For our next artist interview for the City Wallets series, we find out more about Emily Dumas, the designer and illustrator of the Brooklyn wallet. Dumas runs Flowers in May, a design and illustration studio north of Boston that specializes in uniquely handmade art prints, paper goods, invitations, and miscellaneous housewares. Today, the self-professed concert junkie shares with us her artistic inspirations and recommendations for visiting Brooklyn!

1. Please tell us more about yourself, and share with us your background, how you got started as an illustrator and how you define your artistic style.

I graduated from a state school in graphic design 8 years ago and was interested in Illustration from early on. I did the big ad agency job as a designer for over 6 years but knew ultimately I wanted to have my own business. I always considered myself as having two jobs. When I was done with work, I’d go home and work on my own personal projects. My love for illustration grew when I started working on invitations for friends and family. And Flowers in May was formed.

Simple color palettes and tiny details are what I’m all about. I love clean lines and symmetry. I work in my own strange way, it’s not always the same every time. But I do pick a topic, a color palette, write out a list of words, do quick sketches and then create them in Illustrator.

I’m constantly rearranging my illustrations until they fit into the perfect puzzle that I want. The sizes of the images as well as the flow of color are really important when I’m working.

2. How did the design for the Brooklyn wallet come about?

I had a lot of fun with this one! I’ve not been to every Brooklyn neighborhood. But I love it! Brooklyn is so hip. It embraces art, music, trends and culture. So this design focuses on all those things.

3. What are some places to visit/things to do in Brooklyn that we shouldn’t miss out on?

Every time I go to Brooklyn, I want to find a new record store, coffee shop and Mexican food (I’m a huge fan of fish tacos) I love Mesa Coyoacan in Williamsburg. But for a first timer, I’d recommend you get a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge (day or night). and check out the Brooklyn Flea.

4. What is your best travel memory?

I’d have to say my trip to Paris when I was in college. It was my first time out of the country. It’s a beautiful city. I packed so much into one week because I thought I may never come back here. I have to see it all!

5. Which destination(s) is high on your travel list this year and why?

Austin, Texas. I love discovering new music and I’m a sucker for a live show.

6. You describe yourself as a “concert junkie” on your website…what kind of music do you enjoy, and how does music influence your work?

Haha, I am a concert junkie! That’s what I grew up doing. My parents took us to shows, we didn’t go to Disney World. I worked in a record store in high school and college. So music has always been a big part of my life. As far as what I like, I’m all over the map. I love alternative country and folk but I’m also a huge hip hop fan.

Music certainly influences my work. It sets the mood. I always listen to music while I’m working.

Anna Corpron is a savvy businesswoman who wears many hats: a jewelry designer, mother of two, and owner and curator of The Working Proof, an organization that seeks to promote art and social responsibility. The Working Proof is also Poketo’s latest collaborator in the new City Wallets series, and Poketo was thrilled to work with Anna on picking the theme and artists for this newly launched collection.

For the City Wallets series, Poketo will be donating 10 percent of proceeds from wallet sales to 826LA, while The Working Proof, which will also carry the wallets on their site, will do the same for 826National from March 11th to June 1st.

In our latest interview, we speak to Anna to find out more about the City Wallet series, her aesthetic and work.

1. Please tell us more about yourself, and share with us your background, how you got started in art and design.

I currently split my time between two businesses: The Working Proof, which pairs art with social responsibility, and my jewelry line, Brevity. My background is actually in architecture. I got my b.arch at Cornell University and practiced architecture for five years before going part time to work on my jewelry line, Brevity. I loved architecture and seeing my designs on paper become a reality, but found that my interests really lay in smaller-scale design. What began as a way for me to channel that interest, eventually became my full time job.

2. Can you share with us a bit about The Working Proof? How did it get started and what is its philosophy/mission?

The Working Proof is a collaboration with my husband, Sean. We wanted to find a way to integrate our interest in social responsibility with our love of art and design. Our church, Redeemer Presbyterian, holds an annual business plan competition, and we decided to enter, thinking that it would be good practice to put together a business plan. We never imagined that we would get past the first round, but as we fleshed out our idea and our business plan, we not only got through the first round, but we ended up winning the arts category of the competition. Through that, we received a grant that allowed us to launch our website.

The mission of The Working Proof is to support charity through art. We work with a great community of artists to release a limited-edition print each week. 15% of each print sold is donated to the charity of the artist’s choice. We offer our customers access to a wide array of amazing artwork on an immediate, affordable scale, with a positive social impact built right in. To date, we’ve donated almost $20,000 to our charities.

3. How did the collaboration with Poketo come about?

I’m a longtime Poketo fan. We love how Poketo integrates art into everyday objects, and we have actually released editions with many of the same artists at The Working Proof. A collaboration with Poketo just seemed like a natural fit.

4. How did you pick the artists and theme for the collaboration?

Angie and I selected the artists together – Dan Funderburgh, Emily Dumas, Linda Kim, and James Gulliver Hancock – all artists who have released editions with The Working Proof before. Being that Poketo is in LA, The Working Proof is in New York, and our artists come from everywhere in between, we asked them to illustrate their favorite cities.

Dan Funderburgh

Emily Dumas

Linda Kim

James Gulliver Hancock

5. How did you select the charity to support for this project?

The Working Proof has been a long time supporter of 826 National. We love what they do as an organization to encourage creativity and to make writing and learning fun for kids. On top of that, they have several amazing, playful stores that support their local chapters – I mean, come on, what kid wouldn’t love shopping at the Bigfoot Research Institute, The Museum of Unnatural History, or the Superhero Supply Co? Poketo will be donating 10% of the first month’s sales of the City Wallets to their local chapter, 826LA, and The Working Proof will continue to support 826 National.

6. What kind of art are you drawn towards featuring on The Working Proof?
I’m drawn to a wide range of artwork. Really, when I look for artists to feature, I’m just looking for individual pieces that speak to me, and hopefully to other people, as well.

7. Besides The Working Proof, what other projects or initiatives are you pursuing?
I mentioned my jewelry line, Brevity, before – between that and The Working Proof and my two kids, I’ve got a pretty full plate!

8. What is the inspiration behind Brevity?
The word brevity means “the quality of expressing much in few words”. That definition is what drives the design philosophy behind Brevity – I aim to create designs that are concise and simple, yet meaningful. My Geometric collection was inspired by my architecture background, and by geometric forms found in nature. The Lines collection was inspired by Native American symbols and the simple elegance of a line. The Horo Collection was inspired by vintage clock hands, fused in time. With my custom name necklaces, I was inspired to offer something beyond the standard nameplate necklace, and have loved partnering with calligrapher Crystal Kluge to provide one-of-a-kind custom necklaces.

We are so excited to reveal the City Wallets series, our first limited edition artist-designed wallets of the year. Featuring artistic renderings of Brooklyn, Florence, Cairo and Los Angeles, the City Wallets series bring out the fun, beauty and spontaneity of travel. It is also a special one designed with a cause in mind, and created in collaboration with The Working Proof, a New York-based organization dedicated to promoting art and social responsibility. Anna Corpron, a co-founder of The Working Proof, hand-picked the artists and theme of this project.

From 11th March to June 1st, Poketo will be donating 10 percent of proceeds from the wallet sales to 826LA, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center that provides under-resourced students aged 6-18 with opportunities to explore their creativity and improve their writing skills. This marks the second time that we’ve released wallets to benefit a cause. Longtime fans of Poketo will remember that back in 2008, we worked with ten artists on another collection to benefit 826LA. The Working Proof will also carry the Wallets on their website, likewise donating 10 percent of wallet sales to 826 National.

In the next few weeks, we will be rolling out artist interviews, so you get to find out more about the four talented artists behind each wallet. Meanwhile, do check out the City Wallets here and pick up one (or a few) for a good cause!

To kick off the New Year, we are unveiling the very first, and brand new collection of artist-designed canvas zip wallets. This first collection brings in long time Poketo collaborators Cole Gerst, Colourbox, Jolby, and Yellena James.

These new wallets hold special meaning for us, as back in 2003, our very first offering was the limited edition vinyl artist wallets. For nearly 10 years now, our signature wallets have always been a hit and over the years we’ve collaborated hundreds of international artists and have partnered with brands we love like Adventure Time, Disney, Nike, Target, 826LA, Arcade Fire, Portugal The Man… the list goes on!

Through the years we’ve gotten tons of requests for wallets in a longer, slimmer size… so now, let us introduce what will become a new staple for Poketo, the limited edition, canvas zip wallet.

Like the original, our new wallets designs are from contemporary artists, long time friends of Poketo that we love and adore… the artwork just pops! These new wallets are made from durable canvas with lots of inner compartments, so you get plenty of room to organize your everyday essentials – from bills to coins to credit cards and receipts! To top it off, a metal zipper holds everything securely in place. We made them as timeless and stylish as they are functional, and designed them to be a go-anywhere, everyday essential that can be easily tucked into your purse and bag. Not only ideal for the everyday, a way for all of us to carry art “on the go”.

They’re now available online, select boutiques, and at the Poketo Flagship Store. Check them out and let us know what you think!