Place

Juror Ric Dentinger awarded Martha’ Paisley Ruth’s Market Fruit Sellers First Place in Waterloo Watercolor Group’s 47th Spring Membership exhibit on April 21, 2024. He wrote about this painting, “The values are fantastic in this painting. The darks and lights are strong, particularly the light behind the man. Confidence comes through. The artist knows where she is going with the colors and brushstrokes and knows where to take the viewer’s attention. The storytelling is good.”

Martha Paisley Ruth Awarded WWG Honorary Member

Martha Paisley Ruth is awarded Waterloo Watercolor Group’s 2023 Honorary Member Award for her years of volunteering for this central Texas art organization promoting education and appreciation of water mediums, as well as other contributions in the Austin, Texas area promoting fine arts in the community. Below is Martha’s acknowledgement of this honor:

Thank you for distinguishing me with Waterloo’s Honorary Member Award. It has been an enriching pleasure for me to serve in many capacities for WWG. Waterloo’s mission of education and the selfless volunteering by many members to make and keep Waterloo such a vibrant organization reminds me of the impact my parents, many of my teachers, neighbors, co-workers, and friends had in my life choices. I witnessed these people passionately share their time and expertise with me and others. They truly cared.

I began my professional career employed and eventually freelancing as a graphic designer/art director for 18 years. When my children were in elementary school I began offering after-school, evening and summer group drawing and painting classes for 15 years. I realize how this in-depth variety of experience gave me a great foundation for using my skills for volunteering and giving back to my community. One learns best by doing! Facilitating others’ appreciation of art and growth in drawing and painting has been my greatest joy.

When I joined WWG in 1996, I asked if there were extracurricular activities – and of course, got the job! For the first three years, monthly I arranged for and found locations to offer members a variety of free, one-day workshops from our volunteer members about painting techniques and figure drawing, lecturers, painting-on-location, parties, and discounted bus trips to art museums -- many of which took me out of my comfort zone but opened a whole new world of learning and growth for me. Of course, all this led to my creating monthly camera-ready pages for the newsletter to advertise these activities, chairing shows, creating painting labels, brochures, publications’ ads for our shows, obtaining awards from businesses, making our group’s new name tags, for several years creating the camera-ready prospectuses for our two annual shows, and years of serving on the Board in many capacities.

When I moved to the Apache Shores neighborhood in 2005, as a resident I was able to contract their community hall for meetings, demos, and workshops for Waterloo Watercolor Group, Austin Pastel Society, and the Waterloo-sponsored 1-day workshops for the children of CASA of Travis County. I also arranged for discounted frame and brush sales with vendors.

I organized fundraising and handled the hall’s new lighting, ceiling, paint, and repairs of the kitchen/ bathrooms. WWG was able to have free storage for their supplies at this hall for many years. This led to my helping and then VP/Co-chair for the bi-annual WWG workshops in the Hall through 2012. I’ve given demos, workshops, and presentations for WWG members.

In 2005 I arranged for the free use of the hall for painting activities. It began as free days to learn from those who took the WWG week-long workshops and grew to become the 620 Group, a weekly painting/ critique group in whatever mediums the individual artists wish. We even offered monthly figure drawing sessions for a time. I’ve kept the group “going” by creating my monthly News emails and membership directory. It’s been a dynamic group of 105 artists so far over the years, even with moving to new locations. To date, I’ve arranged for over 50 Home/Studio Tours by our members, paint-outs, parties, and museum trips. And the artists have had many art shows & sales in the various venues around Austin.

As most of you know, when one is involved with one arts group, it overlaps with others! Through the years I’ve volunteered in most of the jobs for Austin’s Capitol Art Society; juried art exhibitions; RRISD’s research/ instruction for presentations for Art in the Classroom, created backdrops for school musical presentations, invitations/PR for high school functions; in Tucson AZ I was elementary school PTA VP/Fundraising, school designs for apparel and a new library floorplan, check-out desk/bookshelves and painted 19 murals, newsletters/activities for a new mothers’ association and my neighborhoods, and assisted in activities for Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Tucson Advertising Club, and Binghamton NY’s Public Relations Society of the Southern Tier; and I created posters, banners, brochures for various churches. You can read more about my history, paintings, and awards on this website.

Coreopsis Diptych

During the shelter-in-place time of the covid pandemic I was inspired to paint two 72”H x 36”W gallery-wrap canvases for a finished 72” x 72” diptych for my home. After I completed the first half — the left canvas — I created this video for fun during the week of Austin’s February 2021 Big Freeze when we were all stuck at home again! It shows the evolution of my painting process. Hopefully someday I will complete this video to show the entire diptych completed. But for now, I’d rather paint! I hope you find this short video enjoyable!!

Judging New Braunfels Art League Show

It was an honor and a privilege for me to be asked to judge New Braunfels Art League Gallery’s “Small Works for the Big Holidays” Show. A fun and diverse exhibit of beautiful paintings and functional and wearable art perfect for Holiday gift giving. Check it out! The show runs from Nov 15 - Dec 31, 2018.

Three different types of watercolor painting in "The Many Faces of Watercolor" Exhibit

For this special exhibit by eight artists from Waterloo Watercolor Group in Austin, Texas, I chose to submit three different types of watercolor paintings to show you some of “The Many Faces of Watercolor”. At the Reception this Saturday, Sept 15, 4:00 - 6:00 pm, Lost Pines Art Center’s Main Gallery, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop, Texas 78602, I will be demonstrating painting transparent watercolor on gesso-coated paper as shown in my third entry below. This show runs August 3 – Sept 30, 2018.

Exhibited in this show is Red Within Yellow No. 2 is an example of the combination of transparent watercolor with opaque watercolor gouache painted on 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper. This still life painting is an award winner of mine that shows my enjoyment of the combination of patterned fabric with transparent glass. $950.00, Image 21 3/4” H x 29” W, Framed 30” H x 38” W

My second entry Wine Time is also an award winning example of transparent watercolor on YUPO synthetic paper. This slick, slippery surface makes for wonderfully flowing pigments. When painting on this surface, one is always surprised with the outcome! $400, Image 23”H x 16”W, Frame 29”H x 22”W

My third painting in this exhibit, Sunlight on Pears is an example of transparent watercolor on gesso-coated 140 lb. Arches watercolor paper. This technique offers more subdued colors and allows the artist to lift color easily to achieve interesting lighting effects. $250, Image 10”H x 13” W, Frame 16”H x 20” W.

"The Many Faces of Watercolor" Exhibit at Lost Pines Art Center, Bastrop

This show runs August 3 – Sept 30, 2018 and is located at the Lost Pines Art Center’s Main Gallery, 1204 Chestnut St, Bastrop, Texas 78602. During our Reception this Saturday, Sept 15, 2018, I will demonstrate painting transparent watercolor on gessoed paper.