The Card Designer Highlight is a collection that includes impartial makers whose greeting playing cards you will discover in Paper Supply shops. Meet and be impressed by a brand new designer each month on our weblog!
This month we wish to introduce our featured card designer, LA Primarily based Sophia Elias of Fineasslines. Uncover how Sofia rediscovered her love for doodling and remodeled her ardour undertaking right into a thriving enterprise—regardless of having no prior expertise.
How did you start your card-making profession?
I used to be in my mid-20s, late to graduate faculty and simply wished to do one thing that made me blissful. I knew I wasn’t lower out for a company job, however I wasn’t fairly positive what to do. At this level, I used to be a failed actress aside from reserving just a few nationwide commercials. I had additionally tried freelancing as a author. All of it felt disingenuous to me. I reverted again to what I had all the time performed as a toddler, which was doodle. I might go on the Missed Connections part of Craigslist and create doodles out of the interactions I had learn. I began a blogspot (extra on that within the subsequent query) and would put them there too. Someday I had the concept of monetizing my doodles by placing them on paper and making them extra occasion-specific. It was low overhead and low danger (and I used to be residing with my mother and father), so I figured why not. I made a decision to open up an Etsy store. By the point I graduated from faculty, I used to be capable of help myself with this interest.
How did you give you your small business title?
Right here’s the place blogspot is available in. Blogspot was nearly akin to Instagram at that time and it was a enjoyable approach to share concepts. I wished my blogspot title to be referred to as Positive Traces however that was taken. So I believed okay…that is only for enjoyable. Nobody goes to take this severely. I’ll simply put ASS within the center. No person had that username.
The place do you draw inspiration from?
All the things! Something that will join with somebody that they’ll relate again to themselves and the folks they love. Most just lately it has been animals. I actually love geese. They’re lovable however their potential for violence retains you in your toes and makes them inherently humorous. I used to do extra popular culture playing cards however I simply felt like I may very well be extra inventive and authentic with different matters!
What’s your most popular medium?
Pen and paper! My course of is just about sketching an thought in pen and paper, erasing it, scanning it into the pc, and including coloration in Photoshop. I discovered Photoshop via YouTube and it’s all I do know. It’s all I wish to know, frankly. I’m too intimidated to face Illustrator.
What does your inventive course of appear to be?
It may be brutal. I’ll spend hours on a design just for it to finish up within the trash. Whereas irritating, it finally leads you to raised concepts. Some concepts are slam dunks from the get-go. Others take a whole lot of time and tweaking. Or they simply don’t work out! I’ve needed to be taught to not get too upset by this. It’s enjoyable to revisit the trashed concepts when you’ve created sufficient distance from them.
What are you most happy with as a creator and card maker?
That I used to be capable of make this my full-time job with no company expertise. I’ve by no means actually had a job because of this area of interest little world. Constructing a enterprise from completely nothing has been each rewarding and taxing. I’ve discovered a lot about commerce, branding…simply in what speaks to folks and what doesn’t. There have additionally been a whole lot of enterprise classes. Numerous losses. Numerous getting screwed over. These losses actually harm however I’ve one way or the other been capable of hold going.
Do you will have another inventive tasks in the mean time?
I really like design on the whole and have begun engaged on residence interiors. A number of years in the past I made a decision to teach myself on the subject and have put it into follow with renovating my own residence together with the houses of family and friends. I actually find it irresistible.
Discover Fineasslines playing cards comparable to Litter Field Greeting Card and Banana Years Birthday Card at your native retailer or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, comply with @fineasslines on IG.
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