Q+A Amongst Bears Swallow Berries

Today's Q+A is amongst Laura Wentzel from Bears Eat Berries, an independent letterpress pattern studio newly relocated to the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 graphic designer yesteryear trade, Laura’s locomote is recognized yesteryear its construct clean typography, graphic illustrations, nature-inspired patterns, too folk motifs. Her passion for real, touchable too beautifully designed newspaper products inspired her to purchase a half-ton printing press from 1911… breathing novel life into a merchandise that has remained unchanged for over 5 centuries.  Recently nosotros sent her a few questions too she was form plenty to too post a few pictures to portion here.  Here's what she said.

Tell us a petty chip close you. Where did you lot prepare or written report too what led you lot to the path you lot currently are on?

Even at a immature age, I was drawing too creating. Mostly animals. In college, I waffled dorsum too forth betwixt wanting to hold upwardly inward wild animals management too wanting to design. Eventually, I graduated amongst a bird inward Art History too followed my passion towards graphic pattern (and I was no practiced inward Biology anyway).

Prior to launching my business, I was a graphic designer for a major way too and thus a national nonprofit. My eyes grew tired of figurer screens too my hands grew itchy to create. When my sis wanted letterpress marriage ceremony invitations, I jumped at the chance to create for her. I drove upwardly to NY from PA too bought a modest antique printing press, ignoring the fact that I never operated 1 before. I spent the side yesteryear side few months experimenting, Googling, crying, swearing inward front end of my mother, bleeding, too ultimately jumping inward triumph.

What's your original focus currently and/or how would you lot depict your electrical current pattern aesthetic?

I've been focusing on designing specifically for letterpress (getting bored of white backgrounds!) simply I'm too interested inward going dorsum to the basics too commencement designing/illustrating for other products beyond letterpress or using the letterpress procedure inward a non-traditional way.

My pattern atheistic ofttimes articulates quirky animals, elementary graphics too patterns, too nature-inspired imagery. It's listening to these creations too next them equally I grow my business.

Love your locomote - tin you lot explicate that pattern process?
Through my work, I became obsessed amongst the tangible product–from the stance inward my caput to a packaged production cook to post all over the world.

Once I convey a pattern inward mind, I'll give the axe my digital designs too have a plate of the pattern that adheres to the press. Each slice of newspaper is fed into the press too each coloring is printed 1 at a time. All powered yesteryear my foot, a pedal, too a half-ton of metal. Every fourth dimension I delineate a slice of newspaper from the press too run my fingers over the impressed design, I autumn inward dearest all over again.

What designers/makers/architects, etc do you lot hold off upwardly to, are influenced yesteryear or inspire you?

Edward Gorey (surrealist & cheeky illustrator)
Nikki McClure (paper-cut creative someone who shares her the world inward modest moments)
Anna Bond of Rifle Paper (every instance melts my heart)
Studio Ghibli (creators of Totoro too other Japanese anime films founded yesteryear Hayao Miyazaki)

Where else do you lot delineate inspiration from?
Children's painting books, Japanese design, traditional folk motifs from or thus the world, too whatever slap-up purpose of white/negative space.

Any sneak peeks or plans you lot tin portion of novel or time to come things on the go?
I’m growing my greeting carte line too I’m too expanding my production offerings to attain customers beyond letterpress thus that to a greater extent than people tin sense my designs too illustrations. I’m ever opened upwardly to novel creative outlets for my work, too I promise to maintain expanding my construct into multiple pattern mediums, from wrapping newspaper to textiles.

Bears consume Berries if offering 15% discount this calendar week at her Etsy shop (until Fri May 3) amongst coupon code POPPYTALK.

Website url: http://www.bearseatberries.com
Shop url: http://www.bearseatberries.etsy.com
Blog url: http://www.bearseatberries.com/happycamper
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bearseatberries
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beareatberries
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bearseatberries