As an artist and an educator, the study of mythology and world religions has always been one of my passions. I have been particularly inspired to create images focused on Norse mythology recently, since I have had the opportunity and pleasure of getting to teach a course on mythology. I will be updating this gallery periodically; first with a series of creatures and characters from the Norse pantheon and then moving on to other cultures!
Join Bennie as he grows up and goes up! From learning to crawl to learning to climb, readers can join Bennie in this adventure as he dreams about new ways to soar and reach for the stars. Authors Joy Eastridge and Brynn Welch are dedicated to introducing young readers to the beautiful, brightly colored world, brought to life by the art of illustrator Mary Ruth Pruitt. In the world of Bennie Goes Up! Up! Up! any child can fly to new heights.
Visit upupup.world or Amazon.com to take home a copy of your very own!
The Rodentiad is a graphic novelization of one of my favorite works of classic literature, The Iliad. When I first began to sketch out characters for my re-imagining of Homer’s work back in 2012, I hoped to remain as faithful to the original text as I could, including what modern scholars know as the original chronology of events, the events themselves, and the characters that populate that world. I finished the first iteration of The Rodentiad in 2014 and defended it as my undergraduate thesis for Emory & Henry College’s Honors Program.
Now over half a decade later, I revel in the ways I can evolve and transform a work like The Iliad by presenting it in a new way, through a new lens. As graphic novels continue to flourish and interest surrounding mythology continues to thrive, I am looking forward to revisiting The Rodentiad.
Welcome to the exciting world of the Memphis Adventure Zines!
Each Memphis Adventure Zine invites readers to step onto the streets of Memphis, Tennessee; encouraging readers to seek out adventures and get involved in their community.
In this zine, you can find: beer, bands, and bee-bopping around Bluff City!
Welcome to the exciting world of the Memphis Adventure Zines!
Each Memphis Adventure Zine invites readers to step onto the streets of Memphis, Tennessee; encouraging readers to seek out adventures and get involved in their community.
In this zine, you can find: coffee, a concert, and an incredibly good time!
Presented here are examples of Pruitt Productions’ work with Quid Prop Quo books, The Tuscaloosa Academy Players, and local Memphis band, Heels. Heels have used Pruitt’s designs for merchandise, including stickers and t-shirts, posters, and promotional posts on the official Heels social media accounts.
Pruitt has also worked alongside institutions such as Lincoln Elementary School, in Lincoln, Alabama, Tuscaloosa Academy, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
For other examples of Pruitt Productions’ design work, feel free to reach out through the contact form!
In spring of 2018, Dr. Lisa Whithers, Music and Piano faculty at Emory & Henry College, contacted Pruitt Productions to work on illustrations for her Ted Talk scheduled in the fall. The five vignette illustrations presented here appear in Dr. Whithers’ Ted Talk presentation on “Self-Compassion” and music education.
Each illustration in the “Self-Compassion” portfolio is digitally colored with traditional line art.
“Tales of the Lengthy Gods” is a series of short graphic narratives inspired by John, the Greyhound, and all the long dogs that make the world a happier place. In the “Tales,” readers are introduced to the Lengthy Gods. The Lengthy Gods, or Long Gods, are a benevolent set of deities that walk, run, and laze among us. These stories are based on Pruitt’s love of mythology, world religions, and her devotion to her greyhound, John. Although there is no set schedule for the “Tales” yet, Pruitt aims for bi-semester update.
Next update, scheduled for late Spring: In the Beginning!
Whether sketching people at music events or attending live-model figure drawing sessions, Pruitt has always enjoyed recording human and animal forms from observation. Pruitt’s observational style is gestural and fluid. These observational gestural sketches inform the mark-making she uses later in her comics and illustrations.
Shown here are examples of both her traditional and digital sketches. The traditional observational pieces begin with pen, pencil, or charcoal line work and are either colored with watercolor or are shaded with India ink washes. The digital pieces are created using a variety of brushes and ‘media’ found on the Corel or Adobe suite.
For other examples of Pruitt Productions’ observational work, feel free to reach out through the contact form!
