Inside the Divine Multiples: An Artist's Internal Journey of Creation

Written By Ruth Williamson

For as long as I have been a visual artist, my practice has been a sanctuary from the marketplace—a private, continuous experimentation that, until now, remained within the quiet sanctuary of my Sketchbook Journal. The Divine Multiples Internal Life Series, an eight-part painting project, is the culmination of that internal development, a sacred release into the world of layered emotions and spiritual exploration.

​My journey to produce these eight works was not paved by outward observations but by inward excavations. This series is the visual chronicle of that layered painting process, utilizing gouache on black heavyweight multimedia paper and canvas to give tangible form to intangible, transcendent moments. The deep, rich surfaces served as the silent void of the internal landscape, onto which I could project my emergent ideas.

​Here is an overview of the complete internal journey and all eight artworks in the series.

​A Visual Map of the Internal Realm

​To accompany this post, I have created a graphic that maps the evolution of the Divine Multiples, with elements reflecting each piece in the eight-part series, from the original Icon that birthed the series to the ultimate realization of Integration.


​1. Icon of the Divine Multiples

​The origin point. This painting established the core visual features of the series: figures not defined by hair, but draped in robes or cloaks, emphasizing an essential, internal identity. It is a work that exists as an external marker for an internal community.

​2. Terra Es Spiritu Sancti

​Moving further into the internal terrain, this piece explores the idea of sacred ground. It’s an assertion that the spiritual realm is not somewhere else; it is where you are, a layered ground from which the self grows.

​3. Ascension

​This was the first significant rise—a moment when the meditations felt less like weight and more like the thermal draft that lifts an entire structure. Ascension is the visualization of consciousness elevating.

​4. Emergence

​Following ascension, a form always takes shape. Emergence captures the specific moment when an internal change becomes visible, breaking through the dark background to become a real presence.

​5. Restoration

​The journey is not all movement. Restoration is the necessary, intentional pause. It’s a return to form, a grounding moment at the hearth to heal and integrate the massive internal changes that preceded it.

​6. Transformation

​Transformation is the crucible. Here, all original structures are dissolved and remade. This was a complex session, leveraging the opaque power and velvet finish of gouache to show a soul mid-alteration.

​7. The Transcendent Spirit

​The threshold of pure freedom. This work is a visualization of a state where internal conflict has resolved into a singular, unified force. The figure is not a person, but an unhindered, ascending light, preparing for its ultimate purpose.

​8. Integration

​The final, magnificent anchor of the series. Here, the journey comes full circle, arriving at a state of being completely at one with both the natural world and humanity. It is the realization of the self as a spirit living inside a physical body—one that deeply experiences, honors, and fully integrates the sacred, eternal cycles of the universe: creation, chaos, destruction, transformation, and restoration. By moving entirely through these cycles, the spirit finally transcends them, rooted firmly in the cosmos and the human experience alike.

Ruth Williamson

🎨 Artist Statement and Bio: Ruth Williamson

Ruth Williamson is a contemporary landscape artist whose evocative work in gouache and watercolor on wood panels or paper captures the serene yet powerful essence of natural vistas. Deeply rooted in the dynamic spirit of Fauvism, Expressionism, Impressionism, and Surrealism, her style is a unique synthesis that explores the emotional and inherent beauty of both rugged and expansive landscapes.

The Vision: Cosmic Cycles, Equity, and Renewal

Williamson draws inspiration from the rich and varied terrains of the United States and the British Isles, with a particular focus on the American West, the vibrancy of the skies, and the fluid grace of flowing streams and waterfalls. Her aesthetic is defined by a bold, distinctive approach to color and light, one that often blends hues not typically found in nature. She views color as the heartbeat of her art, using it to create a tapestry of familiarity and imagination.

At the core of her artistic vision is a deep reflection on the sacred cycles of creation, destruction, and renewal—the eternal rhythm of birth, death, and potential rebirth that pervades the Cosmos and the natural world. Her work seeks to capture this possibility of regeneration amidst decay, offering a lens through which to view hope and resilience.

While landscapes are her primary subject, Williamson also explores figurative work, animal studies, and still life's. Her foundational art practice emphasized an intensive study of complementary, analogous, and contrasting hues, allowing her to continually refine her craft.

Extending the Canvas: Wearable Art and Resistance

In an exciting evolution of her creative vision, Williamson partners with Le Galeriste to transform her vibrant artworks into high-end wearable fashion and home accessories. This Wearable Art initiative ethically adapts her expressive paintings to soft, high-quality fabrics, allowing collectors to experience the life and energy of her original compositions on casual clothing.

Her art is conceived as an act of resistance against authoritarianism and the existential threat to liberty, championing a message of equity, liberty, and justice. By focusing on the foundational ethics of inclusion, her work aims to inspire conscious appreciation and active participation in moving toward a more harmonious, equitable world.

The Practice: Minimalism and Reflection

In all her work, Williamson's approach is direct and minimalist, aiming to distill the essence of the subjects she portrays. She aspires to create a reflective space where viewers can find a momentary escape, experiencing the peace and serenity of the natural world she depicts. Her art offers a window into a serene and harmonious world, underscoring her belief in the essential societal role of art to enrich lives.

Today, her creative practice extends beyond visual art to include writing essays and sharing her thoughts on Substack, embracing her role as an artist and writer who is continually producing new pieces for sale and personal reflection.

https://practicing-art.com
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