Growing up in Italy, art wasn’t really considered as a viable career option for Ruthi. The norm was to work hard, study something that will get you a good office job, and keep your passions for hobbies. So while she had a long-time love for art, it wasn’t one that she was encouraged to pursue.
This seems surprising, as we in the UK think of the Italian nation as full of art and music, going back centuries. Ruthi explains: ‘In Italy, the artistic background is very linked to Roman Catholicism. Because of that, many Christians, and the Christian church, have detached from it.’
Later, having moved to the UK with her husband for his theological studies, she found that it was much more common there for someone to follow a career path that incorporated their skills and passions: a discovery that opened her mind to new possibilities. This was one of many changes in their lives –changes that they didn’t see at the time, but that she now describes as miraculous. ‘Only God knows how to bring you somewhere. Personally, I wouldn’t even have left my town, let alone my country, but he opened our eyes to see the need for Italy. He led us to the UK, and through all of this, he changed our hearts and showed us different things. Art was one of them.’ She believes that God purposely put people and things in front of her, to lead her in the direction of seeing that this wasn’t just a hobby, but rather a God-given gift to be used for his glory. ‘It’s a kind of miracle, because I really wasn’t brought up thinking this way.’

So, while Andrea studied in the UK, Ruthi became self-employed and used that time to start to build a network with Italian publishers, companies, and churches. Nowadays, back in Italy, she has set up a proper business and works with these Christian organisations – passionate about providing them with artwork that will help them reach people. One of them is Coram Deo, a publisher connected with their church in Mantua. She also has her own e-shop, selling stationery and calendars, and does one-off commissions – wedding stationery, for example – as well. She prays that the Bible verses portrayed in her artwork will reach people who don’t know about God – being able to get the word of God into their hands is a great opportunity.
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A new mum, Ruthi is building her business bit-by-bit. However, she clarifies: ‘I chose this job to allow me to be more present at home and church. I want to be busy, but not so busy that I can’t serve in church and help Andrea’.
Describing why she feels good art is important, she says ‘Beauty is important. God is beautiful, so it shouldn’t be that only worldly things are beautiful but what Christians offer is plain.’ She also believes that there is real value in art in terms of how we relate to God and each other, and also to non-believers. ‘I can see that it can be a bridge – using beauty and art as a bridge to talk about the gospel. I love Tolkien’s way of sharing what he believed in his stories. Every Christian artist should aspire to do the same: share the gospel in everything we create’.

Ruthi loves the creation story, finding joy and inspiration in just HOW creative God is. ‘If you read Genesis, it seems so fast, but wait - he paid attention to every little perfect detail. He doesn’t just create -he creates beautifully. We didn’t need beauty. It’s a gift to bless us. This tells us so much about God’s character.’
You can find Ruthi’s e-shop at ruthicreativeartist.com
