To begin, I think like so many young girls, I loved to paint and draw at a very young age. Seventy years ago life was so very different, before computers, mobile phones, the world wide web and social media. I loved nature and all kinds of animals, especially my English grey and white bunny and my tortoises, plus a great love of horses. Television came in when I was five and I adored the American Westerns, cowboys and Indians and horses. I learnt to ride at eight years old and rode until I was twenty. I remember the pleasure of grooming and cleaning tack, just being around the horses in every way was a pleasure. These times provided continued inspiration throughout my artistic career.
At an early age my parents took us to Europe on holiday and it was in my early teens I first saw the majesty of the Italian Renaissance, the excitement of the nude figure in Art. I had already fallen in love with Greek mythology and now I could fall in love with Michelangelo. My father who was a doctor taught me human biology at ‘O’ level, which I so enjoyed, and which helped me with my drawing skill. At ‘A’ level I did Art drawing and painting plus Art History and Art. My desire to continue straight to Art school was shattered when my father said, “You need a profession”.
My father said,
“You need a profession”
Having worked alongside him providing Dental Recovery nursing to earn some pocket money, he took it upon himself to find me a profession! In 1966, after having studied French and Italian painting, I now found myself studying children’s dentistry! (to train as a Dental Auxiliary – now Dental Therapist). I was very angry as my passion was art, but I did find enjoyment in my love of anatomy, I certainly became very proficient in detailed head and neck anatomy and learned very controlled manual dexterity. Two years of study, two years working and two years teaching in the West Indies, it is 1972 and I finally go to art School at the age of 24 and as a mature student.
I completed my foundation studies at Harrow School of Art in 1972, under Ken Howard R.A. He was one of my greatest influences in terms of learning to look. Further learning with Roy Rogers in terms of the skill of painting. Between 1973 and 1980 a lot of my time was taken up with family and when my children were at school I attended the Camden Art Centre under Krystina Dyeshco, focusing on abstract art until 1990. From 1990 – 1992 I studied art and design at St Alban’s School of art. From 1993 onwards I started to concentrate on Sculpture with Cheryl Gould at her studio, plus life drawing at Harrow Art Centre. In 2000 I went to the University of Hertfordshire to specialise in Sculpture under Paul Bainbridge (from Madam Tussaud’s), and sculpture has been a great love of mine since. My work has been exhibited at the Camden Art Centre, Harrow Art Centre and the University of Hertfordshire.
In 2006 with my husband now retired we made the decision to live part time in sunny Florida. It was my intention to fill our home with painting and sculpture inspired by the feelings of being in the tropics. This passion started when I worked in Jamaica for two years in my twenties. The vibrant colours, beautiful people, culture and music. These feelings were increased when we travelled to other Caribbean islands, each one unique in its music and culture. It was at this time my interest in the history of black slavery happened and the current Black Lives Matter movement made me consider the terrible prejudices that still exist between black and white. Living and working in Jamaica I appreciated the beauty of the people and tropical paradise which surrounded me, but I was also aware of the pain, poverty and prejudice that was so evident. The Caribbean islands all so beautiful and each island unique, but such sadness too. I always recall the words of Bob Marley, ‘Always looking for Zion’. These themes have featured strongly throughout my work.
Now at the mature age of 76, I am finally writing for my first website. I am a mother of two beautiful strong women and the grandmother of two fabulous grandchildren, both showing great skill in their studies and art. As a keen tennis player, that is one subject of many I have explored on canvas and I continue to examine what makes us what we are as Homo Sapiens. It is as I look at my grandchildren and the world we are now faced with, that I worry and am concerned for the future. The world is faced with huge challenges from global warming to global terrorism and oppression, great food shortages and a shortage of adequate housing. Nature is struggling to survive and climate change with its increased weather severity has become impossible for human kind to ignore.
As an artist I feel I have to put many of my thoughts and feelings on canvas. Many years ago I produced posters promoting good dental health, now I paint for the good, loving and healthy planet we all must learn to deserve and cherish. Humans are amazing creatures and individually can achieve such greatness. Imagine what we could do if we worked together, so I ask, “Will we save our planet, will we learn to care about how we live and the impact it has on others or will we just bury our heads in the sand?”. You will see many of these themes and more throughout my work displayed in the gallery, I hope you enjoy my journey through art.
Ruth Gosschalk
