School demonstration - my wonderful palette!

Ruth E. Harper is a self-taught artist from England, an immigrant to America at age 16. She has been a professional artist for over 35 years.

Ruth uses primarily watercolor to convey warmth and joy in her nature and animal paintings. From an early age she buried herself into drawing nature, a deep solace in her family’s very tumultuous world. In her art she hopes to convey calm, a little humor, and spread love of the outdoors.

Growing up in many places/countries, in a very big and noisy family that moved frequently, a child’s illustrated Bible was their only book when young. School was their only source for books until she was older, though in some of her formative years there was no school. By age 13 it ended completely. There were no birthdays, holidays, toys, books, TV or radio, not enough food, and absolutely no friends or community were allowed. She wrote and drew for solace. Later, she busted through fear, embarrassment, and learning another country’s education to obtain her GED at age 35.

Her art ‘education’ was sourced from a year of BBCs Take Hart (Tony Hart), a secondary school art teacher who taught her light/shadow in one after-school session (I would LOVE to thank her!), Watercolor with Tom Lynch TV shows, and some local watercolor art group workshops. Though she won an art school scholarship but was not allowed to attend, she finally settled into herself with no regrets. Who says you need a degree?

The Kissing Hand is now in many languages, sold well over 6 million books, has its own Armed Forces initiative, is an ALA ‘Classic’, and now there’s a (real Jim Henson Company!) Chester Muppet - find their videos here: Storytime With Chester Raccoon; Sing Along With Chester; Dance Along With Chester; Draw Along With Chester; Mom Talks About Feelings; The Henson Company is also making a TV show based on the book. Hallmark also made the Kissing Hand book their Keepsake Ornament of 2018. Perhaps there’s more. But the comfort it’s given is worth far more than all.

The Kissing Hand was pure miracle, and of course, hard work! Ruth illustrated it without anyone’s influence or training, with no internet or books on the subject. Her books have won: Ed Press Award for Distinguished Achievement for The Kissing Hand, and a Mom’s Choice Award and a Moonbeam Children’s Award for Happy Mamas.

Achievements include: Juried Member of Colorado Watercolor Society; authored K-6 Accredited Art Curriculum; taught community art programs (adult and child); taught several workshop sessions at SCBWI’s Letters and Lines annual conference in Colorado. She’s also been a voice-over and on-camera talent, can sing, won 16 club dance contests, and was on two TV dance shows. Jus’ sayin’!

The spring of 2023 Ruth finished illustrating the 3rd book in a trilogy for Charlesbridge, and has written two picture books yet to be published.

Aside from the sketchy world of illustrating, she is perpetually powered by her faith in God - that ALL things are possible with Him by your side - and is often snatched up by breezes, colors, and pint-sized things like bugs, feathers, rocks, leaves, shells, and creatures of all kinds. She may or may not collect some of those. She gets distracted in her garden, hiking, and riding her bicycle into the gorgeous countryside of western Iowa, where she lives in a tiny town with an adorable husband and puppy that looks like a teddy, and kitten that thinks she’s a rumbunctios puppy. They have six marvelous grown-up kids between them, and ten grandbabies!

*Ruth became an American citizen in 2020*

Ruth is proud to be represented by Deborah Warren of East West Literary Agency, and is a member of SCBWI and the Colorado Watercolor Society.

CONTACT: 720.808.0864 | email: ruthpaints1@gmail | Instagram: rutheharper | Facebook: rutheharper.artist

NOTE: Ruth takes commissions that fall outside of books, like graphic design and custom paintings (i.e. wine labels). You may also request prints of almost anything here non-book related.

Ruth Johnson is also the founding owner of FarmhouseBooks, a small business bookkeeping company in southwest Iowa, specializing in farms. See www.farmhouse-books.com.