Very Caliente

Painting with Paper - Art, Heritage & the Indy 500 with Francis Ruiz

Episode Summary

In this episode of Very Caliente, Pablo and Jennie sit down with artist Francis Ruiz, a Puerto Rico born, Fishers Indiana based painter who left a career in law to pursue art full time during the pandemic. Francis walks through her journey, her unique painting with paper collage technique, and the moment her work was selected to welcome the Indy 500 in downtown Indianapolis. The conversation covers art as healing, the power of perseverance through rejection, honoring her late father through her work, and how every connection in life eventually compounds into the path forward. Raw, warm, and very caliente.

Episode Notes

Very Caliente

Hosts: Pablo Alsina & Jennie López

EP 021 - Painting with Paper - Art, Heritage & the Indy 500 with Francis Ruiz

Summary

In this episode of Very Caliente, Pablo and Jennie sit down with artist Francis Ruiz, a Puerto Rico born, Fishers Indiana based painter who left a career in law to pursue art full time during the pandemic. Francis walks through her journey, her unique painting with paper collage technique, and the moment her work was selected to welcome the Indy 500 in downtown Indianapolis. The conversation covers art as healing, the power of perseverance through rejection, honoring her late father through her work, and how every connection in life eventually compounds into the path forward. Raw, warm, and very caliente.

Main Topics

• From law to art: leaving an attorney career in Puerto Rico to pursue creative work full time in Indiana
• The pandemic pivot: how virtual art classes for family and friends turned into a profession
• Painting with paper: Francis's signature collage technique using newspaper clippings, race songs, and patterned paper
• Honoring her late father through a red sports car in her Indy 500 painting
• The Indy 500 reveal moment: driven into downtown Indianapolis and seeing her work blown up bigger than life
• Art as healing and the importance of disconnecting from devices
• Latino representation in Indianapolis arts and the Indy Arts Council's push for diversity
• The role of mentors, the friend Jane, and never being afraid to ask for help
• IU Health Fishers commission: a series of three paintings for the new maternity and OBGYN department
• Advice for anyone scared to pivot careers: do not be afraid

Intriguing Quotes

• “Any kind of art is essential for the human being.” — Francis Ruiz
• “I'm not afraid of asking for help. I'm not afraid of asking for advice.” — Francis Ruiz
• “Every little thing you do, every person that you connect with will have an impact on your life.” — Francis Ruiz
• “Life is a collage, but you have to put in the work.” — Pablo Alsina
• “Not be afraid, three words, not be afraid. Just go for it.” — Francis Ruiz

Key Moments

• [00:00:30] - Pablo opens the show and Jennie introduces Francis Ruiz
• [00:01:29] - Francis on her journey from Puerto Rico to Indiana and leaving law for art
• [00:02:34] - Pablo connects on his own pandemic painting pivot
• [00:03:19] - Francis on art as healing and disconnecting from devices
• [00:05:09] - Jennie reveals Francis's art was selected for the Indy 500
• [00:05:48] - Applying twice and the lesson in keeping at it
• [00:07:30] - The red car: honoring her late father who passed in 2015
• [00:08:24] - Inside the painting: newspaper clippings, race songs, every driver who's won on the bricks
• [00:08:50] - The Indy Arts Council surprise reveal and Francis's raw emotional reaction
• [00:10:27] - Pablo on life as a collage: every piece matters but you have to do the work
• [00:11:34] - The value of mentors and no gatekeeping in the Indy art scene
• [00:12:57] - Why everything has a purpose, from being a lawyer to becoming an artist
• [00:15:43] - Francis's exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art
• [00:15:53] - The painting with paper technique explained: jelly plates, patterns, newspaper, collage
• [00:18:30] - Puerto Rico in every painting: the Boletín Mercantil from the 1900s in the Indy 500 piece
• [00:19:45] - Francis's daughter Anna helping with the flow of the bricks
• [00:21:06] - IU Health Fishers commission: three paintings for maternity and OBGYN
• [00:22:26] - Where to follow Francis: @FrancisRuizGalarte on Instagram and francisruizarte.com
• [00:23:50] - Final advice: do not be afraid

Notable Guests and Resources

• Francis Ruiz - Artist, painting with paper collage technique
• Instagram: @FrancisRuizGalarte
• Website: francisruizarte.com
• Featured: Indy 500 official artwork, displayed at the Indianapolis Artsgarden
• Recent commission: IU Health Fishers, maternity and OBGYN department
• Exhibitions: Indianapolis Museum of Art
• Affiliations: Indy Arts Council, Fishers Arts Council
• Mentor: Jane, longtime friend and mentor
• Influences referenced: Picasso, Matisse, pointillism

Special Announcements

• Follow @FrancisRuizGalarte on Instagram to see her Indy 500 reveal video and ongoing work.
• Visit francisruizarte.com for her full portfolio and to enquire about commissions.
• Share this episode with anyone in the creative community who needs to hear the truth about pivoting careers and trusting the timing.