Rising Stars: Meet Libby Rule

Today we’d like to introduce you to Libby Rule.

Hi Libby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. Anywhere I went, I usually had a sketchbook! And I particularly enjoyed drawing people. I would look at fashion magazines and try to replicate the pictures by hand-drawing them. I took this love of art and ran with it into college, where I got a degree in animation and then an internship with Cartoon Network right out of graduation. The internship ended right around the start of the pandemic. Though, I found myself with some time to paint again!!

A friend sent me a TikTok of someone live-painting, and I thought, “Huh. I could do that!” I had a dear friend who was getting married and was familiar with my art, and I asked if she would like me to live paint at her wedding, and she enthusiastically said yes! I made a few videos and posted them to TikTok, and it slowly took off from there! I booked about three or four, but it was after I did a surprise wedding for a friend of a friend that the videos took off in a HUGE way! One of them reached nearly 2 million views, and I was booked across America!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I had no blueprint for live painting! It’s just not something you see much of in the area, and I had no one to ask– so I learned a LOT in a short amount of time. Looking back on my work, I improved painting-wise very rapidly, specifically in framing and focusing more on the couple than the surrounding folks. I specialize in likeness, so most of my time goes to making the couple look as true to life as possible! When I started, though, I was trying to get everyone in! A painting in my studio may take anywhere from 20-40 hours, and I was painting an entire one in 6-8! So I quickly learned to choose my battles.

I also had to learn a lot of administrative things! Contracting, invoicing, and regularly posting to socials. But most importantly, I had to learn how to fight the elements and come prepared. A canvas (especially large canvases) likes to act just like a kite on particularly windy days– and it can take the whole easel down with it! I always carry stakes and a cord in case I’m at an outdoor or rooftop wedding. I also wasn’t prepared for how dark weddings can get. I started with just hoping the venue had light and then would end up working by phone the rest of the night. Now have an attachable easel light and a stand ring light. And, most importantly, sunscreen!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been fortunate to have a diverse array of creative experiences. Since graduating with my animation degree, I’ve worked for the Power Puff Girls, I’ve done work with the Kansas City Chiefs, I was a graphic designer, and then a social media specialist! I’m still a content creator for a social media company– I could never give up my day job. I love my coworkers too much! But on the weeknights, I paint commissions from photos, and on the weekends, I paint from real life.

I usually show up to a venue with a blank canvas, having spoken to the commissioners via email. The ceremony was the first time I had seen them. I’m always a few hours early to get the background started and some paint on the canvas. And then I wait for the moment to arrive. Once it does, I am in a flurry of painting!! Folks come and observe as I capture the evening on canvas. Then, at the night’s end, I get to reveal it.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
COVID taught me to take care of my free time and be intentional about spending time with others. As a creative, it’s really easy to feel like you’re not doing enough, even when you spend hours and hours working every day. That can burn you out REAL fast. So it’s important to give yourself some autonomous time that isn’t dedicated to anything but you. Either you are enjoying recreational time, or you are just giving yourself (in my case) time to sketch and draw something fun that isn’t for the intent of posting to social media.

Contact Info:

• Website: libbyrulepaints.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/libbyrulepaints/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/libbyrulepaints/

Image Credits
Makayla O’Donnell (Just the purple photos)