• Paintings
• American
• European
• Sport and Wildlife
• Figurative

Ruth Hembree began her art training at a very early age. Both parents painted and encouraged her to explore all creative pursuits. One of her greatest teachers was her elderly grandfather, who unknowingly gave Ruth her first art lesson. He took her hunting and taught her to sit quietly for hours observing nature and wildlife in the forest. He was a gifted teacher in many ways. The lesson was not only one of observation, but love, passion and respect for the environment.

As an adult, Ruth lived, worked and studied in four Western European countries for 10 years. She travelled extensively in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The rich artistic landscape of Europe and the study of the European Masters enhanced her passion to create.

Ruth’s time in Africa stimulated her interest in painting wildlife. This interest was further developed when she lived in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. This wilderness provided a plethora of wildlife subjects to paint. Herds of Roosevelt Elk roaming freely on her property created breathtaking images. She witnessed the birth of elk calves and subsequent combat between rival bulls within 30 feet of her studio. She was particularly fascinated by the predators, especially the cougar.

Ms. Hembree completed her undergraduate and graduate work in Europe. She had many great teachers, both European and American.

In addition to having studied art, Ms. Hembree holds a Master's Degree in Business. She has worked as a business consultant and has taught on the college level. She developed and managed a program providing off campus education at 30 locations in Greece, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Italy. Ms. Hembree currently resides in Virginia where she devotes full time to her painting. Her subjects are primarily European and American landscapes and many types of wildlife.

Her work has been shown in galleries in the United States and can be found in private collections in Greece, England and Italy. She juried the 75th Anniversary Hoosier Salon. She is a member of Oil Painters of America and the Hoosier Salon.