Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Rose Rambo, the artist behind Vitruvian Art, and I’m a Gemstone and Jewelry artist.
Why do you do what you do?
Because nothing quite grabs my imagination the same way, how a jewel captures and creates an entire world of vibrant color inside itself is exquisite and unlike any other subject I have ever portrayed.
You use so many vibrant colors, do you have any that you favor?
I adore color! Blue has always been my favorite, whether that’s the tropical ocean blue or the deep night sky blue I love it.
What inspires your art?
I get inspired by everything, it can be as simple as a random color I see or spending time with my best friend. However, most often it’s seeing an incredible new gem from one of my favorite gemstone cutters like Kosnar Gem Co, or Anna Gilbert.
How and when did you get into art?
With me it’s always been there, even as a kid my favorite toys were pencils and paper, I even painted portraits of my favorite stuffed animals!
How has your practice changed over time?
The best way I can think to explain it is growing from creating what I see, to how I see it. Trying to find a way to convey what I see through my own unique filter so that you are able to view how I perceive beauty.
What’s your favorite piece of art that you’ve created? Why?
Although there are multiple favorites I’ve done the most recent was a single piece out of a set of five. The perfect blue surrounded by gold, it captures my soul, I could stare at it for hours on end!
What’s the best piece of art advice you’ve been given?
That I should never let anyone tell me that my art is wrong. There is good art and bad art and unfinished art… but wrong? No. That is entirely up to the artist.
What’s one art tip/technique you can share with us that you find really helpful?
To learn your chosen medium, know everything about it upside down and sideways. Once you think you know it all, expand to another medium and repeat. Doing this expands your knowledge base as well as gives you a different perspective.
Do you have any secret tips or techniques you use to salvage a piece when you make a mistake?
Any secrets? No, working mainly in acrylic paint if you mess up you can wipe it off if you are fast enough, if not you can paint over it, and it’s not a big deal.
What is your favorite Strathmore paper? Why?
The Series 500 Ready cut Hot Press watercolor paper, hands down.
It’s precut which saves me time and it’s incredibly versatile, I can use it for acrylic, watercolor, colored pencil.. anything really. I love it.
When it comes to colored pencils though, nothing beats the toned papers, the sketchbooks, and the mixed media, they are fabulous in terms of texture and make everything done on them just pop right off the page.
What art materials could you not live without?
Acrylic paints, my favorite medium for sure!
What types of colors are you drawn to for your art and why?
Super vibrant and saturated colors! Because it goes hand in hand with my chosen subject matter of jewels and gems. I want color so deep you can fall in and swim in it.
Who are your biggest influences (or who were when you started doing art)?
Leonardo Da Vinci is my absolute art hero! My modern-day influences often come from creative gem cutters, the ones I mentioned before because they are in all actuality basically making tiny amazing sculptures!
What’s the most common art-related question you get from your followers?
What materials or products I’m using.
Website/social media links:
Instagram @vitruvian_art
