Meet Eric H. Ruiz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric H. Ruiz.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My love for art started at a young age. Some of my earliest memories are drawing dragon ball Z characters with my brother, and being conflicted by the fact that mine would always end up being worse than his. This, rather than discouraging me, motivated me to work hard and practice drawing until I became proud of what I would draw. I then started saving my artwork in 2001. This was also the time when I started to move away from anime, and found inspiration within lowriders and anything representative of my Hispanic roots. As a young kid I was intrigued by the gangster life, and could see myself being lost to it; I was a troubled student with bad grades, and was even held back one year.

During this time of my life I would use drawing as an escape, despite my inability to enroll in any art class. Finally, in 8th grade, I was placed in my first art class –advanced drawing. All my focus and energy were now being directed towards art. I enjoyed going to school and my overall grades started to improve. My teacher at the time, Mrs. Lozano, had an airbrush and allowed me to experiment with it. I entered an art competition and made my first airbrush painting. This prompted me to receive an honorable mention during a banquet, and a $300 prize. I was so happy and loved the feeling of that accomplishment. It was at that point in my life that my love for art started to mold me into a better version of myself. I was hooked after that experience and entered as many art competitions as I could, and started exploring the different areas of art.

Please tell us about your art.
I work mostly in 2D. I’m a mixed media artist and my style is all over there place! One day I can be painting pretty flowers with watercolor, highlighters and ink. Another day I can be painting a dark macabre piece only a few people would like. Then I would be making some surreal piece with inspiration from Dali mixed with things going on in our daily life.

I enjoy working with mixed media because I feel like it gives you a sense of freedom –you can use anything to make anything you want. Through this you find that a certain media works best to draw specific things, as well as which media mixes well with one another and which don’t. I’ve worked with everything from your regular acrylic paint, to color pencils, to shoe polish, highlighter, glue, magazines, Neverdull (a chrome polisher), and even Chlorox on black paper. I’m always up to try new things!

My inspiration comes from all over the place. From famous artist that have passed, to local upcoming artist. It also comes from music or poetry as well as the daily events in our lives or the things that are happening in our world.
Some of my pieces have messages of environmental awareness, while others represent the daily struggles we all face in our lives. There are also some pieces that will make you say “what the heck is going on here?” and I leave it up to the viewer to decide what it means to them. I do, however, draw simple pretty things, from time to time, just for fun and the viewers’ enjoyment.

Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
I think success is defined differently by each artist. From my point of view, being successful is being able to complete a piece of artwork for every idea that comes to me, as well as being able to display them in a gallery for an audience to admire. Subsequently, I believe that a very important characteristic every artist should have is being able to communicate well with others. Being able to tell the story of your artwork in a way the audience will be able to appreciate, and that will keep them intrigued and wanting more.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can check out my artwork on my Instagram page. You can follow me at eric_h_ruiz. I also do commission pieces so they can feel free to message me for a commission piece through Instagram, Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/e.ruiz.art) or send me an email at e.ruiz.art@gmail.com. I also post on Facebook if I have a show coming up and in which gallery they can find me.

Contact Info:

• Email: e.ruiz.art@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eric_h_ruiz/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/e.ruiz.art

Image Credit:
Photo of me painting was taken by my wife, Belinda Herrera.
Artwork pictures taken by me.

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.