Ruth Moen has been designing and illustrating for more than 25 years. She is a graduate of San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Science in graphic design and a concentration in illustration. Her first job was with Shirokiya Department Store illustrating products and designing ads. After a brief stint with a small design firm, she began freelancing for Ogilvy & Mather Hawai‘i as a designer and art director. When she decided to pursue her love of illustration, the Dog & Pony Show was born.
Ruth is the illustrator of nine children’s books, two Hawaiian cultural books, several murals and countless pieces of art in various styles and media, ranging from vector art to acrylic paint. She had the good fortune to be involved in an animated educational video produced by Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) titled “Pa‘a Ke Aupuni: The Reel History of Hawai‘i”. She was lead character designer and produced all the art for the animation. In addition, she worked closely with the director on the story boards and production.
Her clients include: Hawaiian Airlines, Hawaii Department of Health, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hilton Grand Vacations, Kamehameha Schools, Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA), Golden Gate Audubon Society, Bay Area Cougar Action Team (BACAT), Uganda Carnivore Program, Chili’s Hawaii, Keiki O Ka ‘Āina, La Pietra—Hawaii School for Girls and Foodland.
An avid equestrian and outdoors woman, Ruth served on the Na Ala Hele User Group Board representing O‘ahu’s equestrian trail users for more than 15 years. Her love of Hawai‘i has lead her to study the art of crafting traditional poi boards (papa ku‘i ‘ai) and poi pounders (pohaku ku‘i ‘ai) under the direction of Kumu Earl Kawa‘a.
