Meet Esther George | Nurse, Artist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Esther George and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Esther, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It’s funny because I am actually a Registered Nurse, yet I can’t seem to stop pursuing my creative work.

Ever since I was young, I knew that I had a passion for creative arts whether that be writing, music, drawing, photography or calligraphy. I loved the way that I was able to express emotion through the arts. This passion was the driving force of many of my projects. It started out as a hobby, and I used to dabble in many things as I was in nursing school. I would do mini ‘photoshoots’ for friends, make music covers, and take on the role of being the resident ‘card-maker’ in my family. This eventually turned into the exploration of calligraphy/graphic design and the start of my instagram account, “Filtered By Grace”. I would post anything and everything, which eventually led to the creation of my first wood sign for my cousin’s engagement party in 2017. I loved (and still love) being a nurse, but I knew that I wanted to turn my passion for design into something more.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been a detail-oriented person and this has naturally seeped into my business as I strived to showcase the stories and personalities of individuals through signage and stationery. However, this is not always the easiest process. I have refined my consultation process several times throughout the last 2 years, and I know that there is still so much to learn. I’ve learned the key to making amazing designs is just to listen. Till this day, my most favourite compliment has been “wow, this is exactly what we imagined, how did you know?”. I love being able to bring visions to life. Sometimes it’s tough for my clients to explain, but I pride myself in being able to read between the lines and make some magic with what I’m given. I’d want the world to know that I will continue to be interested in knowing who my clients are, regardless of how big this business may become. Your stories will always be apart of my story.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I genuinely do this regularly, and I think I have so many spots now that it’s tough to decide.

If they loved the city, Toronto is filled with amazing places, but I’d start with breakfast at OEB Breakfast Co. Take a walk around the Humber Bay Arch Bridge, then spend the entire afternoon walking around Kensington Market – trying a little bit of everything until we were stuffed (try Birria Catrina, a little hole-in-the-wall place with the best Birria Tacos I’ve had).

If they wanted to be as far away from the city as possible (which is usually the route that I take), I’d take them on a little road trip across different cities. We could grab some apple cider and butter tarts from Spirit Tree Estate Cidery, some coffee from Tin Roof Cafe, amazing ramen from Kamen or Korean food from Arirang BBQ, take a walk around the Burlington Waterfront, and then end up at Donut Monster in Hamilton to finish off with their famous doughnuts (try the Cinnamon Spice!).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It’s amazing to look back and see how many people have supported me throughout this journey. To start, I’d like to thank my amazing family, especially my husband. They have always encouraged my little creative ventures, and FBG would not be what it is today without them. I’d like to also acknowledge the first few individuals that trusted me and invested into FBG for their weddings and special events. I believe this truly piloted my confidence and allowed me to believe that my passions could turn into a business. Last but not least, I can’t forget about this beautiful creative community that is filled with artists, stationers, designers, and wedding professionals from all over the world. All their mentorship and support has helped me combat any feelings of ‘imposter syndrome’ and made me feel a sense of belonging in this ever-changing industry. This business has grown so much, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

Most importantly, my faith plays a huge role in my life and business and all of this would not be possible without God who has sustained and guided me throughout this process. He has been so faithful in the last few years, and I’m excited to continue to look to Him for wisdom and guidance as we grow.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filteredbygrace

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/filteredbygrace

Website: www.filteredbygrace.com

Image Credits
Mango Studios
Shotlife Studio
Muguet Photography: https://www.instagram.com/muguetphotography/