LinocutMemberPrintmakingSolo artist

Printed and Pink

posted by POP Members May 31, 2022

Printed and Pink is the printmaking practice of Ontario-based Sarah Armstrong. With much love and appreciation for the slow printmaking process, Sarah hand carves stamps with a vintage-inspired aesthetic that celebrate the beauty of nature.

Sarah graduated with an advanced graphic design diploma back in 2016. After completing her education, she took on freelance design projects while also working an office job. In 2018, after trying out a Speedball kit, she started getting requests from local small businesses to complete custom logo stamps. Not long after starting, Sarah took a leap and created Printed and Pink. “Due to the pandemic, I jumped into this new business venture full swing and loved every minute of it,” says the printmaker. Printed and Pink has now grown to offer mini stamp sets and packaging stamps, making even more eco friendly packaging options available.

Now, in efforts to slow down, Sarah works part time at a local greenhouse (an absolutely perfect combination to her own work). She explains; “Having this job has helped me refocus and aim Printed and Pink towards its future.”

Sarah currently takes on limited custom stamp orders as she works on shifting her time towards expanding her print work. At present, she has a few personal projects on the go, including carving her new logo and a new type print. In her spare time, or when she needs to do something to reset, Sarah enjoys watercolour painting.

When working on custom orders, Sarah begins by transfering her designs onto a Speedball Speedy Carve block with an ink jet print out, and then gets carving. Once finished, she marks her wood mount, cuts, and sands. She then cleans up her workspace ready for mounting and packaging the stamp. “I love packaging, it is such a fun way for me to say goodbye to my work and create a beautiful presentation for when my customer opens their package,” comments Sarah.

Her nature-themed works are influenced by her extensive collection of used and vintage books on plants, gardening, insects, and more. She tells us; “I find they hold so much character and useful information. They motivate me to want to share the beauty they offer and inspire others to seek out nature in similar ways. I garden during the spring and summer months. I find this hobby of mine is similar to print work in that I am usually getting my hands dirty and am fully present in the moment. These things bring me a sense of calm and my hope is to create that same feeling with the prints I produce.”

Looking to the future of her small business, Sarah would love to hold onto small aspects of creating stamps and work on more one-of-a-kind designs. Always keen to offer eco friendly options for packaging, Sarah says; “I have been so lucky to be able to provide for the small business community and want to continue sharing more of my personal creative projects.”

www.printedandpink.ca
@printedandpink

POP Members

You may also like