New The Print Emporium range features iconic Australia

You know how excited we get about affordable art here so when we heard The Print Emporium was back with a new collection we couldn’t wait to check it out. Full of soft, muted tones for spring and plenty more of the florals that put the company on the map, we caught up with the brand’s founder and creative director Zoe Bristow for a step through the new range. Plus, you can get 15% off until Thursday!

Print Emporium print — ‘Vintage Peonies’ print

“For this collection, I was inspired by a range of things that capture both spring and summer themes. For the spring theme, I focused on creating a new range of beautiful realistic looking florals. I am a little obsessed with flowers as I think anyone who has seen my collection can quickly tell!” says Zoe.

'Beach Bathers' art print — ‘Beach Bathers’ print

The summer theme draws on iconic Australian places such as Bondi Beach and the Great Ocean Road for inspiration. “I was inspired by decor you would find in vintage beach shacks, Australia’s coastline including the Great Ocean Road, Bondi Beach where I used to live, my previous summer holidays in Europe and also a trip to LA last year,” says Zoe.

Each design is hand-painted on canvas with oil or acrylic paint, before being photographed and printed on giclée paper as an art print or canvas that is then stretched on a timber frame. “I work with a bunch of painters whom I privately commission to bring my designs to life, many painted from photos I personally take. We proudly continue to make each artwork locally and use gorgeous timber frames too,” says Zoe.

Given that most of the works start out as photographs, it’s not surprising that many people mistake the works for photography. “I recently exhibited this new collection at two big design and retail trade shows in Melbourne and what was interesting was that many buyers thought my range were photos. When I pointed out that my premium core collection is initially hand-painted they were pretty amazed as some of the designs have such fine details,” says Zoe.

The Print Emporium — ‘Spring Bouquet’ print

As for her top picks, Zoe is particularly enamoured with the ‘Bondi Icebergs Pool’ print. “I photographed the ocean pool when I was living up there on a day when the sea water was being emptied and the pool was being cleaned. The final artwork is a painting of my original photo. The interior of my home in Melbourne is all-white, so this one fits right in and takes me back to my Bondi days!” says Zoe.

Bondi Icebergs print — ‘Bondi Icebergs Swell’ print

“Another favourite would probably be ‘Dark Blooms I’ which is a moody floral and then there is ‘Beach Bathers’ which is a pastel aerial beach scene, and also ‘Great Ocean Road I’ which is a serene coastal scene of the Apostles. I love escaping Melbourne on weekends and taking coastal drives down there along the rugged coastline as it is truly spectacular. I even have a print called ‘Sleeping Koala’ which was inspired by the road near Cape Otway where you can spot koalas sleeping in the trees along the road to the coast. So I guess this collection includes a lot of personal memories of mine.”