Artist Spotlight: Linden Paper Co.

Jori Pop is an illustrator and designer based in Port Moody, British Columbia. From a background in pattern design and children’s books, Jori’s unique whimsical aesthetic granted her immediate success when she began to sell her art prints and greeting cards at craft fairs and markets around Vancouver. The joy she felt in sharing her illustrations through thoughtfully designed paper products inspired her to launch Linden Paper Co. in 2019. 

Jori considers the ethos of her brand to be to help people find a better balance between work, home, and travel, and to enjoy and treasure every experience. With that in mind, we thought her cards were the perfect choice for our December Collection, to help ring in the New Year with nurturing vibes! We were impressed by the cohesiveness of Jori’s stationery line after launching only 9 months ago, and we loved getting to chat with her about her experience of starting her own business.

Tell us about the birth of Linden Paper Co.!

I’ve been working as an illustrator for the past 3 years. After completing my art degree at Emily Carr University, I took on every job that came my way to start my career. While I very much enjoyed the opportunities to work on many projects, I felt a slight loss of creative freedom in being able to design something that’s fully me.

That’s when I began thinking about making my own cards and selling them at craft fairs around Vancouver. It went so well that I immediately started thinking of a name for a business, and Linden Paper Co. popped into my head. At the time, I was engaged to my soon to be husband and I was planning on taking my husband’s last name. My maiden name is van der Linde, which describes in Dutch a family that lives near a Linden tree—a leafy tree sacred in many parts of Europe. It held a lot of meaning for me to hold on to the connection of nature and family.

Fast forward a year of drawing and planning, and with the help of my husband Chris, we launched Linden Paper Co in April 2019. 

Did you always want to be an artist, even in childhood?

I don’t think I fully knew I wanted to be an artist, but I was that kid who was scribbling doodles in the corners of all my pages. I’ve always been well-roundedly creative, however, it took me until my third year of art school to pick my major in illustration.

What is your favorite medium to create with? Describe your process.

My favourite medium is Photoshop. I start my drawings with pencil sketches, which I then digitize in Photoshop to create my final product. I love that if I can erase a line I don’t like and re-work it, I can.  

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration through everyday life, but mainly in nature and creation. I’ve always been drawn to being outside, hiking with my dog and friends, and enjoying the beauty around me.

What's your solution for combating “creative block” and maintaining productivity?  

I try to mix things up, which actually comes quite naturally. Being a small business owner I have to wear many hats, which in turn means I ALWAYS have something to do. If I’m not settled on a design, I’ll switch to packaging or marketing, and come back to the piece later. Usually at that point, I have a better perspective. 

What does a typical day at your studio look like? How do you manage your time?

I work from the little office in my apartment. I roll out of bed and I’m working on emails within 5 minutes. I am most productive in the morning and at night, so I often have a big break mid-day. This is also because I have a super adorable, punctual dog named Lilo. At 11am sharp she will remind me it’s time for food and an outing. Because she’s a super high energy German shorthaired pointer, we do a lot of hikes. I’ll then work later in the afternoon, break for dinner, and get back to work in the evening. 

What do you enjoy doing in your “free time?”

In my down time I spend a lot of time with friends. I love cooking and entertaining, so when we have a free night we’ll have people over for food, wine, and board games. I also love movies and TV. I’m the BEST at binge watching shows. A couple weeks ago it was The Crown Season 3…highly recommend it. Right now, I’m watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

What are the biggest challenges you have faced to get to where you are now?

Starting out I had lots of challenges figuring out how to run a small business, especially how to set up a website, shipping, pricing, finding printers and contacting retailers - the list is never ending. I’m very thankful for my husband who is an amazing accountant. He helps out a lot as I am useless with numbers! 

How does the culture of your city contribute to the development of your independent business?

I live in Port Moody, a suburb of Vancouver, and it’s slogan is literally “The City of the Arts.” We’ve lived here for almost two years and there is such a great support for artists and shopping local. It has helped encourage me in the start-up of this new adventure! 

We hear you are working on new card designs for the spring. Can you tell us a bit about them?

Because I just launched Linden Paper Co. this past April, only 9 months ago, I’m just getting into the swing of seasonal releases of products. This spring I hope to release a fresh new batch of cards to expand the line!