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:: Design Graphics Magazine 2006 ::

Angel D'Amico

Recently graduating from Northern Illinois University with a BFA majoring in Visual Communication, Angel D'Amico is on a mission to succeed in whatever she puts her mind to. And with a healthy attitude and oodles of talent to boot, she's more than well on her way already. Loueze Harper caught up with Angel D'Amico to chat about her work, her goals and making people happy.Born and based in Villa Park-a small town about twenty minutes out of Chicago-Angel D'Amico originally considered a career in interior design, before becoming hooked on graphic design after taking just a single class at high school.'When I got to college it was a toss up between illustration and graphic design,' she says. 'I chose design because I really wanted to be successful and able to express my ideas-not only in illustrations, but with photography and typography and anything else I could get my hands on.'

A creative upbringing

As a fairly quiet child, Angel was 'super creative' and loved nothing better than to stay indoors and make things. 'I made dolls and paper furniture,' she says. 'And I was always drawing and painting. I took painting classes when I was in grade school at the community college just for fun.' Angel recalls a story her mother tells from when she was young, about a road trip the family took to Yellowstone National Park. 'I was so sad and no one could figure out why. I finally told them it was because I didn't have a pen or paper, so my parents drove straight to a gas station and bought me some,' she laughs. 'Mom says I immediately started drawing everything from buffalos to the Indian bead necklaces I had seen earlier that day.'

Music and art

From music to watercolour As well as art, Angel has also been playing classical Suzuki piano since she was four. 'People say that music and art compromise each other and stimulate your mind,' she says. 'I definitely agree with that.' In addition to her creative extracurricular activities, Angel was always being volunteered by her mother for random jobs. 'I'd get mad at her for that, and only later realize the purpose,' Angel says. 'She once volunteered me to move this old women out of her house into a retirement community. Little did I know that this woman was a well-known international watercolourist, Chevy Chevillion. Everyday we'd go through her things. She showed me her art and the things she'd taught. Then we'd sit around and watch soap operas and she'd tell me about her life. She became my inspiration to learn how to watercolour. Before that, I'd mostly used oils. I instantly fell in love with watercolour and started painting anything and everything.'

The study experience

Angel reveals that her stint at Northern Illinois University taught her a philosophy that is still an underlying factor in her work today.'That is, to be completely organized and work very hard for what you want,' she says, adding that the Fine Arts part of her course kept her sane and relaxed. 'The drawing and watercolour classes I took helped express my feelings and took me into a different world.' In addition to this, she also learnt a lot about deadlines, hard work, multi-tasking and—above all----that life is never easy. 'On top of how busy and stressed you are, something else always comes along to top it off.' One of the last design classes Angel undertook at college was taught by designer, Rick Valicenti, of 3st Design. 'He always pushed my really creative-artsy side-the side that was always a little reserved in college design classes,' Angel says. 'And now that I've left school, I've really had a chance to develop a new style or couple watercolour with meticulously drawing in Illustrator.'

A lifetime of lessons

Angel and boyfriend, Donnie-also highly creative-spend a lot of time researching all of the hip designers and magazines, going to art shows and galleries and designing in their free time. 'We show each other [our designs], sending them back and forth to keep each other inspired all the time.' Before taking her first class, Angel admits she never really knew what the field of design had to offer. However, after her junior year at college, she had what she describes as 'a wonderful internship experience' at an advertising firm-Fusion Idea Lab-situated in downtown Chicago 'I became very creative and learned so much more about the programs quickly from the internship,' Angel says. 'My boss would tell me to go crazy and come up with concept ideas for companies such as Pier One, Crate & Barrel, Expedia and a women's network channel. This is where I think a lot of my learning experience came from.'

A style thing

Angel's style is quite unique and if she had to describe it, would be as 'a touch of fine arts with a bit of a trendy spin to things,' she says. 'I create my own paintings and drawings, and take my own photographs... most of the time.'She adds that one of the most important parts of her design work is photo and image retouching.'People, pictures and scans always need to be retouched,' Angel explains. 'And for this I use contrast, colours, levels, blurring or sharpening, or just generally shape things up a little.'

Overcoming obstacles

Even though she is fairly new on the scene as a fully-fledged designer, Angel has already noticed that the industry is not without its challenges.'One of the biggest challenges, I find, is keeping up-and coming up-with the most hip designs,' says Angel. 'Because trends in art and design are constantly changing.'As a recent graduate, Angel has discovered the harsh reality of turning her skills and talents into a career. 'Employers are always looking for two to five years experience,' she says, adding that often, those who don't have such experience listed on their resumé are not given a chance. 'While I know I could be inspiring and creative every single day of my life.'But ever inspiringly optimistic, Angel doesn't let the short-sighted attitude from prospective employers get to her. 'My friend, Amethyst-featured in a couple of my designs-said something to me the other day that really made sense. She said: "You are not lucky. You brought yourself here and no one else worked this hard to get you here." And she is right. I am definitely not a lucky person, but I work hard everyday to become a better person-not only experimenting and expanding my creative ideas and practicing techniques for myself, but just to be a better person in life. I have a passion for art and design. Hopefully things can only go up from here.'

An inspiring journey

Coming from a highly creative family-both musically and artistically talented-everyone is very supportive of Angel's chosen career and of what she has achieved so far. Perhaps because of this, inspiration is easily found close to home. 'My uncle Lare is a spectacular photographer,' Angel reveals, adding that his work has always inspired her. 'He takes beautiful abstract photographs of things from our daily lives-doors that have been discoloured, paint chipped off, that sort of thing-but when he takes the photographs, they look like beautiful landscapes from an exotic country.' Angel's attitude and optimism means that she is open and able to find inspiration in a lot of her surroundings, including people. 'Most of my designs stem from wanting to create something for someone that I care for,' she admits. 'My family and friends always joke because I like to get creative and write lovey-dovey notes and then make something-such as a card from handmade paper, mini books of inspirations, sketchbooks from handmade paper and art papers, photo albums, paintings, drawings or whatever I am into at the time.' Her current involvement with Altered books was inspired by a family  friend. '[The books] are just so creative; and what's fun about it is that there are no rules,' Angel says. 'That's my kind of art. I just want to make everything beautiful and make everyone happy. It might sound cheesy but I guess that's the motto for my life.'

Method behind the madness

Angel generally starts each design by painting, drawing or taking photographs to get her ideas out of her head and onto paper, before scanning them in and using Photoshop CS to manipulate them. 'I usually create a whole background design in Photoshop, using all my tricks-as my boyfriend and I say-and then bring it into Illustrator CS if I want to add typography or vector art,' she says. 'Then I usually bring it back into Photoshop and retouch the final image.'Other tools of the trade include an Epson Scanner, and a 13x19 Canon printer which, Angel reveals, are integral to her work.'I generally work really fast,' she says, adding that some of her designs only take a couple of hours. 'Therefore my clients always get their money's worth and more.'

The way forward

While she is still just starting out and doesn't yet have a huge list of big name clients to her name, Angel doesn't let this deter her. Confident in her abilities without being at all cocky, she always gives one hundred percent to each and every job she takes on and-perhaps as a result of this mindset-she is proud of them all. With a diversity that includes posters, brochures, identities, logos, photography, as well as packaging for Ace Hardware and Squeeeek No More, Angel's work has recently been featured in the Los Angeles Journal, and she is in the process of working her way up. But for the future, Angel has her eye on designing for the big guns. 'I would love for Nike, Absolut Vodka, Este Lauder or other big name brands to see my work and ask me to design for them,' she laughs. 'But one of my shorter term goals is to expand on a new artist venture I've been creating with watercolour and vector art.' Another goal is to design for magazines, in fields such as art, fashion or music-'I really appreciate all art'-or to start a magazine of her own, where she could choose the feature artists and design articles for design, art, fashion, music, or anything else.'Someone once told me: "When you get a chance to shine, blind the world!" And that's what I would love to do.'

Visit: www.angeldamico.com