Ruth Bilowus Butler of Santa Fe grew up in Buffalo, NY where she studied weaving, silk screening, drawing and photography in the 70s. While living in Santa Barbara in the 90s, she was swept up in the emerging digital photography revolution and became fascinated by how she could use photographic processes to transform ideas. A stitch in a tapestry is like a pixel in a photo and a layer of ink in silk screening is similar to the layering process in Photoshop. Her journey as an artist expanded when she moved to Santa Fe in 2000 and it continues to evolve. Her realistic images are fueled by the energy of New Mexico storms, sweeping cinematic landscapes and dramatic sunlight. These influences plus the local culture are also catalysts in her figurative and abstract works. Ruth works in both color and black and white. Her works invite the viewer to see both the stormy outer world and the prevailing winds within.

Images: Old Las Vegas Highway and Turquoise Trail Storm, all rights reserved