You and I met about five years ago when we both lived in La Jolla when I was a stationery buyer. Was that when you started 'JillAnne' your card company, or had you already been in business for a while?
I started my card business ‘unofficially’ in 1998 in New York City.  I painted my very first cards in World Wide Plaza by the fountain and my first customer was Andy at a wonderful candle and gift shop called ‘Sixth Sense’ which is still there…and still a client!  Officially I started my business in 1999 in San Diego.  I knew it was time to go full time, so I quit my job and started ‘JillAnne’.  It’s been uphill since!

You’ve had a pretty interesting life – weren’t you dancing or modeling in NYC? Or both? Tell me about your background, what you were doing before you began designing cards and stationery?
I’ve had a great life!  I was modeling and acting in NYC.  I was a ‘parts’ model for Ford and Parts Model Agency.  I had a great career and was in many publications:  Allure, Maxim Magazine, etc.  I was the legs for Elizabeth Hurley in a commercial even.  I worked with some very talented photographers and loved the creativity of creating beautiful pictures.  Acting is what I was trained in.   I landed a few principal roles in my couple of years of pounding the pavement in New York.  Then my card business landed in my lap and I wanted a bit of a change from NYC so I moved to San Diego where you and I met

How did you decide to get into cards? And how did you develop your trademark whimsical style?
It was such a fluke of getting into the card business!  I had been painting some cards just to send to friends and one of my acting buddies suggested that I show them to Andy at Sixth Sense, and wallah he bought them all!  That was the start.  I’ve always loved cards, but honestly did not know a thing about designing them or even of running a business.  It just came to me naturally.  As for my style, it wasn’t anything that I thought about.  It just is part of me.  I can do realism, but prefer to meld reality with a bit of fantasy.  I’ve always love simple things and discovered that I can really get a lot across in a minimalist whimsical style.  Sometimes people have suggested that I ‘do more’ in my paintings, but I really prefer to do what comes organically and is in my heart.

I always think of you as being very inspired. You seem like one of those people who really enjoy life – both the big and little things. In terms of your design work, where do you find inspiration?
I do enjoy life…very much!  My inspirations just come from in me.  It isn’t something I try at or have to think about.  I just observe life and create words and designs from it:  a flower, a conversation with a friend, a sad event, a glorious event, music, a play or something going on in my life.  Little do my boyfriends know that they have been the inspirations of many of my cards!  I think it is just an inborn talent for which I’m very thankful. 

What kind of advice would you give to someone who wanted to enter the card/stationery/specialty paper biz in regard to starting up, finding buyers, that sort of thing?
Someone once told me that if you really want something, you will find a way.  I have found this to be true.  There is a lot of competition in the card industry, but there are also a lot of people who like cards.  The industry is changing but there is still a viable market.   I would suggest that the person do some research:  talk to a local buyer and see if they would be willing to give some input on their designs. You have so many options for getting your designs out there:  you can do it yourself as I have, you can license your designs to other card companies or you can work as a designer for a card company.  A lot depends on the lifestyle a person wants.  As an actor/model I was used to ‘auditioning’ so going cold into a store is not a big deal for me.  Someone else may prefer to remain behind the scenes.  Know thyself.  Walk the trade shows and gather information.  Any business is a process.  I build mine over the years.  I stared off with maybe 5 clients and now I have more like 500.  Some people get loans.  I started from scratch and kept my overhead low.  This is not the only way, but it worked for me.  I think it is really important to know what the public wants and to also find your own unique style.  Most of all:  be professional because no one likes to work with a flake.

I remember we were talking about the National Stationery Show one time and you had mentioned you attended the Surtex Licensing show as well. Can you explain how that show is different from the Stationery show and what your experience was like there?
Surtex is a licensing show.  The National Stationery Show is a tradeshow where buyers place orders.  At Surtex card companies discovered me and they licensed my designs.  At the NSS, buyers place ordered for my actual designs and I send them the finished product.  They are too different shows entirely.  Not every one is looking for card designs at Surtex.  Your designs could end up on wallpaper, plates or as a stuffed animal.  Though at the NSS, I was approached by a large card company to license my designs.  I personally prefer the NSS, but that is just me.

Lastly, are you content with designing cards alone, or would you like to try your hand at other creative activities as well? What do you see in your future?
Funny you should ask!  I’m ready for a new challenge.  I’m not ditching my company by any means because I’ve built something wonderful.  I love my customers and have become friends with a lot of them.  I also know I have developed a wonderful understanding of humanity over the years of writing the verse for so many life events that people walk through.  I am officially taking myself off my self imposed hiatus from acting.  I earned my SAG card years ago so I’m dusting it off.  I actually was just asked to read for a small part in ‘Lost’ so I think that is a good sign!  It is time for me to expand myself as an artist.  I also have a couple of books that I have been developing slowly over the last couple of years and of course I have my blogs: http://jillanne.wordpress.com/ , http://nycmoments.wordpress.com/ , http://blogheaders.wordpress.com/ .  I feel fortunate that I have so many talents to choose from!  I truly see myself succeeding in all of these venues.  Like I was told before:  If you really want something, you will find a way to make it happen!

To see more of JillAnne Ohana's work visit: http://www.jillanne.com
ja@jillanne.com

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