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I studied fine art in college and took myself quite seriously. I never could have imagined I would become an illustrator! I started teaching myself graphic design after school and eventually landed a job on the product design team at a stationery company. There, I developed an appreciation for illustrations that were simply pretty and fun.
After a long hiatus in my personal art practice, I decided to try my hand at illustration. I grabbed my crayons and started loosely sketching some of my favorite things: prosecco, a croissant, a coffee, etc. It was so freeing and fun! My first art print was born.
I started creating my first collection of prints and posting on instagram in hopes to make some side income. The side hustle has now turned into my full-time career!
I knew I needed a pseudonym so I could post incognito. Identifying too much with my work can be stifling and, in the past, has prevented me from putting myself out there. I wanted something that I wouldn’t outgrow, so I started with my middle name, “Ruth”. Then, my husband and I brainstormed different colors and words to pair with “Ruth”. “Phthalo” comes from the paint pigments phthalo blue and phthalo green. We thought “Phthalo Ruth” had a nice ring to it!
I love the creative community in NYC! Most people you meet are doing something cool and inspiring. Many of my friends are creative business owners and it’s invaluable to have a community to share in the ups and downs of this world. People here take their creative lives seriously and work hard to make their dreams a reality. I feel a sense of belonging that I haven’t found anywhere else!
I love getting cozy in any neighborhood cafe to people-watch and sketch. As much as I want to gate-keep, my favorite spot is Ché in Bed-stuy. The baristas are the sweetest, the coffee is great, and it’s the perfect pace for a day of sketching. They also have some outdoor seating for those gorgeous spring days that will be here soon!
I just launched my art prints for wholesale on Faire! So many people who visit NYC ask where they can find my prints, so hopefully we will be in some local shops soon!
Our invitation collaboration with Paperless Post just launched recently as well.
www.phthaloruth.com
@phthaloruth