Inside the Designer’s Mind: Hand Drawn Insights from a Graphic Artist

Getting a peek into the creative surroundings of one of your favorite artists is a special treat. Here, we were lucky enough to get a glimpse into the world of Renee Griffith of the naturally thoughtful paper goods brand Heartswell.

Best known for her sweetly messaged greeting cards, original gift wrap and little reminder notepads, Renee’s workspace brims with positive vibes thanks to her inspiration-clad wall and plethora of plants—many of which are desert varieties, a nod to her time spent in Arizona.

It’s really no wonder that the West Palm Beach artist, who studied graphic design and ironically never really liked drawing, pens an abundance of heart-happy messages in this sun-soaked studio every day. Surrounded by her three pups and armed with her sketchbook and pens, Renee’s in-demand hand lettered stationery collections, which are locally printed on recycled materials, have our hearts swelling just watching her create them! Take a peek into her space as she reveals to AT what makes her tick.

Heartswell headquarters is a bright and happy studio in South Florida full of greenery, inspiration and sunshine.

All of Renee’s papergoods feature her original heartfelt sayings. You’re likely to find a smattering of rock crystals and plenty of succulents.

Renee notes that she handwrites all the calligraphy featured on her cards and notepads, then scans them onto her computer to recreate them digitally for a clean look.

Heartswell cards and wrapping paper fashion an inspiration wall in a corner of Renee’s studio. She often uses the vintage letterpress machine for one-off cards.

Heartswell cards, notepads and gift wrap—all featuring original art and hand-lettering with the occasional metallic accent—can be found at retailers, including West Elm, across 18 states as well as at two international locations.