Life & Work with Cheryl Ruffer of North Canton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Ruffer.

Hi Cheryl, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My family and I moved here 22 years ago from Chicago. After my kids were in school, I had the opportunity to do lots of different things like volunteering, starting a non-profit and painting. During this time I worked with my church and got the opportunity to go to Kenya with SERV Ministries.

After founding and running the non-profit “Give a Kid a Chance” for more than a decade, I stepped down and needed another outlet for my energy and love. I took up oil painting and studied in Woodstock for 10 years. Being able to focus on my painting enabled me to start selling my work and doing shows and working some with a gallery in Canton.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If you are pushing yourself to do different and bigger things there are always going to be challenges! in fact, if you’re not challenged, you’re not changing either yourself or the world you live in! With the non-profit it was always a challenge to find good people willing to work for the impact they were making rather than money. With my artwork it is a challenge to promote and sell your artwork because you would almost always be happier to be painting.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My primary medium with my art is oil painting. I have a friend that phot0graphs my work so that I can sell prints and cards in addition to the original oil. That way my art is available to people that cannot afford original oil paintings. In addition, I have been painting smaller oil paintings that are more accessible since they are not as large and therefore not as expensive.

Recently, I have gotten interested in expanding into larger, outdoor art using acrylic paint. I painted two Peace Poles to be installed outside in the Canton area.

In addition, this year my watercolor paintings were published in a children’s book called The Adventures of the Traveling Abuelita.” That was quite a thrill and a dream I wasn’t sure I would be able to fulfill.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I consider it my life’s work to put beauty and love in the world. When each of us does something, no matter how small, it makes a difference!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @artthou1
• Facebook: Cheryl Ruffer

Image Credits
My personal photos