Laura H. Rubin shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Laura, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
Oh wow, that’s quite an icebreaker… should I call my therapist first? Alright, let’s see if I can keep this from getting too deep: There was this one mouse. I called him Pedro. Tiny, scruffy… He had this little dark spot on one ear. My cat had dragged him in one rainy afternoon, half-dead. I couldn’t just let him die… so I did what any emotionally unstable adult would do: I rescued him. I built him a nest in an old flower pot, fed him, and whispered encouragements like some Disney side character with a tragic backstory. He got better. Stronger. Fluffier. I even told my friends about him like he was my roommate.
Then, one sunny morning, my cat strolled in. Regal. Confident. With a mouse head delicately clenched between his teeth. He dropped it on my lap with such pride, purring like he’d just solved world peace. I stared at it. It stared at me. And there it was…. that tiny dark spot on the ear. Somewhere, a violin played.
Did I feel loved? Absolutely.
Did I deserve it? Probably not.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a digital artist and illustrator based in Switzerland. I create character-driven art that blends realism with surreal, moody elements.
I’ve always been fascinated by faces and the stories they carry. My goal isn’t perfection… it’s atmosphere.
Over the past few years, I’ve had the chance to work with studios like Ubisoft and Disney. Recently, some of my artworks were selected for the Lunar Codex project and will be sent to the moon — archived for future generations, which still feels completely surreal.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Honestly? No one.
And I don’t mean that in a sad or dramatic way. Most people are too caught up in their own lives to truly see someone else, unless it’s their job. And that’s not a flaw, it’s just how things are in a world that never slows down.
I never really looked for someone to “see” me anyway. I focused on what felt right, followed that, and eventually connected with people who saw value in what I was doing… because it aligned with something in them, too.
You have to believe in yourself before anyone else gets the chance to.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Probably the fear of wasting my time.
Not the usual “fear of failure” or “not being good enough” (though those like to stop by, too).
But the idea of spending months or years on something that doesn’t mean anything (to me or anyone else) used to totally paralyze me.
It made me overthink every move. Triple-check every decision. Plan things to death before I even started.
Eventually I realized: the real waste is not trying. Perfection is an illusion… and sometimes, so is “meaning.”
Now I just start. I make stuff. I test, I tweak, I throw things out, I try again.
Turns out, time feels a lot less wasted when you’re actually moving.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Nope.
I don’t hide behind a persona… if someone asks me something directly, I’ll always try to answer honestly and without pretending. But with over a million followers, there’s a certain pressure. A sense of expectation. You want to be understood, not misread (or publicly roasted by thousands of strangers before breakfast).
What many people forget is: in this field, you’re completely exposed. Strangers, friends and family can literally watch you work and comment on it. When something goes wrong, it’s not just a few coworkers who notice. It’s everyone you care about. That makes the pressure even more intense.
So… I think I probably come across as more serious or polished online than I actually am… mostly because this is my job, not just a hobby.
The real me is a lot more playful. Very curious. And, if I’m being honest, kind of like a dog: eager to learn, always sniffing around for new ideas, and way too focused on making everyone happy.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
I don’t really base what I do (or don’t do) on attention.
If something matters to me, I’ll do it as well as I can. Or I’ll learn how to do it better, and try again.
But when it comes to stuff like doing taxes? I’m out.
Even if the entire human race stood behind me, cheering me on with standing ovations, I’d still submit them late with the absolute minimum of information required to prove that I’m a functioning adult who doesn’t belong in prison. xD
That said, when it comes to my creative work: yes, I can absolutely give it my best without needing praise.
Because that’s how it started: just me and the joy of making something that didn’t exist yet.
And I believe that’s where the really good stuff happens… when you don’t need external validation to care deeply about what you’re creating.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurahrubin.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/la___aura/
Image Credits
All images and artworks by Laura H. Rubin
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
