Growing up Northwestern Nebraska farm country, my artistic endeavors were achieved on a self-taught basis- simply drawing and painting. Residing outside of the Continental United States from 1979-2001 in Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Guam, Hawaii and Yap, Micronesia, My focus was personal artistic growth, learning as I taught others to draw and paint in watercolor. In Indonesia I worked as a creative animation director and batik color coordinator. In Australia I developed and conducted a Drawing and Portfolio Presentation Program for The Youth Adult Bureau in Melbourne which carried over into teaching watercolor and a Gifted and Talented Program in Guam.
June of 2005 F & W Publishing/ North Light Books released a drawing instruction book I wrote and illustrated.
July of 2006 Art Path Press released a book I illustrated "The Rayamana" written by Lynne Jessep. A companion teacher's manual illustrated at the same time is to be published in the near future.
It was the first time for books in their language to be in the schools. Upon my return to the U.S./ Colorado in 2001 I taught at Colorado Mountain College, Western Colorado Center of the Arts, Western Colorado Community College, private studio classes and conducting workshops. In 2006 I moved to Seattle and I continue to teach and do workshops. I have participated in many local and national art organizations worldwide receiving a number of awards -2004 The National Arts for the Parks choose two of my works of art for the top 100 nationwide and 2006 three more pieces were in the top 100 works of art. Private, public and corporate collectors worldwide have purchased my work.
In Hawaii I taught watercolor for the Continuing Education Program at the University of Hawaii. A trip in 1991 to Yap, a state of the Federated States of Micronesia, evolved in a move to the small island to paint the people and culture which was followed by an offer from the Yap Department of Education to teach eight local young men to be illustrators who then illustrated 8 books written in the four local languages and English and placed in the schools.
Copyright ©Ruth Glenn Little 2009
