I was born in Turlock, California in 1954 and have lived in Corralitos, California for the past twenty years.

In 1987, I graduated with a B.F.A. from C.C.A. in Oakland, Ca. in life drawing and portraiture. My dream was to create and sell my fine art since my childhood. It takes time to build up a body of work and make the right gallery contacts after graduating from college.

In the mean time, due to financial necessity, I took a job in a wood carvers shop as a designer and painter of carousel animals. It wasn’t long before I learned how to carve and create full size carousel figures of my own. Then in 1989 I started my own business; Ruth Carroll Creative Enterprises. For ten years I designed, carved and painted carousel figures for collectors as well as for the amusement park industry. I did a lot of 2-D and 3-D work ranging from painted scenes for carousels to full size figures out of wood and sometimes clay. Commercial art was taking much of my time but my desire to produce fine art was strong.

In 1995 I made the decision to go back to school to become a registered dental hygienist. I knew that if I could work part time making a good income then I could finally spend more time creating fine art. These past ten years, I have finished raising my three children and have been working as an R.D.H. while continuing to paint. Four years ago I started painting in oils and fell in love with them. I cut back my hours at the dental office and began creating fine art more consistently. I am committed to painting what inspires me and to participate in as many shows as I can as well as teaching drawing and painting workshops in my community.  I currently work in oil, watercolor and encaustic. My favorite subjects include still life, landscape, figurative work and portraits.