Meet Amy Armour | Printmaker and Surface Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amy Armour and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amy, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My thought process behind starting Fastsoft Press was that I wanted a way to reconnect with my printmaking practice and to be a part of the excitement around the growing handmade movement.

At the time, I was also gravitating towards using more eco-friendly and reusable home goods and I wanted that lifestyle to be a part of my business model.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My Art Practice is always evolving as I really love to push the boundaries of certain mediums; whether it’s watercolors, block printing, or textile art. I believe I was first inspired to think outside of the box as an Artist when I took my first Printmaking class at Atlanta College of Art. I loved trying all the different methods of pulling a print but especially loved Screenprinting and Etching. During my time there as an undergraduate, I was able to experiment with printing on unusual materials like sugar cubes and glass, while also exploring sculpture and photography.

The inspiration behind my art is the plant/ flower world and our connection to the natural world. I love to study the life cycle of a plant and you can often find me wandering around my Decatur neighborhood or a Botanical garden with my camera seeking to capture the beauty and forms of local flora. With my work, everything starts with my drawing practice and it is what I am most proud of as an Artist. I will admit that I didn’t have a natural drawing ability as a student but I did realize that it was a skill that I could learn over time and with daily practice. Learning to draw well and find my own unique style, gave me the confidence over time to work in a variety of mediums and to be able to move past mistakes and failings.

I would like the community to know that my work is a reflection of the wonder I feel when I am in nature. I hope that my brand communicates that beauty and connection we have to the natural world while also encouraging us to celebrate that beauty in our homes with Art and eco-friendly products.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First, I would take someone to some of my favorite local places in Decatur, where I’ve lived for the last 15 years. I love a good breakfast and coffee spot and my neighborhood favorite is Banjo coffee on E. College Ave. I also love Sun in My belly for their lavender biscuits and awesome patio. Next up, we would go to some of my favorite bookshops and vintage shops. I love bookshops that are a bit overstuffed and have a mix of new and used books. Two of my favorites are 1/2 priced books and Eagle Eye bookstore. 1/2 Priced books also sells new and used Vinyl records and I have found some great ones there. For vintage shopping, I would go to Kudzu antiques or Mother Lode. Such great places to browse and find unique and fun vintage housewares, clothes, art, furniture.
I also would take them to some of the many great breweries around town. Wild Heaven and The Lost Druid are my local favorites. For lunch, I love Arepa Mia, a Latin cafe, that serves amazing Empanadas and Sangria.
For handmade shopping, Garage Door Studio, Homegrown Decatur, and The Collective.
Would end the day by stopping by the giant Dekalb International Food market and buying all the veggie and spices I need for Curry and taking a walk around the lake in Legacy park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to give a shout-out to the Homegrown store in Downtown Decatur. They were the first shop I sold my work in and being given the opportunity to sell and work there( it was a co-op at the time) was invaluable to me in developing the line that I currently have. It also gave me the confidence to grow my business and take on new opportunities.

Website: https://Www.fastsoftpress.com

Instagram: @fastsoftpressatl

Image Credits
Amy Armour, Mushaboom studio