Artist Spotlight: La Familia Green

All La Familia Green products begin in Mollie Green’s Chicago studio as an original drawing, print, or collage. Her assistant Rachel packs them up and sends them out!

Mollie enjoys the immediacy and intimacy of cards. You buy a card, write a note and send it out into the world. You never know how many people will experience - hold, use, enjoy - your work.

Running and rescue pets are Mollie’s passions. She donates 10% a month back to local charities. She is also proud to be vegan - so keep in mind that all of those corndogs and nachos in her work are plant based! ;)

Tell us about the birth of La Familia Green!

I grew up among the dusty tumbleweeds of Lubbock, Texas. After moving to the Midwest in high school, I completed a BFA in painting and printmaking at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Graduation forced the lesson of how to live and work as an artist—that meant retail by day, artist by night. Attempting to integrate retail skills with artistic training and a love of multiples led to the birth of La Familia Green in 2005.

Did you always want to be an artist, even in childhood?

Yes! I always wanted to be an artist. I grew up in a family of other artists, and it was encouraged. I took art classes and won art competitions as a child—including a greeting card contest! Today, I am a fourth generation small business owner.

What is your favorite medium to create with? Describe your process.

I like to use as little digital assistance as possible. I have a background in screen printing, and I try to recreate that aesthetic with cut paper and line drawings layered on top of each other. Then I scan those in to create a digital file to send to my printer.

Where do you find your inspiration?

I keep a running list of ideas on my phone. As new card ideas come to me, I jot them down in the Notes app. I’m inspired by what’s in the zeitgeist, my personal experiences living in Chicago, and living with a house full of animals. I love that I can easily and quickly express my interests through this medium.

What's your solution for combating “creative block” and maintaining productivity?  

I try to stick to a regular release schedule—though this year has not followed that. And I stick to business hours. This is a fun and creative job, but it’s also work. I treat it that way.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I have two adopted dogs - Stickers is 14 and Zuzu is 8; and two adopted cats Lemur, 14 and Keith, 1. We also have a constant stream of foster cats and kittens via Lulu’s Locker Rescue.

In my free time, I am a runner for DWRunning - a team here in Chicago. And I’m a Peloton addict. I also like working on my old house here in Edgewater, visiting local breweries and record stores and experimenting with new vegan recipes.

What are the biggest challenges you have faced to get to where you are now?

I don’t have any formal graphic design or business education. So I just Google the answers to my questions. And I hired a bookkeeper and accountant.

How does the culture of your city contribute to the development of your independent business?

I’m thankful to live and work in the diverse and artistic neighborhood of Rogers Park in Chicago. And I love being surrounded by other small businesses - restaurants, stores, etc.

We hear you are working on new card designs for the spring. Can you tell us a bit about them?

New 2021 Valentines and Spring Cards will be available soon! Definitely with a nod to current times.

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Check out Mollie’s shop at www.lafamiliagreen.com and on Instagram at @lafamiliagreen