Ruth was born in Turlock, California in 1954 and is a fifth generation Californian. Her family were some of the early pioneers that settled in the Fruitvale district of Oakland, Ca in 1856.
Ruth earned her B.F.A. in drawing from C.C.A.C. in Oakland, Ca. in 1987. She believes that a strong foundation in drawing is essential to painting well. In the years spent raising her three children Ruth painted and sculpted commercial artwork for the amusement park industry and worked on her fine art when she could.  For 22 years she worked as a dental hygienist two to three days a week in Santa Cruz, California, which allowed her the time and means to build her body of work. For the past 20+ years Ruth has shown and sold her work through juried exhibitions, Open Studios and local art galleries in the Monterey Bay area. She is committed to paint what inspires her emotionally and spiritually. Favorite subjects include landscape, still life and figurative works. Her creative energy is spent painting in plein air and in her studios. She is inspired by her love of the landscape in dramatic light situations and has been primarily a landscape painter in oils since 2009. Painting is now her full time profession and it has always been her passion. Ruth lives and paints in Watsonville, California and Bend, Oregon. She currently paints both California and Oregon landscapes. Artist memberships include MBPAPA, (signature member), PAPO, California Art Club, PVA and Assoc. member of The Carmel Art Association. She has taken workshops with Kathleen Dunphy, Barbara Jaenicke, and Scott Burdick amoung others.