Meet Teresa Ruiz: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Ruiz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
My friends have played a grand role in my life and whether it’s outside of work or during work, I find I’m at my happiest when I’m around them. It’s easier to forget the horrors of the world around me when I’m focusing on nothing else than the people I surround myself with who bring good energies, chaotic vibes, and overall good emotions. They’re there for me when I need them and just as they put in their share of work and patience with me, I try to give my all back for them. Life isn’t always nice, so it’s nice to surround myself with the people I call friends.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is an extension of myself. I like to think it’s what I can’t express in words; things I cannot say out loud in fear I will never be understood. I’m always excited to talk about it and it’s only because I am proud to express myself artistically. I’m here because of my pain, my sadness, my joy, and my experiences throughout life so far; having an outlet such as this has been a blessing as it’s my main escape from the world and I pour everything onto my art. It’s not entirely easy- the main focus in my art is emotion and the object is always me. The process is emotional as is and sometimes it takes time for me to look at it and finish it. Memories, emotions, hidden messages that only I myself know are sketched and painted on canvas and it’s satisfying when done. I pride myself in leaving them up to interpretation, but only I know the real meaning behind them. The main challenges are having the motivation to start and finish. Each painting is a journey of its own, having to bring an issue that plagues me and confronting it on canvas until I am done. I’ve learned to heal through my art, even if it’s just a little. What I want everyone to know is that yes, my art is dark, but at the same time, it’s beautiful because it evokes emotion, it carries my anguish, it envelops all hurt that I feel and proudly displays it even if not many will know the true meaning behind it. I want to create art and inspire others to do the same- to create art in the name of creative emotional expression, to find better ways of coping and at least have a moment where they can engulf themselves in another world of their own, to have an escape where the outcome is their very own masterpiece with which to heal with.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Definitely Skyview Atlanta would be my first choice! Skyview would give us the best view in Atlanta as we board a gigantic Ferris Wheel in the heart of Atlanta. I like it primarily because it provides a sense of calmness and it almost feels as though my problems are below me. I would recommend traveling by horse carriage- an fun option to travel and sight see. The High Museum of Art would be my next go-to, followed by the Georgia Aquarium. These places are hotspots as they provide art and underwater glory. The glowing jellyfish hall is my favorite! Lastly, the Selfie Museum! While Atlanta has many spots for selfies and sightseeing, the Selfie Museum provides fun room and backdrops for those obsessed with taking good pictures! Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this ShoutOut moment to my friend Carlos for being the friend he is and for believing I can be someone better and Rahel for bringing the sunshine to my cloudy days. It’s hard to swim on my own in deep waters, and with friends like them, I can at least see where the sun shines through and guide myself to a place where I know I’ll be safe and welcomed. I’d like to recognize my coworkers for being supportive in their own ways and for having the patience to walk with me, Ms. Cindy Santoyo especially. As it goes, I’d also like to thank the friends I’ve lost for allowing me to grow into who I am and have given me experiences that I can only hope and wish to make me wiser.

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Image Credits
Painted, photographed, and edited by artist.