”Nude beach” acrylic on canvas in custom maple frame. Linney Warren
As a designer, she creates storyboards and colour stories which become fashion stories revealing a youthful sensation of ease. Linney Warren is head of design at California brand Rails, but her fashion sensibility eschews the formulaic latest trends and taps into an effortless yet thoughtful disposition. As an artist, she leans into colour in a way that is viscerally familiar and fun – her creativity is nourished by proximity to nature and guided by the inspiration of travel, human encounters and trusting her own intuition.
It is in the intimacy of one’s own personality that the quintessence of one’s art is revealed. The designer and artist are kindred storytellers. In unapologetically refusing to define her style, she has discovered herself as an artist, too, one who is firmly rooted in her upbringing, which opened her creative path for her, but ready and eager to explore and dive into an exciting new narrative, one entirely her own.
In our interview, Linney and I talk about what makes her curious as an artist, why there is always room for the unexpected to happen in her works, how Los Angeles inspires her art and design, and the setbacks of technology on our lives.
Photo courtesy of Linney Warren
Linney, would you describe yourself as a painter who also designs? Which came first, art or design?
In my current stage, I would describe myself as a designer who also paints. As a kid, I was always so into art and could keep myself occupied all day with creative projects. When I was 14, I decided I was going to be a fashion designer. My other creative passions fell by the wayside as I spent the next 20 years pouring my entire focus into pursuing and developing that dream. I am now very established in my designer career and during Covid I found myself craving another outlet for my creativity. It felt second nature as I picked up my paintbrushes again; an old familiar joy like catching up with a friend that you haven’t seen in a decade.
What makes you curious as an artist?
I am most curious about allowing myself to explore my inspirations and follow my intuition. I never want to feel like I need to define my style or get stuck in a box where all my paintings are telling the same story. If an exciting idea develops that feels different from my other works, I always want to make space to discover that.
”Solstice” acrylic on canvas. Linney Warren
“It felt second nature as I picked up my paintbrushes again;
an old familiar joy like catching up with a friend
that you haven’t seen in a decade.”
Design by Linney Warren
There’s a playfulness in your paintings, a quality that I associate with childish enthusiasm, in the best possible way (without forgoing for one moment the perseverance and hard work that inevitably go into one’s art). Is it essential for you, as an artist, to find joy in your work?
If I’m not finding joy in it, then I’m not painting. When I am truly locked in, I jump out of bed at sunrise because I can’t wait to keep going. The transformation process is the most exciting thing to witness. Even when I have a solid plan for a painting, I will always encounter surprises, change my mind, experiment, and learn new things along the way.
”Working with my hands feels nostalgic, raw, and honest.”
What is the best thing about working with your hands?
I love this question. Working with my hands feels nostalgic, raw, and honest. There are so many options to use technology and computers in design, but I have always been very old-school. In the tech driven world that so many of us live in, I find drawing and painting by hand to be a grounding and meditative escape.
What sparked your imagination more than anything else when you were a child?
My mom taught me how to sew when I was 9 years old, which opened up a world of possibilities for me. I used to ask her to take me to the thrift store so I could buy used clothing to upcycle. I got very into fabric painting and would turn a vintage pair of jeans or an old t-shirt into an intricate canvas. Eventually I was making clothes for my friends and everything I wore had been altered in some way or made from scratch! I was always very interested in colour, fabrics, and had an innate attention to detail.
”We were chillin’” acrylic on canvas in neon acrylic frame. Linney Warren
Given your interest in colour and fabrics, it’s only natural that you are merging art and design and using your own prints on clothes. Do you like to have fun with fashion? What does fashion mean to you?
For me, fashion is such a fun and versatile form of communication. In my career as a designer, my job is to stay at the forefront of new trends, but I think trends can sometimes make people feel limited. I love to see individuals with distinct personal style that is a reflection of their own experiences, interests, and personality. We all have our own unique story to tell.
”If I’m not finding joy in it,
then I’m not painting.”
What defines your own personal style? What is the story you would like your clothes to tell about you when you meet someone for the very first time?
I am a creative pragmatist when it comes to fashion. I live in the city so I always want to be comfortable and practical, but with a twist of something interesting; an unexpected colour combination, a sculptural cut to a jean, a strange shoe, and I love mixing vintage pieces with new for more depth and texture.
”Girls in June” acrylic on canvas. Linney Warren
Who and what inspires you in your designs?
My inspiration comes in countless forms. From street style to sculpture and ceramics, antique flea markets and overseas travel, my eyes are always wide open searching for something that sparks a new idea.
You are living in Los Angeles. How does that inform you creatively?
The laid back, optimistic, colourful and culturally diverse spirit of LA comes through in my work. I’ve spent most of my life in California near the beach and have an insatiable love for travel which inspires a lot of the vibrant colours and leisure themes that I paint.
Art and design by Linney Warren
”I love to see individuals with distinct personal style
that is a reflection of their own experiences,
interests, and personality.”
Each of one’s travels has its own story and your travels inspire you both personally and professionally. What do you always bring home from your travels?
If I’m in South America, I am always coming home with a suitcase full of textiles and ceramics. On a recent trip to Guatemala, I visited several women-owned artisan workspaces where they were hand dying yarns and weaving textiles on antique looms. It was so inspiring for me to see those old cultural traditions being preserved and was fortunate to bring home some beautiful souvenirs that support the craft and livelihoods of local artisans.
In this time and age, what do you wish people appreciated more?
In our current day and age, it can be so easy to get swept away by our devices and constant entertainment options at our fingertips. It’s becoming less common to hear the sounds of kids playing in the streets. I hope that we, as a collective, don’t lose sight of the importance of being outside in nature and disconnecting as a means of recharging.
”Guava girl” acrylic on canvas in custom aluminum frame. Linney Warren
Website: linneywarren.com | Instagram: @linney.warren
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