When it came to her painting, there was a paradox between Derek helping and Derek hindering Ruth's progress. Out of habit she would take a painting to him to seek his views, only to leave, feeling it worthless and taking his criticism to heart.
What she really needed more than anything, was solitude. Painting at home meant she was always being disturbed by the gallery, the housework and preparing meals for others, as apart from his scrambled eggs, Derek was hopeless in the kitchen and relied totally on Ruth to do everything.
Eventually she found herself a wonderful timber cabin in the calm of Binsted. Surrounded by cornfields and with a garden full of butterflies, it had a large room suitable for a studio, together with a bedroom, bathroom and a sweet little kitchen, and all for fifty pence per week. Her idea being to cycle out there as often as possible and loose herself in her painting. It seemed such a perfect plan and it worked for awhile, getting her away from Arundel for a day here and a day there, but never enough to allow her to feel totally absorbed in her painting. She just wasn’t selfish enough, she just couldn’t stop worrying about the time and getting back to look after the family.
Ruth's weakness was what made her so endearing, she always put others' needs before her own. Sadly, when it came to furthering her own career, she just wasn't ruthless enough.
Southstoke II
Oil on hardboard
33.5 x 30 cm
Ref: rd23-.jpg