Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Ruehe.
Amber, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
When I was about two years old, my mother started me with finger paints and I was apparently in awe of what I could create. Since then, I haven’t stopped creating some form of art. In 2007, I graduated from Florida State University with a BS in studio art, but I knew nothing about business or marketing. It wasn’t until about six years ago that I took it from a side job to a more serious endeavor. At that time we were living in Germany and both the art and culture was absolutely intoxicating! The history and inspirations were endless. The architecture and skilled artisans were all around and they were appreciated for their craft. It was a breath of fresh air to see the appreciation for art in its true form. It was then that I realized I needed to get over my fears and just take the plunge. When we moved back to the states I continued to use all the inspirations of Europe to drive my art business into what it is today!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
What business doesn’t have its challenges? I know for me I continue to have my highs and lows, but it’s my dedication to my craft and the support of my family and clients that keeps me going. My biggest challenges have been marketing and navigating the business side of the art world. I have had the help of other artist and art blogs to tackle this new and ever evolving world. There are always new challenges, but when you want something so bad that you can’t function without it for just one second you figure it out! Even though this has morphed into a more serious/business learning activity, for me the stress relief and calm provided by having an artistic outlet is what gets me through the tough days.
Please tell us about AmbersNature Art.
I specialize in acrylic paintings on canvas. I’m mostly known for my sea turtles and the unique color and texture I incorporate in them. Most of my clients enjoy the color and texture as much as I do, so they know when they are buying an original they are getting not just high-quality work and materials but also something unique and interesting. I use professional acrylic paint on all sizes of stretched canvas. I paint wet using a paintbrush so that I can manipulate the colors without making them muddy. Each painting created is one of a kind and unique to my impressionistic/realistic style. Sometimes when I can’t come up with an idea I either pray about it or I go out and get a new perspective. It sounds simple but I have come up with some pretty crazy ideas using those techniques. What sets me apart from other artist is my unique brushstrokes and the combinations of color I use in each piece. I also combine unique creatures together to create something unusual you wouldn’t normally see with more mainstream art.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would have added in business and marketing major alongside my art degree. Social media has really changed the way artists get their creations out into the modern world, and I had no idea how useful marketing could be in this business. I have certainly gained some traction but it has been mostly “on the job training”. 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ambersnatureart.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ambersnature_art/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/amber.ruehe
Image Credit:
Heather Biance with xoxophotographyfl was the photographer I used.
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