OUR JOURNEY

The Island Octopus™ was founded in 2021 by husband-wife team Matt and Melissa Gindling. Our store in Bell Tower (Fort Myers, Florida) offers aquatic art, fun apparel, coloring books, handcrafted incense, beach gifts, and more. Our goal is to bring tropical beauty and whimsical fun to your everyday!

Our artistic journey began in St. Louis, Missouri in 2011. Throughout the past 11 years, we’ve both enjoyed creating artwork, books, incense, and other unique products. Many of the designs you see in the store were created by Matt and Melissa. Our original products (artwork, prints, cards, books, incense, shirts) are designed in Fort Myers, Florida and made in the United States. In our retail store, we also carry a selection beach gifts from other designers we admire.

OUR OWNERS

Matt has a BFA in fine art with an emphasis in graphic design from Webster University (St. Louis, MO). He is the creator of The Island Octopus Incensarium (previously Ethereal Aromas Incense Company) and his aromatic work specializes in using all natural materials. He is also a visual artist focusing on pen illustration and graphic design. Matt has a longtime interest in botanical lore and is a collector of rare incense plants.

Melissa has a BFA in illustration through Columbia College Chicago (IL). She enjoys creating cute sea critter and animal illustrations in watercolor, pen, and colored pencil. Past illustrated book releases include The Sleep Catcher by Za Goodbrake, Little Bird, Little Bird by Loni Hoots, Duskie the Owl by Matthew Gindling, and an extensive line of coloring books. When Melissa is not making artwork, she enjoys practicing yoga, attending concerts, and exploring the beaches and trails of Southwest Florida. Learn more on Melissa's portfolio page.

Matt & Melissa currently reside in Fort Myers, Florida with their cat, Tatzen.

OUR VISION

Realizing our dream of opening a physical location has allowed us to focus on our artistic endeavors and give our creations a home. It also provides a larger studio space for creating and displaying new artwork, and gives you an inside look into the creative process. We have endless ideas for new designs, including apparel, tropical flora & fauna-themed artwork, incense blends, and more. 

​Join us as we share our love of the natural world and artwork! Keep up with our journey by joining our email newsletter, subscribing on Patreon,  following us on social media links below, visiting our retail location in Fort Myers, or browsing the products in our online shop. Thank you for your support!