Vinyl Disorder · Artists & Friends
KATE
THURMAN.
A little nostalgia.
A lot of personality.
Meet the artist behind Smarty Pants Paper Co. A longtime friend of Vinyl Disorder, and a maker with a knack for turning everyday things into something worth smiling about.
The person behind the personality
Meet your new
favorite Smarty Pants.
Kate’s creative life began early: an art class introduced her to screen printing at nine. She studied painting at the Savannah College of Art and Design, then turned her own wedding stationery into a paper-goods business.
Smarty Pants started in 2005. Today, her Knoxville studio is home to original illustration, playful paper goods and a well-loved Risograph printer.
The Vinyl Disorder team
A whole world of good weird
Personality, in every form.
There’s a shared sense of humor across Kate’s work. Bright color, familiar shapes and a wink that makes you look twice.
Cards with something to say.
Tiny illustrations, big feelings. A look at the paper side of Smarty Pants.
Explore at Smarty Pants ↗
Art you can take along.
Bold little designs with plenty of attitude.
Explore at Smarty Pants ↗
Everyday, made more fun.
Notes, desk companions and little objects with character.
Explore at Smarty Pants ↗
Small things. Big character.
Retro references and playful shapes, ready to go everywhere.
Explore at Smarty Pants ↗A showcase of Kate’s work. Explore the original collections on her own website.
Ink. Paper. A machine named Wanda.
There’s a real
maker behind it.
Kate prints much of her paper collection on a Risograph. Each color goes through separately, leaving room for the small variations that give the finished pieces their character.
- 01Original ideas and illustration.
- 02Color, layered one pass at a time.
- 03Paper goods with a little human personality.
This didn’t happen overnight
A creative life, kept in motion.
The first print.
A Christmas card on a Gocco machine.
Art school.
A painting degree from SCAD.
Smarty Pants begins.
Wedding invitations led to note cards, craft fairs and Etsy.
A new way to print.
Kate brought home her first Risograph.
Milestones from Kate’s official story. The image above shows her colorful body of work, not archival photographs of the dates.
Keep following the creative thread
More from Kate’s world.
Her blog is another way in. Explore the ideas, collections and playful details behind Smarty Pants.
From the Smarty Pants blog
Acrylic Keychains Are Here!
A closer look at seven character-filled designs, from a roller skate to a gummy worm.
Read on Kate’s site ↗
From the Smarty Pants blog
Take Note!
Meet the studio’s illustrated notepads and their very particular sense of humor.
Read on Kate’s site ↗
From the Smarty Pants blog
Back to Cool
School-supply nostalgia, colorful details and a locker with personality.
Read on Kate’s site ↗Say hey to Kate
Good art starts
conversations.
Have a creative collaboration, a question about her work or something kind to share? Send Kate and the Vinyl Disorder team a note.
Your message is shared with Kate at Smarty Pants and Vinyl Disorder so they can respond. For an order from Smarty Pants, use her own contact page.
Prefer a separate window? Open the inquiry form
Independent artists. Longtime friends.
Keep the good weird going.
Follow Kate. Read the stories. Find something that makes you smile.