Welcome to the fascinating world of Marz Today, where art journalism has evolved into a successful venture crafting handmade stamps. In this interview, Marz shares her journey, from finding inspiration in daily life to overcoming challenges as an artist-entrepreneur. Discover how she balances creativity with business, and the joyous moments that have shaped her path. Join us as we explore the intersection of art, storytelling, and entrepreneurship through Marz's unique perspective.
Can you tell us about your personal journey that led you to start Marz Today? How did your background as an art journalist influence your transition into creating handmade stamps?
I was at a point in my life where I was a serial-workshop attendee, trying all sorts of activities from book-binding to paper cutting, among other crafts. It was when I stumbled on Christine Schmidt's book called "Print Workshop" that opened the floodgates in my interest in making stamps in 2013. Back then my blog named Marz Today became the brand for my stamps because that's all I've been posting about. Simultaneously, I was at the early stage of my career as an editorial coordinator at an art publication. So I kept practicing as a way to unwind from work, while my day job allowed me to see different artistic practices and learn from other artists’ struggles in pursuing art as a full-time career.
I never saw my practice as printmaking until 2019, when I met an older woman artist, Angela Silva at an art fair that I was covering. I was surprised that she knew of my work. It's her encouragement and validation of my work that empowered me to see my work as more than just a hobby. Encouragement from another woman artist is a powerful thing. Since then, I've been able to straddle both industries of commercial business and fine arts by exhibiting my prints in galleries and museums.
What inspired you to start creating handmade stamps as a way to document life? Was there a specific moment or experience that sparked this idea?
I typically don't create from imagination so stamps has been my medium to document life. I suppose my assignment to interview the artist Tetsuya Noda fueled my rationale to document everyday as he did in his practice using wood-cut prints. So what I do is not new, I am also deeply inspired by another stamp artist and essayist, Nancy Seki, whom I serendipitously discovered while researching about my medium. What was amazing was that we both shared an affinity for writing and using stamps as an illustration aid in our writing.
Could you share some of the challenges you faced when transitioning from your role as an art journalist to focusing on Marz Today full-time? How did you overcome these challenges?
I am still an art journalist to this day. What happened was I switched from making stamps as a hobby to it being my day job and journalism becoming my part-time job. But definitely, the transition from going from a corporate role to becoming an independent artist was challenging, particularly the idea of not having a steady income. Over time I found a nice routine that allows for sustainability where I can rely on my art to sustain my daily needs, and then on days when it's a little bit hard, I have my practice as an art journalist to augment my income. For me, it's hard to not write about art because there's too much talent out there that begs to be talked about.
As an entrepreneur and artist, what advice would you give to others who are considering starting their own creative business or pursuing their passion full-time?
Most creatives I know are employed in a corporate setup and they practice art after hours and that's alright. Doing art part-time doesn't make you less of an artist. You’ll eventually want to do it full time but you have to be kind to yourself. That move takes some financial preparations and there's no rush. Scale up gradually, and find out what works for you until you find yourself at a place where you can comfortably pursue your passion full-time.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of running Marz Today? Are there any memorable moments or experiences that stand out to you?
Conducting public demos is one of the funniest and most rewarding experiences. Last year I facilitated a public demo for the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Pasinaya (This is an event that attracts 10,000 guests per day). I set up a stamp buffet that had stamps mimicking Filipino breakfast items. It was so funny because the guests were asking for stamps to be handed to them as if we were at the dining table. “Please pass the spoon”, “Where’s the rice?”, “I am sorry I am a vegetarian”, and “This makes me so hungry!” were some of the exchanges the participants had, and, mind you, these are stamps and not food.
Receiving annoyed comments about how folks get hungry when I do demos is not new, sometimes they think my work is food. It gets me every time. Kidding aside, my work that involves food has opened up opportunities for me to work with some big brands like Tatler Dining's Off Menu. It blew my mind to see my tiny stamp prints blow up and be the key visuals of this event.
How do you stay motivated and inspired to continue creating unique handmade stamps? Do you have any rituals or practices that help fuel your creativity?
Inspiration comes to me daily. I watch the news, I overhear conversations, and I think about what relevant events are happening, like holidays based on significant people in our history. I don't think there's ever going to be a shortage of sources of inspiration or motivation. It typically boils down to whether I can capture the essence of my subject or if have the physical energy to make stamps since I am hands-on with the production of all the stamps.
Can you share a bit about the creative process behind designing and making your stamps? Do you have any favorite materials or techniques that you like to use?
Like I’ve mentioned in the previous question, I like to listen to the news, read up on what's happening in society, and kind of get a pulse on pop culture and then I reflect on that and figure out what would resonate with my audience but more importantly, what matters to me.
I do a lot of relief printmaking with the stamps I make, and that involves using a rubber block and my trusty craft knife. And since access to print presses is hard to come by, I am pushing myself to experiment with alternative materials like Tetra Paks and ink pads.
In what ways do you incorporate storytelling into your work at Marz Today? How do you believe storytelling enhances the experience for your customers?
At the heart of my business is the desire to keep things light but at the same time appeal to nostalgia. I create stamps as a tangible way to commemorate the legacies of people in history and pop culture and day-to-day occurrences that just seem to pass us. Say, for example, I make a stamp of a shirt that I see everyone wearing, and my audiences can draw up their own stories and contexts. I am just the hands that make the stamps but at the end of the day, it’s up to the customers if the piece resonates with them.
What are your future goals and aspirations for Marz Today? Are there any new projects or collaborations on the horizon that you're particularly excited about?
Apart from scheduled pop-ups across the country, I have a series of workshops that I plan to do in collaboration with other studios and artists from different disciplines. I'd like to see how I can extend their practice or artwork as stamps or even washi tapes.
Lastly, how do you balance your creative pursuits with the business side of running Marz Today? Do you have any tips for maintaining this balance effectively?
Striking a balance between business and doing art is a work in progress. A tip I learned from my contemporaries is to work in seasons. There will be seasons of diving deep into art-making and seasons where you’ll focus on profit-making projects. And because I am also a journalist, that’s another responsibility that takes me away from my creative practice. However, find it healthy to be exposed to different things that are not part of my practice, in a way it creates breathing room when I work on different projects under Marz Today.
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The questions raised and the answers offered in this article are very enlightening and inspiring. The balancing act between an art career and a steady job to support oneself is very tough. I've had the great pleasure of working with Marz as a fellow artist; her professionalism, insights, and expertise in entrepreneurship and social marketing is very high! Congratulations on your successes, Marz, and I'm happy to follow and and support your projects.