We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Libby Barret a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Libby, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

My most meaningful project was a group of work that I created for a hotel in Savannah, Ga called Saint Bibiana. I went to college at Savannah College of Art and Design so the city of Savannah has a special place in my heart. I studied painting while I was there and fell in love with the process of making art. I grew up painting, drawing, and making anything I could so it felt natural to pick a major that felt deeply specific to what I love. I didn’t really know going into my major what I wanted to paint but I know I needed to create. I gained a deep connection specifically to the subject of chairs while studying abroad in Lacoste, France. While there I drew studies of chairs and realized that I could draw a million chairs and never get tired of it. Chairs represent people, a time and place, a story. While they are sometimes broken, they are always a representation of rest to me. A reminder to rest amidst everything. I kept this idea throughout my college years and developed it further in many ways, dreaming of displaying my work in a place that felt like people were reminded to rest and enjoy life too. Once out of college I got an email from my friend saying he had a project at a hotel that my work seemed perfect for. I was overjoyed that he thought of me because of the opportunity to fulfill a dream I have had for so long! The project included a full table scene, pieces of Savannah, paintings of fruits and veggies and so much more. The standout piece was the table setting in their dining room. Creating that piece was so special. It was the largest commission I had done at the time. I loved painting on a big scale and for a specific space. I got to visit the space last summer and it was so surreal to know that other people were enjoying these pieces of art as much as I enjoyed making them. This project aligned perfectly with my idea of rest and still letting me have creative freedom in what I painted. I still think so fondly on this time and am so thankful that I was able to be a part of this project.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I got into the industry even before I really knew I was getting into the industry in high school. I had a family friend that wanted a large abstract painting and they commissioned me after seeing a few small paintings I had done previously. This was my largest painting at the time and it was so formative to learn the process of working with a client and how to manage my time/ and the client’s expectations. I was overjoyed when they loved it and at the time wasn’t even considering painting as a career. It confirmed that loved the process of painting even more so once I saw the piece in their home and felt a sense of confidence from that experience.

Now post college and after working on larger commission projects like the Saint Bibiana hotel project, I feel settled into a rhythm of what I am able to offer clients as well as what I feel my niche is. I love creating spaces, drawing chairs, making each piece unique to a space and painting moments I don’t want to forget. I also enjoy using color as a metaphor for memory in my paintings and how lived experiences don’t have to be representational. Maybe it is a moment, maybe it is a feeling, maybe it is a person, but all of these experiences added up create the atmospheric backgrounds or foregrounds to my paintings and drawings. I make large scale acrylic paintings of table settings as well as large scale abstract paintings and pastel drawings for the most part. I love the way that I can use my subject of being at the table to cater to clients own experiences sitting with friends or loved ones and creating a drawing or painting that is completely exclusive. Seeing people gravitate towards work that I created after my own lived in conversations and experiences is amazing too. The connection that someone has to sitting in chair and being at a table is universal.

I currently am still working in pastels for the most part and diving back into abstract painting as well whenever I get the chance. Creating with pastels is a very grounding experience that feels like the options are endless. Blending two colors together is always my starting point that feels like I can leap off into whatever I am feeling that day or maybe its a conversation I most recently had, or a color palette from a flower that was striking. I don’t usually plan my compositions out fully but piece them together with the furniture I draw and the color I place as I go. Its a very loose and organic process that feels very freeing! I hope when anyone sees my work they are invited to rest, invited to sit at the table, invited to just be.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect is knowing my work is living in other spaces where people can enjoy it. Whether that space be in a home, restaurant, or gallery I love knowing that my work is something that people can enjoy my work as much as I do making it. From a personal perspective the other rewarding aspect is knowing you deeply feel connected after making something from nothing. Creating from nothing and making a drawing or painting that describes something you can’t describe in any other way is so rewarding.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think valuing artwork is a great first step. Supporting local artists and valuing work could be as simple as sharing their work on your instagram feed or purchasing a print if you are on a budget. Everyone can support artists by sharing work by word of mouth and showing up to local galleries monthly! I have found so many artists by going out to local open studios or shows and formed connections by showing up in person. That is a huge support to artists that doesn’t even cost anything to the viewer. Showing up and offering emotional support is just as important as buying an artists work. It gives motivation to keep going and know that we are not alone even when creating in the studio alone most of the time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.libbybarret.com
• Instagram: @libby_barret