And She Gleaned in the Field After the Reapers by Miriam Rawson

Artist: Miriam Rawson

Title: And She Gleaned in the Field After the Reapers

Dimensions: 13 1/2" x 24 inches

Medium: Oil on Board

Price: $1,350

Artist Statement: The story of Ruth is a beautiful Old Testament story. Ruth's humility in gleaning the wheat fields has been a theme of many paintings, but I think of her unselfishness in leaving the lands of her childhood to go with Naomi to a new land--and to worship the God of the Hebrews is especially poignant. These two widows had to find a way to provide for themselves. Ruth didn't hesitate to find a way. I think this story is especially poignant to all women who have to provide for their families, and have had to find a way. It doesn't always end with finding Boaz, but following the example of this courageous woman Ruth gives hope.

Artist Bio: Miriam Rawson was born on Christmas Day, the first child of an artist mother and rancher father. Their Southern Colorado home is where her art education began. After university, she discovered the world of quilting and learned to design with fabric. Her creations were published by McGraw-Hill, Better Homes and Gardens, McCall’s, Primitive Quilts, Lark Publishing, etc. Miriam co-produced a public television special, A Touch of Cloth, managed professional display teams and traveled to Asia. These experiences enhanced Miriam’s expertise and prepared her to become a full-time painter. At the university level, Miriam majored in Music Theory—for three long years—until she took a non-major drawing class and immediately changed her major to Fine Arts. Her love of music now finds its place in her studio, where her musical muses, Sarah Jarosz, Joni Mitchell, Adele, Itzhak Perlman, Sergio Mendes and others enhance her painting experience. Her musical background enabled her to teach “Art as Music,” Evening for Educators 2022, “Growing a Garden of Art: Integrating Visual Arts with Music, Dance and Poetry (Utah Tech U, Eccles Fine Arts Center), St. George, UT. Miriam’s preferred medium is oil. She grew up with the scent of oil paints while watching her mother use them. She loves the messiness and the intense color saturation. Recently, Miriam was one of four women whose work was showcased in an exhibit called Red Dirt Girls: Peace’d Together, at the Sears Museum, Dixie State University, St. George, Utah. The all-women show (October 2021-January 2022) was one of the all-time popular exhibits at the museum, according to Director/Curator, Kathy Cieslewicz. Miriam and her husband currently live in historical Santa Clara, a desert town in Southern Utah near Zion National Park, a region replete with art groups and venues.