Isabella Cartolano
Meet Ohio artist Isabella Cartolano of HandHeld & Co!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
Hello! My name is Isabella and I live in Sunbury, Ohio with my husband and two little boys. In my free time, besides painting, I enjoy gardening, sewing, and being in nature with my family.
What drew you to your craft?
I have been drawing and painting literally as long as I can remember, so I guess I have always loved it. I have tried so many other art forms along the way but painting is always the one I consistently love and return to. Gouache has become my favorite paint to use.
What is your favorite thing you have ever made?
I really like my moth series and the North American Butterflies and Ohio Native Plants paintings.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I have always wanted do something involving being artistic. At one point growing up I wanted to do something with fashion design, then interior design.
How would you describe your creative process?
I usually start with some sort of inspiration from nature, maybe something that is blooming in my garden. Then I do sketches and go from there. If I need to come up with something specific for a custom design or for a new holiday series, I usually create a board on Pinterest mostly of vintage card designs and pull inspiration from those.
What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?
Looking back I would maybe tell myself not to second guess my artistic style. I spent time trying other styles but it felt forced. When I embraced the way in which I naturally paint I felt confident in my business and more people were drawn to my style and loved it too.
Why is it important to support local artists and makers?
If you really love someone’s work, it’s important to support them because their business would not exist without you! While supporting through purchases is vital of course, encouragement, feedback, and sharing with others is so helpful also.
Why do you love doing what you do?
Painting has always been a way for me to escape for a little bit and just focus on creating. It’s something healing and relaxing and I’m so thankful that it has evolved into a business as well. I’ve loved the connections I’ve made over the years with other artists and shops through HandHeld.
What advice do you have for other makers who want to start their own business?
I think it’s important to start small and not to overwhelm yourself with making a bunch of different things right away. Figure out what your signature item or style is, which takes time. Also, don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a lot of sales right away because it can take a while to find your unique brand and the people who truly love your art!
You can find Isabella’s artwork in the shop, including prints, greeting cards, tea towels, and tote bags! A portion of the profits from sales goes to She Has A Name, an organization dedicated to restoring dignity and purpose to survivors of human trafficking in Columbus, OH.
Find more of Isabella’s work on Instagram, Facebook, and her website!