one of Ruth's beautiful bird drawings

Birds With An Attitude, a solo exhibit by Ruth Canada, will be on display in the gallery at Kirk-Bear Canyon Library January 3 – January 31, 2012. The exhibit features a series of vibrant bird paintings in acrylic, mixed media and watercolor that depict birds displaying human-like behaviors.

Canada, a signature member of the International Society of Acrylic Painters, Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona, Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild and Arizona Watercolor Society was awarded a competitive scholarship to study commercial art at the Chicago Academy of Fine Art and continued her fine art education at Northern Illinois University.

Art has been her passion since childhood. Raised in rural Illinois, Ruth developed a closeness and sensitivity to nature and animals. Retiring from her commercial art career to Arizona, her love of the Southwest is now reflected in her subjects and palette.

Meet the artist at a reception Sunday, January 22nd from 2-4 p.m. in the library’s meeting room.

"He who has the gold....rules", courtesy of the artist

I’ve enjoyed viewing Ruth’s acrylics and watercolors over the years, have purchased her note cards, and once luckily won a Giclee reproduction of her large watercolor painting “Blonde’s Duck” at Agua Caliente Park. As a former board member (3 years) at this Pima County Park, her colorful painting is a real treasure for me.

Statement from the artist from her website about painting birds:

My closeness to nature and sensitivity to animals is the result of growing up in rural Illinois. The current bird series is inspired by watching the desert birds outside my Tucson foothills studio. I see not only how they look, but what they do and how they act. Birds are a kick! They have behaviors and attitudes like people. Observing them, understanding their delights and struggles, intrigues me. I enjoy sprinkling my birds with a little humor just for fun. These contemporary bird paintings are rendered in my signature palette of brilliant to deep rich colors. The birds can startle a viewer or charm them into a smile.

One day, a vulture landed outside the studio. Its size amazed me. I began to research vultures and they quickly became one of my favorite birds. They are masters at soaring, conserving energy and going days between meals. I found also, these gentle birds are not predators. Some say they are ugly, but my painting, Two of a Kind, is saying… “not ugly if you are another vulture.”

To learn more about artist Ruth Canada:
Sunstone Artworks Studio
Tucson, Arizona
Phone 520-577-0664
RuthCanada@msn.com
www.RuthCanada.com

Kirk-Bear Canyon Branch library is located at 8959 E. Tanque Verde Rd. The library hours are Monday to Thursday, 10 to 8 p.m., Friday 10 to 5 p.m., Saturday 9 to 5 p.m., Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.