This week, we caught up with Pearl from Pearl Ivy and spoke fun facts, Christmas songs & of course, CARDS. You may recognise many of Pearl’s pop culture cards from her unique illustrations, shop the full range here.

How did you get into designing cards? Was it something you always wanted to do?

My sister encouraged me to sell my designs online as I used to draw all the time in between doing freelance work. I originally I started with prints and then later evolved to cards and accessories. So it’s something I didn’t ever plan to do, it was just something that I fell into and now I enjoy doing.

What inspires your work?

Movies, TV, Artists I watch and listen to growing up and also Pop Culture and the Pop Art movement. Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein are my top inspirations.

What is your working process?

My working process typically, I would think of a random idea, or get inspiration from travels,  a museum, galley , a song, film and tv show that I have seen and write it down. I then research and make an inspiration board for my ideas. I then draw them in my sketch book. Scan them to my computer and finish them digitally on photoshop and illustrator. The time is takes depends on my schedule but If it’s something that I feel needs to be done right away it would take a day or two.

Did or has lockdown changed how you work/your daily routine, if so how did you adapt?

Lockdown gave me more free time to create more and finally get around to ideas that I’ve had down for over a year or so. It was quite easy to adapt to having less of a busy schedule, but things in life happen for a reason, so you just have to learn to go with the flow.

A lot of your cards are celebrity/pop culture related. If you had to pick 1 person to play you in the movie of your life who would it be and why? 

I would say Keke Palmer, I’ve watched her growing up and play numerous of roles from child to an adult and I love her work. I think she would play a great Pearl Ivy. 

What’s your favourite Christmas song/film?

My favourite Christmas Song is Wham! – Last Christmas
My favourite Christmas film is This Christmas

Which is your current favourite of your own (Xmas) designs?

My favourite Christmas card design this year would be Santa’s Angels. I was watching Charlie’s Angels when brainstorming Christmas ideas. And I thought it was clever to use “Charlie’s Angels” as Santa’s Angels as Destiny’s Child sung the soundtrack for the movie  – Independent Women.

What is 1 fun fact you would want people to know about you?

One fun fact, when I was a kid my dream was to dance in a Missy Elliott video. (still is till this day lol).

Thanks so much to Pearl for taking part in our Face Behind the Cards series. If you want to shop the cards mentioned, click here.