Today we’d like to introduce you to Ciara Johnson
Ciara, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey with Rulerless is a deeply personal and transformative one. It all started with my first love, writing, which I still do, but as time went by my creative outlet evolved into art as a therapeutic meditation during a pivotal period in my life. After being diagnosed with a cavernous blood vessel malformation and undergoing brain surgery, I dove into creating art as my form of therapy and meditation. That process led to my first art show in Abbot Kinney in 2016, marking the beginning of my public artistic journey.
For over two decades, I’ve been honing my craft as an artist, embracing my unique ability to draw straight lines without a ruler—a skill that inspired the name “Rulerless.” My art focuses on geometric patterns and abstract works, where color theory and emotional storytelling take center stage. It’s been a journey of self-teaching and inner exploration, finding ways to alchemize my emotions into something tangible.
Rulerless grew alongside me as I navigated significant changes in my life. I stepped away from the coffee industry to fully embrace my creativity. Over the last four years, I’ve been in a sort of incubation period—nurturing self-care and developing Rulerless during a chaotic time in the world. This year, I’ve emerged from that seed-like phase with a renewed sense of curiosity and creativity, meeting new people, and finding like-minded individuals who inspire me and have the same lust for life and art.
Today, Rulerless has become so much more than just a collection of artworks. It’s developing into a brand that reflects my values and creativity, spanning original pieces, textiles, home goods, and apparel. I’m focusing on moving away from print-on-demand, since it was more so a test period, and aiming to focus on small-batch, locally-produced pieces that emphasize quality and ethical practices. For me, Rulerless is not just about art—it’s about philosophy, growth, and the alchemy of turning emotions into something that connects with others.
Ultimately my goal for Rulerless as a brand and a one word statement is for others to feel liberated with a hungry curiosity, approaching everything in life as art, while feeling seen wholly as themself.
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?
One of my biggest challenges in building Rulerless has been navigating creative frustrations as a woman in business, especially in a world where superficial trends and short attention spans dominate. It can be disheartening to see everyone jumping on the same bandwagons, while Rulerless stands for depth, beauty, and a unique, meaningful approach. Balancing this with the demands of building a business— the preparation of moving from print-on-demand to ethical small-batch production, and managing both creative and entrepreneurial roles—has been a learning curve and truly exhausts the brain. But through it all, I’ve stayed true to my vision, knowing that Rulerless is about offering something authentic and lasting in a world that often prioritizes mass popularity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the founder and creative force behind Rulerless, a brand rooted in depth, beauty, and individuality in being true to yourself.
My work spans geometric patterns and abstract artworks, where emotional storytelling and color theory take center stage. My goal is anchored in creating pieces that connect deeply with others, whether through original artworks with its main component being freehand line work, textiles, home goods, or apparel.
What I’m most proud of is the evolution of Rulerless as not just a brand, but a philosophy. It’s about liberation, hungry curiosity, and seeing everything in life as art. I’ve poured years into building something meaningful that challenges trends and superficiality, offering instead a sense of authenticity and connection.
What sets Rulerless apart is its commitment to depth and intention. While much of the world chases quick trends, Rulerless is about creating pieces that feel timeless and personal. It’s also a reflection of my own story—my resilience, my love for art and storytelling, and my desire to offer others the freedom to feel wholly seen as themselves. That’s what makes Rulerless unique.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking has been a central part of my journey, both personally and professionally. For me, risk isn’t about being reckless—it’s about believing in something so deeply that you’re willing to step into the unknown to pursue it. I see risk as a necessary part of growth, especially when building something as meaningful and unique as Rulerless.
One of the biggest risks I took was leaving a stable career in the coffee industry to return to art full-time once the world started falling into a much more uncertain state during the pandemic. It wasn’t just a career shift; it was an emotional leap into trusting myself and putting my creativity at the forefront of my life. Starting Rulerless and shaping it into the brand its meant to be has meant risking failure, rejection, and financial uncertainty, but it was the only way to stay true to my vision. In its own right, its a love story.
I’ve also taken risks by going against the grain in a world obsessed with being favored. Instead of following a typical path, I’ve committed to creating a brand that’s rooted in depth, beauty, and timelessness. Moving away from print-on-demand to small-batch, ethical production is another risk—it requires more effort, more investment, and more trust in my vision.
To me, taking risks is about stepping outside of comfort zones and trusting that even if the path is hard, the destination will be worth it, and the journey is just as important. Every risk I’ve taken has shaped Rulerless into what it is today and, more importantly, shaped me into someone who values authenticity above all else.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/rulerless
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ciarabella/ and https://www.instagram.com/rulerless.original/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rulerless.original
- Twitter: https://x.com/rulerless
- Other: https://www.rulerless.com
Image Credits
Patrick “Embryo” Tapu
