Starstruck

Written By Ruth Williamson

Starstruck. Opaque Watercolor. 8” x 8” in my Art Sketchbook Journal. Not for Sale.

Starstruck. My first entry in my new 8” x 8” 2026 Art Sketchbook Journal. More information about my Art available on Practicing Art Substack. Please subscribe to this site, and/or the Substack to support my work.

Starstruck is an 8 by 8-inch painting created with opaque watercolor, a compact study within my 2026 Sketchbook Series. This work marks a deliberate return to art made purely for personal exploration, bridging the tangible American landscapes with an internal, expressive geography beyond literal representation.

The painting presents a layered landscape designed to engage both eye and imagination. In the foreground, a patch of yellow and orange shapes suggests a field of flowers or the turn of autumn foliage. This warmly colored base grounds the composition and creates an inviting vitality. Moving back, hills rise in deep purples and greens, their rich tones providing weight and dimensionality to the scene. In the distant background, a gradient of blues describes mountains or hills shrouded in mist—a subtle, cool contrast to the foreground’s warmth. Above all, the sky combines blue and white in a soft transition, anchored by a bright, white star near the painting’s center. This element draws the eye upward, serving as the artwork’s focal point and bringing a quiet celestial presence into the landscape.

The conception of Starstruck stems from my ongoing investigation into how landscapes can communicate beyond exact topography. I seek to express the rhythm and energy of place through color and form rather than direct depiction. Employing the vivid language of Fauvism and Expressionism, this piece explores the dynamic tension between dark anchoring colors—the “dark heart” of purples and blacks—and the pulsating interplay of complementary hues, especially the cool mountain blues set against warm embers of yellow and orange.

Working within the small, 8-inch square format shaped the painting’s process and effect. This sketchbook scale demands precision and economy, compelling me to focus on essential gestures and harmonies rather than expansive detail. The medium of opaque watercolor lends itself well to this approach, balancing translucency and solidity to build depth and texture without overwhelming the intimate surface.

Starstruck is a meditation on tranquility and attention—how quiet natural moments hold a vibrant, almost electric quality. It invites a closer look at the interaction of light, atmosphere, and form as they converge to create a serene yet dynamic landscape. This piece reflects my ongoing commitment to “practicing art” where each new page is a space for experimentation and technical inquiry, celebrating the process of discovery that transforms observation into interpretation.

The 2026 Sketchbook Series serves as an artistic dialogue between seen environment and internal vision. Through Starstruck, I continue exploring how rhythm, color contrast, and compositional balance evoke the pulse of the land, offering viewers a moment to pause, reflect, and connect with both outer scenery and inner landscape.

My Art Practice Process includes using grayscale filtering to evaluate the values used in the piece and the composition.

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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The Private Sanctuary: Reflections from the Art Sketchbook Journal