Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordyn Ruiz.
Hi Jordyn, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I was a kid, I have naturally been drawn to art. I would draw superheroes for classmates in elementary school in exchange for play money that allowed me to visit the treasure chest for exciting toys. This young entrepreneurial spirit continued through middle school and high school, where I created commissioned drawings and paintings for friends and family.
However, I decided to pursue other interests in college that would provide a more secure life. Thus, silencing art for four years. Although I received many compliments on my artwork growing up, I always heard a voice of negativity saying that art could not be anything more than a hobby. I listened to that voice of negativity for far too long.
In 2020, the pandemic destabilized life as we knew it.
The months of isolation granted me much needed time to reflect on how I wanted to live my life moving forward. The stillness of self-reflection reignited the creative spark I had within me all along. As a result, I made necessary adjustments to my career goals and I began to integrate art into my life again.
I graduated with a Master’s of Science in Business in December of 2021 and I began my small art business in January of 2022.
Today, I am actively creating art that expresses my emotions and exemplifies lessons I learned in my life to provide inspiration and added beauty to the lives I encounter with my artwork.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey back to myself has not been a smooth road.
I struggled with self-doubt and seeing a future for myself in the art world because it was not familiar to me. With any sort of change comes unknown territory. Venturing into the unknown is scary and can inhibit oneself from ever seeking beyond familiarity into the unseen, but that is where the magic is.
I recognized the importance of taking bold chances to expand myself in dimensions that are unexplored, because that is the only way I can grow as a person and as an artist.
In that exploration, I discovered that ultimate success is being at peace with yourself and pursuing goals meaningful to you and to you alone. Now, I cannot imagine a life that is devoid of creating art and sharing it with others.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a 24-year-old traditional and digital artist.
I specialize in oil painting, colored-pencil art, and digital art. My artistic style incorporates autobiographical elements and surrealist imagery. I am influenced greatly by the great surrealist artists such as Salvador Dalí and Frida Kahlo.
I am most proud of exploring my art style beyond realism and allowing my imagination to guide my current artistic ideas.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People that know my work may not know that I am a self-taught artist.
I spent years practicing with colored pencils which gave me the confidence to transition into different mediums, such as oil paint.
I continue to refine my current skills to learn more about how to improve as an artist because I am always a student at this craft.
My motto is “Ancora imparo” an Italian phrase meaning “Still, I am learning.”
Contact Info:
- Email: jordynruizart@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Jordynruizart
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordynruizart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordynruizart
