REK Design

Ruth Kapcia is a painter who studied at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Originally from Michigan, she now calls Washington State home. The work of the Impressionists and Abstract Expressionists resonates strongly with Ruth. Frequent visits to art museums and galleries throughout her life inspired her passion for art from a young age. Currently working in the unappreciated and little-known medium of oil pastels, she explores the spatial relationships in landscapes, reinterpreting imagery inspired by the nature of the PNW. She creates visual interest from close and far away with her love of thick paint application and layering. Her work uses different techniques to explore the relationships between color, texture, and motion. Her oil pastels started with smooth, large strokes and flat textures. Still, they’ve progressively evolved over the years into more complex layering of color and textures for a more 3D effect. Ruth’s recent work explores using the medium in different ways, such as melting, exploring how the execution can work together (or against each other) to create energy and produce distinctive imagery. Ruth’s work targets engagement with the viewer. It guides an exploration of their interpretations, helping the audience connect more personally with the work rather than the artist dictating a specific viewpoint. While some of Ruth’s imagery might be self-explanatory, others can be left to the interpretation and imagination of the witness.