Ruthanne Anderson was born and raised in Minnesota. She attended the University of Minnesota
and majored in advertising journalism. She married Dick in 1962 and moved to Southern California
where she soon became a stay-at-home mom to their three kids, Mark, Darci and Cory. After they
all were in school, she taught a fibers class to adults through the community college system.
This class emphasized weaving and basketry and Ruthanne bought raw fleece, which she washed,
carded (to straighten out the staple), dyed (using both natural and synthetic dyes), spun and
ultimately wove. Both Ruthanne and Dick sold their artwork thru the art show circuit in
Southern California. Ruthanne exhibited in many juried art shows and won several prizes.
Her husband was an art teacher for Anaheim Union High School District and had a big influence
on her art. He taught her to 'see'. Many of us see what we think is there and don't really
see what is ... the colors, the perspective, the play of light or fog or wind. Cambria is a
watercolor artist's paradise. It is full of color and color is everything. The people here
are optimistic, supportive, and accepting and that helps the artist to be more daring and
adventurous.
She has always enjoyed art and so, when they retired and moved to Cambria full time, she
joined the Chickens, a group of local artists who met every Thursday morning. "We paint
and enjoy the process. If the product turns out well, that is icing on the cake."
Ruthanne has displayed her paintings at the Local Color Gallery in the East Village, was
a featured artist in both the Schoolhouse Gallery and the Cambria Library, and has been
in several of the Allied Artist shows. She won the "People's Choice Award" in the 2002
Petals and Palette show, participated in the Wine and Art Auction in Cambria and the
Studio Tour thru the SLO Art Council. She also shows her work in the Cayucos Art Gallery.
Dick and Ruthanne spend their summers in Durango, Colorado, a place that is just as beautiful
in the mountains as Cambria is by the ocean. Both places entice the artist within us all.
Their three California kids, and eight grandchildren, decided to make their homes in Durango,
a wonderful place to raise children. Dick and Ruthanne feel they have the best of all
worlds - Cambria with her special people and activities in the winter and Durango with family
in the summer. Life is definitely good!
