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Lynne Rutter

Lynne Rutter is an amazing artist not to be missed. She has over 20 years of professional creative experience and it shows. Her passion is obvious when her murals come to life. We are honored she is a member of Pow.wow.

Lynn produces fine art murals and custom decorative painting - ornament, finishes, trompe l’oeil, using a wide variety of traditional techniques from hand-painted figurative work to stenciling to gilding. Though she specializes in period decor, she also designs work for contemporary interiors.

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Welcome Lynne. What exactly is your background?
I studied architecture and visual design at UC Berkeley and majored in fine art. I was always interested in design and transforming spaces, and as a kid I wanted to design wallpaper and fabric. I love art history and period design and have studied it my whole life.

My inspiration for painting murals came from years of traveling in Europe, which I was lucky enough to have started doing when I was still a teen. I was, and am, inspired by the murals and trompe l’oeil in spectacular buildings there; and seeing the way decorative painting and architecture work together, and how color is everywhere and used without reservation or apology.

In the early 80’s trompe l’oeil and faux finishes were becoming a huge fad, and I started working as a painter right out of school; I hunted down the best decorative painters and “apprenticed” myself to them, and then managed a commercial mural studio for 4 years, before starting my own business in 1990.

Originally, what gave you the entrepreneurial motivation?
Being self-employed is nearly mandatory for someone like me. I have that “maestra” thing built into me. I knew early on what I wanted to do as a career, but there is no real business model for it, at least, not in this country. It’s very hard to make any kind of money working for someone else in such a labor-intensive business. So, it was inevitable that I set out on my own.

I try not think of myself as an entrepreneur. Making money at what I do is important, but I am not just making money, or making a living; I am making a life.

Can you tell me, what was the specific defining moment that led you to start your painting business?
There are two. One day in the summer of 1983, I stood in the map room of the Vatican, looking at the fabulous murals, I realized how much the space and the artwork needed each other, and realized that this was something I really wanted to do: site-specific paintings.

The second was the day I came home from my first vacation in over 3 years, and got sacked from my dream job. In the middle of a recession, with people being laid off all over the place, I still made more money working 2 to 3 days a week on my own, than I did getting a salary and working 50+ hour weeks for my former employer. In a sense they kicked me out of the nest and forced me to grow wings. (And I learned a great lesson from that, too: don’t be rushing home from Tahiti for somebody else’s business!

Where does your inspiration come from?
Beautiful things everywhere I look! The work of great painters, my garden, color, and music…I also have a pretty good library of reference books to look through when I need direction.

Name your dream project?
I’d love to design a church. I like the idea of doing something symbolic and somewhat permanent.

The biggest professional reward for you would be what?
Doing something well really pleases me, especially if it was something of that intimidated me, or that was difficult. And there is something validating about getting paid well for something I accomplished.

What is the toughest challenge for you?
Getting motivated can be really tough. Tuning out negative messages is hard, too. People say things like what I do isn’t really art, or that because it’s creative, it isn’t a real business. As I spend a large amount of time by myself, I have to have faith in myself.

How do you get new business?
Word of mouth, and repeat business, account for most of my projects. Every so often I get a job through my website or from an advertisement.

What is the one piece of advice you would give someone just starting out?
Do your best, always, and believe in yourself. I can’t stress this enough - the day you realize you deserve what you want, you will get it.

What is the next step for Lynne Rutter Murals and Decorative Painting?
I hope a few really good size projects, followed by a long sabbatical of traveling and painting.

Thank you for your thoughts and showing us a glimpse of your world!

Look her up, you won’t be disappointed!
Lynne Rutter Murals and Decorative Painting
www.lynnerutter.com