Ruth Doumit masters her art

Wahkiakum glass artist Ruth Doumit has her own answer to the age-old question: “What is art?”

Like most artists she can’t articulate her art in so many words. She just knows you’ll “get it” once she shows you her art and tells you about her desire to make beautiful things.

Most days her studio is open to the public. A close inspection of her workspace reveals that “art” is many things to this woman.

Ruth’s muse is nature. Her inspiration comes from family, friends and community. This combination results in an artist who creates art that is intricately woven into everyday life.

Ruth grew up in Skamokawa and married her high school sweetheart Steve Doumit in 1966. It was in college, however, that art grabbed her and wouldn’t let go.

“I like all kinds of art and use different aspects of it to produce my stained glass,” she said. “I start a piece by sketching or painting the layout on paper. And then I usually can’t stop thinking about it until it’s finished.”

Ruth has a nationwide clientele, but many of her recent projects resulted from people who’d seen her work hanging in her downtown coffeehouse restaurant.

The coffeehouse however is a sore spot with Ruth. She said her little restaurant business started out as a simple place to go and get a good cup of coffee on Main Street. Then Ruth said someone suggested she sell muffins and pastries. Next Ruth said, “ ‘They said you ought to sell sandwiches, and then, wouldn’t it be nice to have hot soup’.

“The business just got away from me. There were employees, payrolls, bills and the things just spun out of control, ” Ruth said, throwing up her hands in the middle of her studio.

A little attitude adjustment, a few quick decisions and a short time later the restaurant was history and Ruth was back doing what she loves - art.

Much of Doumit’s work is a functional design of mosaic tile and glass art. She likes to create in spaces that include walls, floors, doors and ceilings. She is currently working on a series of beautiful glass panels for the Dall family’s front door in Longview.

“One day this couple walked into the coffee shop and saw some of my art hanging on the wall,” Ruth said, “and then asked if I’d consider an idea they had for their front door.”

As it turned out, the Dalls had very specific ideas. Ruth said one of their more unusual and challenging requirements was that they wanted her to consider how the sun’s light would play on their new art-glass front door as it moved across the front of their house.

The Dall family also requested an outdoor theme of nature and wildlife. The result of Ruth’s two and half months of work produced 12 beautiful glass panels that lay on two tables in her studio, ready for installation.

The art glass is intricately laced together with thin strands of copper and tin foil to depict: Mt. Rainier, a heron, and pine and native maple trees. “There is even a small turtle in the lower left corner of the largest panel,” Ruth said pointing to the turtle.

The artwork’s perspective is unusual as well. Unlike most stained glass, Ruth’s panels appear to have backgrounds and foregrounds. “I did that,” she said, “by using finely cut pieces of shaded glass that come together to create the illusion of light and dark shadows.”

There is another inspiration in Ruth’s life too – her studio.

Ruth’s art gallery is hidden away on the second floor of the grocery store on Main Street in Cathlamet. Built in 1905 the studio is upstairs in the Historic Doumit Building.

The studio space has a palpable history you feel when you enter. Its floorboards creak and the tall walls and furniture all mesh to create an atmosphere that, you just know, has seeped into Ruth’s soul. “This space was once a church and then a boxing arena,” she said playfully.

The studio is wonderfully large and open and runs almost the entire length and width of the top floor of the grocery store. The studio’s open airiness produces a real sense of the freedom to create art. And walking through it one soon realizes where Ruth draws her creativity from. “I love it here,” she said looking around at the things she’s created. “I just wish more people knew it was here.”

Ruth said with the closure of her restaurant her new plan is to bring more people into her Design Studio. Future plans include a remodeled front entrance and a new sign on the south side of the building that can be seen from Main Street.

“I want people to know I’m back in my studio and they can come in and look around,” she said.

The Ruth Doumit Design center is open most weekdays. However she said that if someone stops by and she isn’t in please call the cell number posted on the front door and she’ll be there shortly.