About Me

Hi, I'm Teddi Rutschman: Born in 1955 and raised in Roanoke, Virginia, I found my ultimate inspiration in the neighboring town of Troutville, nestled in the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.

My home sits on five acres bordering the Jefferson National Forest, where the beauty of nature provides endless inspiration for my creative work.

For me, there is something deeply spiritual about creating art. It takes me into a magical world of discovery, imagination, and possibility. I see each creative piece as an unfolding experiment.

While I may begin with a goal in mind, the true excitement comes from not knowing exactly what the final outcome will be.

I love watching an idea evolve into a finished work, often taking on a life of its own along the journey. Seeing a piece come together is both exciting and rewarding.

I am a graphic artist, illustrator, and designer creating whimsical digital art, fantasy-inspired artwork, and creative resources that encourage imagination, storytelling, and artistic exploration.

Art is a place where creativity is free to roam, where colors, stories, dreams, and imagination can become anything you want them to be.

My work is inspired by nature, fantasy, nostalgia, and the simple wonder found in everyday life. I am fascinated by color, light, and shadow — especially the way shadows can create depth, atmosphere, and emotion.

I don't believe every piece needs to have an explanation. Sometimes art simply needs to make you pause, wonder, smile, or imagine what might exist just beyond the frame.

Art is a place where creativity is free to roam, where colors, stories, dreams, and imagination can become anything you want them to be

Life has taught me that creativity isn't just about making beautiful things — it's about finding beauty, meaning, and hope along the way.

I've been fortunate to experience many different chapters in my life, including some that have changed the way I see the world. I'm a cancer survivor, celebrating 15 years this October, and that journey gave me an even greater appreciation for time, creativity, and the people we are blessed to have in our lives.

I've also always believed in using whatever gifts I have to help others. After Hurricane Katrina, I helped organize teams of veterinarians who traveled to assist animals affected by the devastation. That experience remains one of the things I'm especially grateful to have been part of.

I've also learned that life can change in ways we never expect. Caring for my sister during her illness and eventually losing her reminded me just how precious our time together really is. Her life and her memory will always hold a special place in my heart.

And I am deeply grateful for my other two sisters, whom I love more than words can express. They are an important part of my life, my memories, and the person I am today. Having them beside me is a gift I never take for granted, and they remind me how precious the bonds we share with the people we love truly are.

These experiences are part of the person behind the art. They have taught me compassion, perseverance, gratitude, and the importance of making something meaningful whenever I have the opportunity.

Perhaps that's why I create the way I do. Art gives me a place to turn experiences into something positive — something that might make someone pause, smile, wonder, or simply feel a little less alone.