SEARCHING FOR A PAPER THAT FAITHFULLY DEPICTS THE VIVID COLORS OF YOUR ART?

Discover why Hawaii-based watercolor artist Garry Palm relies on us to help his business soar.

Greetings From the Aloha State

You’ve created a vibrant, colorful image. But the hues lose their punch when you try to reproduce your work in large quantities. If this has ever happened to you, Garry Palm knows the feeling.

A self-taught watercolor artist from the suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Garry and his wife moved to the Big Island in 1987 after catching the aloha spirit during their Hawaiian honeymoon. This tropical paradise is the perfect backdrop for Garry’s vivid landscapes, florals, portraits, and nostalgic vintage images. He sells original watercolors, giclee prints on canvas, matted prints, greeting cards, and other products on which he has licensed his images.

Enter Red River Paper

Because Garry’s work is often multihued, using paper that showcases bright colors with precision is essential. “I tried many greeting card papers before I finally found Red River Paper,” he tells us. “Red River products show my work very accurately. My work is often color-saturated, and this paper can faithfully handle all that color.”

Garry’s go-to product is our 60lb. Polar Matte Double-Sided Greeting Cards. This paper features a beautiful soft white printing surface with outstanding ink holdout capabilities. The ultra-smooth, non-reflective surface allows the details of an artwork to shine. Totally acid-free, Polar Matte is perfect for high-quality imaging.

“My greeting card business has grown exponentially in the last few years, and Red River Paper is the foundation of this growth,” says Garry. “The cards are very attractive on the card rack and sell very well.” We’re proud to have a part in Garry’s business success and we’d love to tell him so in person in Hawaii one day!

See More of Garry’s Work

You’ll find a range of work — plus “Art & Wine” classes — at GarryPalm.com. If you’re lucky enough to visit the 50th state, you may catch Garry painting live at local galleries on the Big Island or see his work in galleries on Oahu and Maui. To read about his favorite project, scroll to the Q&A below.

Enjoy our Q&A with Artist Garry Palm…

What year was your business founded, and how did you get started?
In 1992, I went full-time with my art career, although I had been a very active painter since a young age.

Tell us a little about what product or service your business offers.
My work is available as original watercolors, giclee prints on canvas, matted prints in various sizes, greeting cards, and many other products on which I have licensed my images.

What makes your business unique?
I like to think I have a unique style with watercolors, and am very happy when someone says, "Hey, that looks like a Garry Palm image.” My self-taught technique lends itself to many different styles and genres, from highly detailed florals to portraits and nostalgic creations.

Where do you source your raw materials from?
Most of my painting supplies are purchased from online art websites, but a lot of my matted print supplies are purchased in Hawaii to support local vendors.

In what ways does the business reflect your own personality?
Since I’m able to create images in many genres, I like to guide my business with my work and what is selling well at the time. My work sometimes reflects current events but also harkens back to the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. I have lived in Hawaii for over three decades, and many of my images have an underlying Hawaiian theme.

Who are your typical customers?
Hawaii is such a global destination, so my work has been sold all around the world. I also have a very good following of locals, plus a large group of past customers from everywhere.

What is the most interesting project you've encountered in the course of your work?
One of my favorite projects was a series of iconic Hollywood actress portraits in Hawaiian settings — like they were in Hawaii on vacation. It was a great way to highlight my portrait capabilities while showing unique Hawaiian locales.

What has Red River Paper done for your business? Is there a particular challenge Red River Paper has helped you overcome or a goal they helped you meet?
Red River Paper has allowed me to present my work economically to many people with my greeting cards. Because of the color accuracy of the paper, my cards are bright and appealing. Red River Paper has been there as my card business keeps growing, and I hope they can keep up with my fast growth!

What do you appreciate most about Red River Paper's products/services?
I tried many greeting card papers before I finally found Red River Paper. Red River products show my work very accurately. My work is often color-saturated, and this paper can faithfully handle all that color.

Do you have any future growth or product launch or event goals you’d like to share?
My greeting card business has grown exponentially in the last few years, and Red River Paper is the foundation of this growth. The cards are very attractive on the card rack and sell very well. Hawaii has a tourism-based economy, so new customers are always coming and going from our islands, and most want to take something home with them.

Are there any upcoming shows or company events you would like to include?
I paint live at many galleries every month, so I look forward to meeting everyone at one of my galleries in Hawaii when you visit. I live on the Big Island but also have artwork displayed on Maui and Oahu. Mahalo!

Success on paper is our series highlighting businesses from around the country with at least one thing in common: Red River Paper. From architectural firms to printing retailers, companies that depend on impeccable paper quality and creative customer service are relying on RRP to help them present their work in beautiful, compelling ways.

ARE YOU READY FOR THE SPOTLIGHT? Simply respond to the questionnaire here to apply to be included in an upcoming Success on Paper feature.

All artwork and/or photographs used in this post are subject to copyright held by the featured artist.

Last updated December 12, 2023

Original Publication Date: December 12, 2023

Article Last updated: January 11, 2024