There’s been some noise lately in our community about makers “stealing” the images and messaging of other makers and repurposing them in their own work. Unfortunately, this type of unpleasantness happens from time to time. But the good news is, I can guarantee that that situation definitely doesn’t apply to today’s stationery subject — unless perhaps John Waters or Tim Burton is starting a card range.
In that case, Christine Nardone of black line rainbows should probably consider retaining an attorney. For this stark black-and-white world is full of crazy clowns (of which I am legit terrified!), misbehaving Santas, drunken space bunnies thoughtlessly abandoned by the mothership, aliens, and of course, legions and legions of angels. Yes, this is the cult favorite you never knew you wanted (until now).
Christine, a graduate of The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston/Tufts University, describes her range as the character actor of the greeting card world. “Never the ingenue, never gets top billing, yet it delivers the unheralded performance of a lifetime, again and again.”
So, what spurs this mysterious, mystical cavalcade? “I never know exactly where I am going with any particular drawing; process plays a huge role in how I work,” Christine wrote me. “I am influenced by family, photography, film, paintings, and situations. With that said, there is specificity in the majority of drawings because they were inspired by or made for a particular person.”
Take the marvelous origin story of The Angel and Bigfoot. “It all started when my mom asked for angels for Christmas one year, it must have been during Covid,” Christine recalled; on her site, she describes angels as human-shaped spaceships. “This particular card was inspired by my brother who, as a child, was terrified of Bigfoot. And I mean terrified. If you mentioned Bigfoot, he would start screaming, “no no no no no NO NO NO,” as he plugged his ears and ran into another room. This was the 1970s. Bigfoot was culturally prevalent, his existence seemed plausible because episodes of In Search Of highlighted his existence, several blurry black and white photos of Bigfoot walking through the woods surfaced — proof was everywhere! In elementary school, we’d spend recess searching for Bigfoot. So, this is the direct result of my mom asking for angels.”
Christine continued, “The Clown with the Balloon in Utah was my first clown drawing! This was a birthday card for my niece, who also has a dark sense of humor, and was spending a semester in Utah. I kept thinking of photographers like Bill Owens who documented the creation of housing communities and their encroachment on undeveloped land. With this one image in my head, all I could l think of was a clown encroaching in a space you think of as yours. With a balloon, clean, in the blazing desert heat, from nowhere, how did it find you, should I be happy?”
“People who like my cards tend to appreciate how different they are,” Christine noted. “They are not expected. They like the humor and darkness, my drawing style, and they are excited to give them to people they know who will like them, to share them. One thing I keep hearing, and I love hearing this, is that people keep these cards. They don’t get rid of them, which is such an honor that people feel so strongly about them.”
Christine tells me she currently developing a more minimally drawn series about domestic bliss. She is not sure where will go as it is in its infancy, but as a very reluctant housewife, I for one can’t wait! I’d like to think a sad clown plays the violin whenever I have to vacuum, too.
Review the below and I think you will agree: black line rainbows is definitely the alternative music of stationery!
Be the first in your crew to discover this range and start your shop here. If you are interested in wholesale, reach out to Christine here. Your clientele won’t know what hit them — but will be begging for spaceship rides in no time!
