Where Art Meets the Written Word
In an increasingly digital, intangible world, messages arrive and vanish in seconds. Pen + Grove offers the quiet permanence of the personal. A handwritten note is a rare act of care, an intimate artifact passed from one pair of hands to another. We created this press to give you the chance to share real, living art, made by hand and meant to be held. Nothing begins on a computer. Every card originates across a painter’s table with wet pigment on heavy cold-pressed watercolor paper at our studio on the North Shore of Long Island.
At the heart of every collection is original art by award-winning painter Kerri Shiekman
Kerri’s work is deeply observational, guided by a lifetime of classical fine art study and formal training. Whether capturing the subtle plumage of native songbirds, the quiet play of light across nature, or the spirited posture of a beloved animal, her watercolor technique balances fine draftsmanship with expressive warmth. Her paintings honor traditional methods, focusing on delicate wash layers, authentic pigment depth and the natural texture of the page.
For Kerri, stationery is not mass-market paper. It is an intimate canvas designed to be cherished, framed and kept long after the envelope is opened.
The Namesakes
While “Pen” naturally evokes the joy of ink on paper and “Grove” speaks to the natural world that inspires our botanical and wildlife studies, the true soul of the name belongs closer to home, curled up on the studio rug.
Penny is our buoyant, soulful Australian Labradoodle whose boundless curiosity keeps the studio lively. Grover is our steadfast, gentle Shih Tzu whose quiet companionship anchors the longest painting sessions. Together, they are our resident studio companions, quiet critics and the namesake of everything we craft.