Fall is the month of crafting. And what’s the best way to dip your self into the world of creating stuff with your hands?
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’d say that customizing your stationery, cards and notes with a great flowery stamp could do the trick.
And, thus… please meet Jessica Torrant, the founder (and maker) of Green Garden Stamps.
Get ready to brand your paper with ‘em! And if you are looking for great art to rock your walls, please check her painting store and her amazing works.
:: Why and when did you start Green Garden Stamps? I started carving stamps in 2009 as a hobby. I am a visual artist by trade (abstract painter to be specific) and I’m always trying out new art and craft techniques and mediums. Stamps became more than just a passing fancy and I found myself thinking of all of the things I wanted to carve, sketching ideas and carving until my hand cramped up. After getting really positive reactions from family, friends and art buddies, I created Green Garden Stamps in February 2010 with a particular vision in mind. Instead of offering repeated designs made to order like many other rubber stamp carvers do, I decided to create one of a kind stamps featuring my own artistic aesthetic. It allows me to always create something new every time I work and offers my buyers a really unique product that no one else on earth will have.
:: What inspires your work? Nature is the main source of inspiration for my stamps, particularly what you’d find in the garden – hence the name. Some of my favorite stamps to draw and carve are large, botanical illustrations of flowers like poppies and lilies. I am also inspired by Hungarian folk art, something that my Hungarian grandmother (who was also an artist) introduced me to at an early age. The folk art forms are simple, bold, and graphic, and you can see that influence in my Grow Your Own Flower Garden stamp sets. Mixing and matching these simple floral shapes create beautiful, decorative patterns. Lastly, I’m inspired by more traditional carving techniques like wood cuts – the rustic feel of extra lines and marks. This offers more evidence that it is handmade and I think it adds dimension and personality to the print.
:: Who is your ideal buyer? My ideal buyer is someone who likes to surround themselves with beautiful and artful things. Someone that takes the time to personalize a gift, write a letter, or pick a colorful bouquet for their dinner table. My buyers tend to be very creative people including mixed media artists and greeting card makers. I love the aspect of co-creation with my stamps. My paintings are a finished product, my stamps are art waiting to happen.
:: What is your favorite place in NYC and why? I think the art museums and galleries in NYC are my favorite places to visit, particularly the MOMA and Guggenheim.
:: What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think about NYC and why? The feeling of being in the city hits me first. Being excited, almost overwhelmed, by the sheer volume of EVERYTHING. From the size of the skyscrapers, to the hustle of street traffic, to the scents of every type of food on earth. There’s just nothing like being in New York – you never know what you’ll discover and it’s always an adventure!
:: What’s the most incredible or funny thing that happened to you (or to someone you know) while in NYC?
I think my favorite experience was going to see The Kids in the Hall live with my best friend. She’s from Long Island so I trusted her city instincts but we ended up staying on the subway for too long and having to run several blocks to the theater to make the show. The two of us running, laughing, lost in the city was a funny precursor to the hilarious and memorable Kids in the Hall show.
:: If I say Italy, you say…? Artist residency! A fellow painter friend of mine went to Umbria to a fabulous artist residency and since hearing her stories and seeing her pictures, I’m dying to go too. What could be better than painting in Italy, meeting fellow artists from around the world, and enjoying the local cuisine?
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