The Card Designer Highlight is a sequence that includes unbiased makers whose greeting playing cards yow will discover in Paper Supply shops. Meet and be impressed by a brand new designer each month on our weblog!
This month we need to introduce our featured card designer, Alyssa Manoleas of Gray Road Paper. Learn the way Alyssa makes area for creativity and experiments with totally different mediums to deliver her joyful creations to life.
How did you start your card-making profession?
My love for stationery will be traced again to my grandma. She had probably the most lovely cursive handwriting and by no means missed the possibility to ship a card for birthdays and holidays. Her favourite vacation was Greek Easter, and I wished to make it further particular for her one 12 months. That’s after I designed my very first card, that includes the phrase ‘Χριστός ἀνέστη,’ which suggests ‘Christ has risen’ in Greek, a conventional approach to say Pleased Easter. Her smile and the enjoyment it introduced her in that second was unforgettable, and it made me understand that I might deliver happiness to individuals via artwork. Impressed by that have, I launched my very own line of playing cards in 2018, debuted them on the Nationwide Stationery Present in 2019, and have been rising ever since.
The place do you draw inspiration from?
I discover inspiration all over the place, whether or not it’s meals, journey, private likes and dislikes, however most of all from animals. I maintain a working record of concepts within the notes app on my cellphone full of sentiments and imagery. I additionally save humorous animal photographs and movies to revisit each time I would like a lift of inspiration. I like to create animals with massive smiles or quirky expressions that you just wouldn’t usually see, pairing them with playful puns or candy sentiments to deliver pleasure and humor to my designs.
What does your day appear to be as a card maker and designer?
Daily seems somewhat totally different, however I at all times like to start out with a cup of tea. Since I discover it difficult to change between left-brain and right-brain duties, I dedicate the primary a part of my day to extra analytical work like answering emails, managing stock, and transport orders. The remainder of my day is reserved for inventive work. On some days, I block off the whole day for creativity. Once I’m within the zone, I can sit and draw for hours, it’s exhausting to change gears as soon as I discover that groove.
What’s your most well-liked medium?
I used to create my illustrations in Photoshop and make hand-lettering with brush pens. Today, I primarily use Procreate on my iPad Professional, which has streamlined my course of. That mentioned, I nonetheless get pleasure from experimenting with conventional mediums like acrylic paint and inks. For instance, I’ve painted a couple of acrylic landscapes that I’ve included into sympathy playing cards, enhancing them with digital drawing on the iPad for a novel mix of conventional and fashionable methods.
What does your inventive course of appear to be?
When planning a brand new assortment, I normally begin by reviewing my concepts record and deciding on the ideas that spark my curiosity. I then create a brand new Procreate file for every thought, beginning with a really tough sketch. You possibly can see a time-lapse of my drawing course of right here on Instagram! This design started with an inspiration photograph I got here throughout on Instagram of a novel Cornish Rex cat with strikingly massive eyes. I labored via a number of tough sketches to seize the best look earlier than layering in coloration and particulars to deliver the design to life.
What are you most pleased with as a creator and card maker?
I really like understanding that my artwork and concepts deliver consolation, pleasure, and happiness to individuals’s lives. One in all my favourite card designs is a sympathy/assist card impressed by a saying from my grandma. Every time I mentioned “goodbye,” she would at all times reply, “It’s not goodbye, it’s so lengthy for now!” This card might be out there in Paper Supply shops in 2025. It means a lot to me that her phrases will deliver consolation to others.
I additionally had an unforgettable second in February 2021 after I obtained a DM from the Paper Supply on Walnut Road in Philadelphia. To my full shock, they shared that President Joe Biden’s daughter had bought my ‘Cup of Joe’ card to present to him for Valentine’s Day! It was an thrilling day for each of us and I’m nonetheless amazed that one in every of my designs made it to the President of the USA.
Any private tidbits? Particular skills/enjoyable information?
I’ve at all times dreamed of proudly owning a mini Jersey cow which I do know isn’t a really lifelike dream. I lately bought a hand-printed paintings of a Jersey cow from a fellow maker, so now I can technically say that I personal a Jersey cow. I really like spending time outdoor climbing, touring, exploring museums, and attending Broadway reveals.
Discover Gray Road Paper playing cards corresponding to Puggin Love You Valentine’s Day Card and Kick Ass Father’s Day Card at your native retailer or on-line at papersource.com. For extra inspiration and behind-the-scenes motion, comply with @greystreetpaper on IG.
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