Meet our Maker of the Month, Tiffany Forbes – the creative genius behind Ruby Roller Art. Get ready to dive into a world bursting with colours & 60's and 70's vibes!
Picture this: her home is the art studio where each piece comes to life. We had a super cool chat with Tiffany, where she spilled the beans on her art, her inspirations, and what makes her tick. Let's jump in!
The 60s and 70s are so iconic in looks and style, I love the vibrant colours and patterns! I have always been a lover of 70s rock – Elton John, Cher, David Bowie – so I think that their costumes provide a lot of inspiration to explore.
What passions or interests make up your world outside of creating?
Currently, I am studying fashion design at university which I love! I have always been obsessed with history and it's link to clothing, I think that’s why I love to draw 60s and 70s items. I also love traditional tattoo designs, music, and I am currently learning German!
What's the backstory that sparked the launch of your business?
In 2021, when I started Ruby Roller, I was planning to become a tattoo artist but ended up having a pretty rough time with my mental health. One day I decided to upload some illustrations to Etsy to make a little extra money and I was blown away by the support I received! I am so grateful that people like my art and want to hang it in their homes.
Is there a specific step in your creative process that you cherish the most?
I’m not sure I can pick a favourite! It would probably be between the rough sketches at the start – because it’s just playing around to see what looks good - or when the piece comes together at the end. It’s so cool to see how each design has evolved into the finished illustration!
Sneaky cocktails in your art caught our eye (loving that Mojito print!). But we're dying to know, do you have a personal all-time favourite cocktail?
It’s hard to choose but I am a sucker for a Pina Colada! Honestly, anything with fresh fruit in it is always incredible.
What is it about the 60's & 70's that you love exploring? How does female empowerment tie into that era for you?
The 60s and 70s are so iconic in looks and style, I love the vibrant colours and patterns! I have always been a lover of 70s rock – Elton John, Cher, David Bowie – so I think that their costumes provide a lot of inspiration to explore. It was such a key period in time for women’s rights with feminist protests, miniskirts and a lot of women entering the workforce. Paired with the fashion subcultures that were popping up, I think it really represents empowerment to dress how you want and be who you want.
We've spotted a recent rebrand & logo change! Could you share the vision behind this new direction & what inspired the change?
I wanted something which felt more like me, I was growing out of the pink and green colour scheme and wanted to have branding which I represented the pink and red tones I often use. The butterfly is two R’s joined together and I thought it would be such a cute logo! Overall, the vision is bold, bright and fun – to match in with my art style.
Lastly, if you could bring back one iconic element from those eras into the present, what would it be? Picture this: denim on denim, lava lamps, or something else...
I would definitely bring back Gogo boots. They’re just so cute! I have a pair which I wear all the time!