Featured | Laura H. Rubin

from Photographize Magazine | Issue 45

Featured | Benedetto Demaio

The creativity and passion of artists have remained immutable throughout history. Their tools, however, are constantly evolving, often unleashing totally new ways of expression. This is the case of Laura Heussi Rubin, a digital artist based in Bern, Switzerland. Replacing the canvas for a tablet and pigments for pixels, Laura creates striking portraits with a subtle surreal touch.

Laura studied film and visual effects at the SAE Institute in Zurich. Remarkably, she started drawing on a tablet with the intention of minimizing the wear and tear of paper while creating storyboards. When describing her work, she often emphasizes a predilection for simple aesthetics. Her distinctive style mixes realism, fantasy, and emotion.

Escorted by her drawing tablet, Laura H. Rubin wanders through a one-of-a-kind universe that she manages to capture in original yet ominous creations. Her portraits emanate from a fascination for mythology and psychology, which shines a light on both poetic and profound reflection. A wild and untamable taste brushes the plump lips of her graceful characters, who bear untouchable and tormented airs. As timeless models, they seem frozen in the eye of an observer who admires emotions’ impenetrable wound. It is with a remarkable fineness and technical realism that she depicts the hidden territories of our sensitivities, thanks to her sensual and enigmatic characters. She thus offers a genuine journey through Melancholia. This autobiographical art book is presented as a truly practical guide: the artist shares her tips and technical advice. She also offers help with the choice of material, style development, or graphic techniques application thanks to an educational approach to creative processes.