The Artful Journey of Liane Ricci
Welcome to another episode Behind The Print, where we bring you the creative stories of industry leaders shaping the world of professional printing. In this episode of Behind The Print, we’re joined by a fine artist and the founder and creative director Liane Ricci of Ricci Studio. With a lifelong passion for fine art, Liane shares how she combines her art with printing while also how she maintains her creative approach and stays true to herself.
Below, you’ll find the transcript of our conversation, edited for clarity to ensure easy reading. If you want the full, authentic experience, make sure to check out the video attached below.
Connor Shields: Welcome back to Behind the Print Podcast, where we feature industry leaders and uncover the creative minds and their businesses within the world of professional printing. Our mission is to provide you with inspiring actionable resources that elevates your business and accelerates your journey to excellence in profit and in print. Today’s episode is the Artful Journey of Liane Ricci. And joining us here today is the founder and creative director of Ricci Studio, Liane Ricci, how you doing today?
Liane Ricci: I’m doing well. Thank you for having me.
Connor Shields: Thanks for joining us. If you’re ready, let’s just dive right into it.
Liane Ricci: I appreciate it. Thank you.
Connor Shields: So, what can you tell me about your regular clientele?
Liane Ricci: So I have a wall coverings business and my clientele – I work exclusively with interior designers and their projects are typically high-end interiors, high-end residential interiors, as well as, boutique hospitality projects.
What I really love about that is my work gets to be a part of a larger composition that includes beautiful and interesting furniture and lighting and color and textures that all come together to give a mood and, and tell a story.
Connor Shields: Okay, so I noticed that your hand painted wall coverings are executed by you personally. How do you go about handling multiple orders?
Liane Ricci: That can be a delicate situation… First and foremost is to stay true to a sense of integrity. Open and honest communication, making sure that expectations are clear, and to really have a dedication to creating the best work that I can possibly create.
Unlike larger manufacturers, I’m an independent art studio, so the designers who see the value in my work, they understand what goes into it, and that’s the craftsmanship from a solo artist. I can offer very custom projects, which enables us to have that that kind of relationship where I can really thrive and rise to a creative challenge. But at the same time, it’s important to kind of stagger my projects so that one order isn’t dominating another.
“Unlike larger manufacturers, I’m an independent art studio, so the designers who see the value in my work, they understand what goes into it, and that’s the craftsmanship from a solo artist.“
Connor Shields: It makes it more of a passion project and not just a job.
Liane Ricci: It does. And with the craftsmanship being at the heart of it, I think the designers who come to me, they get it.
Connor Shields: So what makes you stand out from other artists?
Liane Ricci: That’s a good question. I think the great thing about standing out, inherently that’s about being unique and each of us is unique, so it’s all about getting true to what your work is really all about. As for Ricci Studio, my designs tend to be a little larger scale than more traditional wall coverings. They’re very fine art driven and inspired by modern art and abstract paintings, so I believe that they have a real presence. Some feedback I received very early on was my use of color. I think people react to the fact that I sort of push color combinations sometimes, yet they’re very harmonious. I think that’s a reason why my paintings translate well into home decor.
“Some feedback I received very early on was my use of color. I think people react to the fact that I sort of push color combinations sometimes, yet they’re very harmonious. I think that’s a reason why my paintings translate well into home decor.“
Connor Shields: Can you tell me about any major milestones you’ve made as an artist?
Liane Ricci: I’d say my first major milestone would be showing my paintings in a public space, which was while I was still in high school at a, coffee shop in New Haven. From there, a few years later, I had my first solo show with an art gallery in New York City, which started a 20 year relationship with this gallery. Then, eventually getting my first job as a textile designer in Los Angeles, I launched Ricci Studio and gained representation by high-end showrooms across the country. This gave me the opportunity to have press and be involved in some pretty extraordinary projects. Something that I think is also important is to recognize those moments when we have to face really hard times and to continue to show up for your work. I think those are equally large milestones that are important to take to heart. Because that’s when, that’s when we really have our, our growth moments.
Connor Shields: So as an artist, how do you avoid burnout and maintain your creativity?
Liane Ricci: That’s a great question. Especially as a solo entrepreneur there’s always so much work to be done. So a challenge for me is not to equate my value with how productive I am. So it’s, it’s really only been a recent discovery of mine is how to incorporate more self-care in my process, which leads me to a project that I’m launching right now. It’s called Artful Being. So it started, last fall. I was, working on a new show for the gallery. And I was given a year to create a body of work, which is typically not a problem for the way that I work and my style. But then I started to get in my head the pressure of making one painting a month to stay on schedule. The work that I was creating wasn’t feeling right for me. It wasn’t looking right. I felt like it wasn’t coming from a true voice of mine. So I wanted to take a step back and sort of, kind of reconnect with myself and loosen up and just make art without the pressure. Then I thought, how cool would it be if I could document my process, which involves meditation and kind of connecting with dreams and symbolism and turn that into something that I can share with others, almost like a protocol that artists and really anyone can follow as a way to reconnect with themselves.
“So a challenge for me is not to equate my value with how productive I am. So it’s, it’s really only been a recent discovery of mine is how to incorporate more self-care in my process“
The platform is called Artful Being Coach, and I offer, free downloads, as well as, paid items such as guided meditations and, journaling prompts and drawing prompts. That turned into the Artful Being workbook, which is now just getting it out there. So it’s been, it’s been exciting to talk about the project and to see how people are reacting to it. I think ultimately it would just be a beautiful thing to help others, include more of that sense of peace and calm, not only in in their art, but in their lives.
Connor Shields: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting out as an artist?
Liane Ricci: I would say be curious and state true to your voice. So I think it’s important, especially in the beginning, to expose yourself to great work. Go to museums, go to galleries, let it all sink in, see what resonates for you, but then to spend the time in the studio. Learning what feels like your own authentic voice.
“I would say be curious and state true to your voice. So I think it’s important, especially in the beginning, to expose yourself to great work. Go to museums, go to galleries, let it all sink in, see what resonates for you, but then to spend the time in the studio. Learning what feels like your own authentic voice.“
It can be easy to look at successful artists and want to imitate what’s out there. But what’s really going to help you to shine, and what’s going to attract clients is to really be true to your own voice. I would also have to say that giving care to the business side is just as important as the care that you put into the creative side because an artistic career can unfold in unexpected ways.
Connor Shields: Absolutely. So, sort of a different question, if you had a day to spend completely free however you like, how would you spend it?
Liane Ricci: That’s easy to answer. So I’m located in Durham, in North Carolina. A drive to the beach is about two hours and change, but I will often make that just an afternoon trip. I’ll do the two hour drive and either listen to an audio book or, or even just dictate notes to myself. You know how it is when you’re driving or when you’re walking, that’s when great ideas come through. Then I’m on the beach, maybe it’s only for an hour. Just to connect with the energy of the ocean and the sun. And then I’m back on the road and those I ideas come to the next level. So that’s, that’s one of my ideal, kind of getaways to disconnect, but also to go deeper and see what unexpected things can come out of the process.
Connor Shields: So one last question for you. How can our listeners get in touch with you to learn more or maybe even collaborate with you on a project?
Liane Ricci: For sure. The website that has my wall coverings is LianeRicci.com. Also the Instagram is at Ricci Studio. And then for the Artful Being project that is located at ArtfulBeing.Coach. And I welcome people to reach out either by emails or through either of the platforms. I love getting feedback and I love hearing about other people’s journey, from anyone who’s dedicated, to putting beautiful things out into the world.
“I love getting feedback and I love hearing about other people’s journey, from anyone who’s dedicated, to putting beautiful things out into the world.“
Connor Shields: Very good. Well, I’d say that’s a wrap for another episode of Behind the Print. Thank you for joining us, and thank you to our listeners for joining us as we explore the artistry and innovation of the printing world. Remember, having a strong vision, building the right strategy, and using tools like Print to amplify your message will make your brand stand out from the crowd.
If you enjoyed today’s episode, be sure to get your sample pack today from printingcenterusa.com and share it with your fellow business enthusiasts. Until next time, keep those creative sparks flying and remember there’s always more behind the print.
