Right out of high school, I started working in a historical museum and was there for 10 happy years as the curator’s assistant. I learned nomenclature, built dioramas, catalogued old photographs, and spent hours researching and identifying curious old objects. My favorite items in the museum were the intricately beaded Anishinaabe moccasins, bandolier bags and porcupine quill baskets.
I studied graphic design and illustration in college, but ended up pursuing my Master’s in English after a stint in the Peace Corps. I taught English in Botswana–out in a small village in the Kalahari–and after that, bounced around a bit trying to figure out what I really wanted to do. I’ve worked in restaurants; lived in my car for a summer while collecting data on birds and bird habitat; taught computer courses; built websites; taught composition at two different universities as an adjunct and later full time instructor; served as Department Chair; became Director of a Writing Across the Curriculum program (which oversaw our composition department and writing center); presented research from California to Paris; co-authored and edited several books (on composition, critical thinking, and innovation); and did plenty of marketing and graphic design along the way.
I’ve always been drawn to lines. I understood why my art professors hounded me to explore shape and texture instead of focusing on lines, but I was obsessed with them. Especially curvy lines. Circles and spirals. Lines inspired by the natural world and lines that intersected and created patterns. I now know what to do with those lines: illustrate books for coloring enthusiasts to work their own magic.
My first book, the Artist Edition Ruby Charm: 25 Artful Illustrations for Coloring Enthusiasts, was completed in July of 2017. I also self-published an Artist Edition “Black Magic” coloring book (which was printed entirely on black card stock, sported a hand embossed cover, and is now completely sold out). I then published the Ruby Charm Colors Adult Coloring Art Journal Volume 1 and Volume 2 in the fall of 2018. And then the Creative Companion 2019 Organizer and Coloring Art Journal around Thanksgiving. Insectimaginary (featuring eclectic, fanciful insects) was published in May, 2019.
I am currently working on another new coloring book (planned for fall of 2019) as well as a new Creative Companion for 2020.
I also continue to add to my collection of downloadable digital coloring pages available at RubyCharmColors on Etsy and sell my Artist Edition books, too.
In addition to creating art for coloring, when I have time I design home goods and accessories (like notebooks, journals, coffee mugs, pillows, throws and tote bags) based on my illustrations as well as my acrylic paintings. They can be found in my Threadless Artist Shop and my Society6 Shop.
My favorite social media platform is my Instagram account. I am there checking in with other artists and coloring fanatics and posting updates more than anywhere else, but if you are on Facebook you can check out my RubyCharmColors page and join the RubyCharmColors Community to share your colorings of Ruby Charm illustrations, ask questions, share techniques and more. I also throw in a few surprise give-away illustrations now and then!
For inquiries, you can reach me at my old-school email address (does anyone else still use hotmail?)
For those wanting to help support an independent artist, I do accept donations that help me purchase equipment and much needed art supplies through Paypal – thank you!
