Article: Ink On Paper Source X Icinori
Ink On Paper Source X Icinori
Ink on Paper Source is a collaborative collection from independent artists who inspire us. Discover their creative voices, translated into stationery and wedding invitations exclusively at Paper Source.
Icinori is a studio led by artists Mayumi Otero and Raphaël Urwiller, who specialize in art books, prints, animated books, and concertinas. They describe their brand as “a unified creative force—one soul with two heads and four hands.”
They partnered with Ink on Paper Source to create a custom collection of journals, notepads, address labels, and more in their signature style. “Our style is a unique crossroads of diverse cultures, blending Mayumi’s Japanese and Spanish heritage with Raphael’s background rooted in Germanic culture, childhood in Africa, and experiences in China. It is a rich dialogue bridging ancient traditions and contemporary illustration, characterized by meticulous line work, vibrant and carefully structured color palettes, graphic narration, and a strong emphasis on texture and composition. Two different universes colliding and challenging each other to create astonishing images.” The team shared.
“We met while studying at the École Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs de Strasbourg, where we shared a passion for printmaking, drawing, and storytelling. Back then, we spent our days screen printing and our nights drawing. Wishing to escape from a sometimes incomprehensible academic pedagogy, we decided to design and produce our own editions directly in the school's printing workshops. We founded Icinori as an independent visual arts studio and publishing house to explore printmaking, artists' books, and illustration without boundaries.”
“Our inspiration comes from daily observations, travels, architecture, flora and fauna, early cinema, traditional print techniques, and folk art traditions from around the world. We are fascinated by the repeating routines of everyday life—doing the same things every day, getting up, working, going to bed—which pushes our minds to seek ways out and create extraordinary, surprising, and colorful worlds.”
“Our process is deeply collaborative, hands-on, and conversational. We combine contrasting approaches to drawing—balancing deliberate, precise line work with more fluid, energetic, and adaptable gestures. Every day, we gather our ideas, share our research and notes, and constantly exchange sketches. We split and rotate tasks dynamically: proposing initial concepts, selecting and developing intermediate versions, and passing the work back and forth for color tests and final execution. Even when we disagree, that creative friction fuels our production before the final printing and crafting stages bring the work to life.”
“We are most proud of maintaining our complete artistic independence through Icinori while building a body of work—spanning books, prints, exhibitions, and public installations—that connects deeply with readers and audiences globally. Above all, we take pride in finding interest, craftsmanship, and poetry at every single stage of the creative journey. Working directly with colors, inks, and printing machines allowed us to master the entire creation chain, striving to ensure every step contains a form of poetry and preserves an artistic gesture.”
To explore Icinori's Ink on Paper Source collection, click here, check out their website, and follow them on social.
