A Little About
Gail Ruth
Below you'll find a little history--just life stuff that led me to where I am today. It hasn't all been easy. It hasn't all been fun. But it's all been worth it.
Gail Ruth grew up surrounded by art. Her maternal grandparents were professional artists in the early 1900s and in the decades that followed. Her grandmother, Ruth Anderson, continued to paint and draw into her late 80s.
Gail never seemed to have a talent for drawing or painting for most of her life, though she tried sketching as a child. Her first husband purchased all the Bob Ross art supplies for Christmas one year. That year, she produced some beautiful oil paintings but struggled to continue the hobby while her children were young. She lacked confidence and did not sell her work. She mostly gave the art away to friends and family.
Gail was in her 50s when she discovered talents she never knew she had! She began her first blog shortly after her first husband died. Later, the blog posts became the content of her first book, Who Am I Without Him?, which is based on the Scripture Isaiah 54:5. This book is now out of print, but you'll find the Revised Second Edition here.
Three years after her first husband of 25 years died of cancer, Gail attended a local wine and design type art class, and someone offered to buy the piece! She enjoyed working with acrylics and was surprised to remember some of the techniques she had learned in Bob Ross videos years earlier.
Soon after, Gail displayed art in local businesses, sold art, and taught art techniques to friends and family.
Acrylic Painting, 2018, "Bamboo Morning"
Acrylic Painting, 2014, "Shamrock Shadows"
Gail remarried in 2011. She and her husband, Mike, started a nonprofit for widows and widowers. The ministry eventually led Gail to Nigeria in 2013 and 2014, where Gail taught art, painted several life-size murals, and encouraged the widows to seek God's plan to use their God-given gifts and talents.
Mike also encouraged Gail to use her gifts and talents for the Lord. In 2020, Mike passed away from COVID-19, just two weeks shy of their tenth wedding anniversary. Gail continues to hear Mike's encouraging words to use the creativity God gave her for Kingdom purpose.
Gail's mother, whose name was also Gail Ruth, lived with Gail and her husband, Mike, for seven years. During that time, both Gails enjoyed games and writing (her mom was a pen pal to dozens of interesting people all around the world). Many times, when not shopping at hobby shops, you would find both Gails spending time with their grandchildren/great-grandchildren, creating drawings and various arts and crafts.
Gail Ruth Peterson moved to Portugal in 2024, volunteering to help friends of 30 years who began a nonprofit. While there, she often communicated the Gospel message through art at community concerts. In December 2025, Gail's mother passed away. She was 91.
These acrylic paintings depict some of Gail Ruth's favorite Scriptures.
Gail returned to the USA in May of 2026, where she plans to keep writing and sprinkling the world with color and God's Word.
