Two designs created by Eastleigh-based artist Lisa Jean Gardner, who works under the name Iris Hill, have been chosen by supermarket giant Asda to feature on a range of greetings cards.
Lisa’s designs, easily recognisable by her use of inks and watercolour to create bright, whimsical patterns and scenes, were selected by publisher Gemma International especially for Asda’s range of love and anniversary cards.
Iris Hill is named after the artist’s ever supportive Nan. Iris Hill is a fantasyland full of collage, ink and watercolour works. Nymph-like splatters and ethereal washes result in a signature style.
As an author Lisa is also delving into the captivating world of picture books.
Caroline Weaver, Head of Product, Marketing & Creative at Gemma International, said of Lisa’s work:
“Moving into adult occasions, we required a different artistic style to our usual juvenile skillset. After looking at a large number of artists we were drawn to Iris Hill’s style.
“The inks and unique style offered something completely new for the Asda fixture and provided a high end approach for their more discerning consumers.”
The contract is a great sense of recognition for Lisa, who works out of The Sorting Office in Wells Road, Eastleigh, a former Post Office sorting office now transformed into a creative studio where artists and designers can develop and grow their businesses.
Lisa described being selected as humbling, adding:
“I love working with watercolour and ink runs and it was a validation to know it is appreciated by the industry.“It’s a wonderful feeling to see your work in the public domain and a great way to share your hard work with friends and family.
“To know a design has made it through all the hurdles and into a store, it makes you feel more confident.”
One of the designs chosen that features 13 watercolour hearts was selected from Lisa’s Colour Puddles range, a collection which Lisa described as going back to her roots with vibrant, washed out patterns.
The works in Colour Puddles are created by painting the desired shapes in water, then dropping colours on and letting them spread through the wetted areas.
This results in varied textures within the individual ‘puddles’, creating a pattern which is bright and visually engaging.
The other selected design was chosen from Lisa’s Mizar collection, a range which was previously picked up by Carte Blanche Greetings.
In contrast to Colour Puddles, The designs in Mizar are made up of detailed and intricate patterns, primarily involving the use of fine brushes, inks and pen.
The designs themselves are taken by Asda, and then made into commercial products through the use of glitter and premium finishes.
The cards are on sale now in Asda stores across the country.
For more about Lisa’s work, visit Iris Hill.
Read more about Lisa Jean Gardner: What do a flamingo and an iguana have in common?
The Sorting Office Winter Open Studios
The Sorting Office is holding its annual Winter Open Studios on Saturday, November 21 from 11am to 5pm and again on Sunday, November 22 from 11am to 4pm.This is a superb opportunity to not only chat with artists, see how they work and watch demonstrations but to shop for unique, handmade festive gifts.
Handcrafted scarves, bespoke jewellery, glassware, ceramics and handmade Christmas tree decorations and cards are just some of the gifts that will be available to buy. So if you’re stuck for festive gift ideas for those difficult to buy for friends and loved ones or looking for some razzle dazzle stocking fillers then this is one event not to be missed.
Admission is FREE.
Related posts:
- Inspiring Artists from the Sorting Office Studios Eastleigh
- The Sorting Office Little Black Book 2014
- The Sorting Office Eastleigh Winter Open Studios
- Eastleigh Artists Shine: Mayor’s Ceremonial Mace and Chain
- Successful Eastleigh Craft Market
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The Sorting Office’s open studios are not to be missed. The Sorting Office is a place full of creativity and delight. All artists specialise in their own specific niche market, and we are so lucky to be able to view and buy their work. Eastleigh is an amazing town, and its artists have added charm, colours, and creativity to this railway town.
I do like looking at design patterns. These are described as ‘Nymth-like; if that really should read ‘Nymph-like’ then I am OK. Nymth is a new word for me.
I love the bright colours.
I challenge you to come up with more adjectives to replace the word ‘bright’.
Mike, thank you for correction. Misspelt ‘nymph’. Have corrected ‘nymth’ to nymph.
Well done Iris/Lisa, great achievement. The colours are fantastic.
Bold, brilliant, dazzling, shining, luminous, climate-changing, arresting, shocking and fantastic, of course. Anything but bright.
We were never allowed to write ‘a lot of’ at school. Because the phrase was forbidden, we could not think of anything else. It stuck in the brain.
They are are still outstanding designs.
These descriptions are more superior (to ‘bright’) for Lisa Gardner’s work. Thanks.
When I work with young people (including my son), I tell them they can’t describe something as ‘good, bad, ok, I don’t know.’ They have to come up with something meaningful. I later extended my ‘no list’ to the use of “amazing, awesome”. Something has to be truly “amazing” to be “awesome”, but to many people, even blandness is “amazing”.