Rising Stars: Meet Hallie LeBlanc

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hallie LeBlanc. 

Hi Hallie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I am living in Grand Rapids, Michigan with my husband and daughter. My husband has been with me through my MFA at Kendall College of Art and Design, through several iterations of my art business including “Gnome and Garden”- a little creative business making and selling fairy garden accessories- to my most recent textile printmaking business. Out of this, Trillium and Twig is now my business name for my work as a painter, muralist, and wedding artist. 

I began working with weddings at a very special venue in Grand Rapids- The Rutledge. I was first introduced to Loren and Susan when I was asked with about two hours’ notice if I could draw some logos of local businesses for a promotional event. The host was a connection I made while doing a mural. I took a chance- what could I lose? and took my then 2.5-year-old daughter to the Rutledge. I met Susan and Loren and saw the chalk wall for the first time. The Rutledge is most often used as a wedding venue. It is a heritage building, once used as a candy factory and other various businesses throughout the years. It features gorgeous warm wood, high ceilings, twinkling lights and chandeliers leaded glass windows. One wall in the space is 12×14′, and rather than leave it plain, the owners made the creative decision to cover it in chalk paint, thus allowing their clients to personalize their wedding day in a very special way. That evening I drew about a dozen logos about 3′ wide each. It has always been my talent to draw at a large scale, draw quickly, and to copy well. 

Fast forward two and a half years now, I have drawn for dozens of couples and events. It’s my greatest joy to meet with couples and deeply personalize their wedding art. I am typically incorporating their unique floral arrangements and colors into the design. I make it really special by utilizing photos of the actual floral arrangements that arrive on the day of the event. This gives the drawings realistic, life-like accuracy in both color and particular each bloom. I absolutely love to incorporate special symbols into the drawings- many times this is the couple’s pets, often it’s a symbol of a place special to them or a shared special interest like D&D, Harley Davidson, or a sports team logo. 

In 2023, I am able to expand my offerings with a Mobile Chalk Wall. This is a 9×12′ moveable wall I can take to events and draw live on the spot. Experience Grand Rapids hired me to use this wall while they hosted a national travel conference. Each day I drew a new mural, interacted with guests, and highlighted all our amazing state has to offer. I erased much of the drawing at the beginning of each day. One day illustrated the natural history the state, another day featured cities and industrial offerings, and the close of the conference showed a Lake Michigan sunset. The chalk wall enhances the aesthetic vibe of the event, provides a social media backdrop, and also saves on costly printing. The wall is fully customizable, and no one has to throw away banners after the event is finished! 

My final offering is live wedding art. I can paint live at the wedding, and I can also paint photos of the wedding. Couples will be able to take home a professionally done keepsake of their special day done in brilliant colors and vibrant artistic style. I use my ability to listen actively and observe acutely to record their most special day. 

I’m so excited to have found the ways I can use my talents to bless couples and events. I’m grateful and humbled by the journey it took to get here, through every iteration and bump along the road! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My natural introverted self was a challenge along the way! It took years to realize the strength within us quiet people (heavily relying on “Quiet- the Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain). The pandemic naturally presented a disruption to my “normal” life, and motherhood provided the ultimate lesson in developing courage and fierceness to go after what I desired most. I seek not to be busy every second of the day. I’m trying to live in an intentional way that leaves space for curiosity, beauty, and joy. That means saying no to work that drains me. I’m blessed to be in a position to do this and wouldn’t be here without the encouragement of my mother and the sacrifice of “normalcy” from my husband. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am known for my chalk renderings of wedding floral at the Rutledge. I offer a realistic style with lots of color and most importantly, lots of customization. I am most proud to create a personal relationship with couples, listening to their stories and incorporating as many symbols and individuality as possible! 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
I love solving creative problems. In another life (one where I can actually do math), I might have been an engineer. My brother has the logical/mathematic brain, but we share a love of actively listening to people and helping them solve problems. The problems I solve are often along the lines of, how might we create a beautiful and custom ambiance that tells a story? Working with clients, presenting visual mockups to show them what we might do, and ultimately create something that fully utilizes my creative powers, really fills my bucket and makes me happy. 

Pricing:

• Mobile Chalk Wall- $1200 and up
• Live Wedding Art- $1800 and up
• The Rutledge Chalk Wall- please inquire when booking your date at the Rutledege

Contact Info:

• Website: www.trilliumandtwig.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/trilliumandtwig
• Facebook: facebook.com/trilliumandtwig