10/02/08 ~ Etsy Featured Artist

Thursday, October 2, 2008

UltraRipe

Name

Sara Santora

Location
Montclair, NJ

Business Name
Ultraripe

Describe what you sell.
I sell hand silk screened illustrations predominantly on children's t's. Themes are pure childhood notions with a more informed eye.

What is your real life like?
I have two daughters, ages 5 & 3, a husband and two cats. Until early in 2008 I was working full time as an art director in the city. My younger daughter is at home with me, while my older daughter just started school. I'm usually able to work on drawing and sketching out ideas with my children around. I often get up early or work late to do the actual printing. I've also been doing some freelance graphic design work for a few clients, so that takes up time. I'd like to be able to make enough money from my b

usiness in the next year to not have to do that. Besides work I like visiting new places and going on bike rides. I'm the one everyone's honking at while I bike my child to school.

What is your process?
I make a pretty tight sketch that I scan. Initially I was just cleaning up the scans in Photoshop, but I've since switched to tracing it in Illustrator. I then print it out, and make a traditional screen. Next I print on either t-shirts or paper. I usually don't print more than 10 at a time.

Business Goals and Vision...
In the short term I plan on varying the product line with new designs and different types of pieces to print on. I'll probably try some teen/adult tees for one. In the longer term I plan on working on a larger scale. I'd like to try some floor and wall coverings.

How do you market your business?
I'm pretty new to this, and am just beginning to find out how to market my line.

What inspires you?
I get a lot of my inspiration from the youth culture that I just see around me. The adult culture as well. I get ideas flipping through magazines. For the past 8 years I was working as a graphic designer then art director predominantly in the luxury goods market. What I saw there also greatly influenced me. It fascinates me to see the things people can obsess over.

Who is your favorite musical artist?
My favorite summer song is definitely Doin' Time by Sublime.