Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Morales.
Hi Claire, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been drawing and making music since I was a small child. I’ve always felt an impulse to create and making art is a way to escape from the anxiety of everyday life. I went to school for graphic design and have been working in the field for 9 years, and I went freelance 5 years ago so I could tour with my band and set my own schedule.
During the pandemic, my design business was hurting, and I started up an Instagram account to try and save my business. It ended up bringing in a lot of work and became a way for me to get back to drawing and illustrating. These days I’m most interested in taking on work that allows me to be myself as an artist. I spent so long as a designer trying to fit into other people’s vision for what I should be, and now I feel free to be who I am.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In a lot of ways, my life has been pretty easy. I was born to a family who was financially secure and very supportive of my art. But there have definitely been struggles. A big one for me when I was younger especially was my mental health. I have a type of OCD that I didn’t realize existed until I was in my 20s, and I spent a lot of my youth caught in ruminative loops and feeling a lot of shame and guilt over the constant stream of intrusive thoughts I was experiencing. It’s not something I love to talk about, but I’ve realized that each time I do, I meet another person who has gone through a similar struggle. I think for me, art and music have become healthy and productive ways to share what’s happened to me and to connect to and support others. I don’t know where I would be without my art.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My art is colorful, psychedelic and dreamy. I love using vibrant color palettes and firmly believe that color has the power to impact our moods and affect our reality. My music is a lot more emotional and maybe a little heavier. I really enjoy having multiple outlets that allow me to express different sides of who I am.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s impossible to say where art and music are headed, but I know they will never go extinct. As long as there is human struggle there will be art, there to hold space for expression and provide solidarity to humanity. I’m not very interested in trends and just want to make the work that I want to make. (Doesn’t that sound pretentious!)
Contact Info:
- Email: clairemoralesdesign@gmail.com | clairemoralesbooking@gmail.com
- Website: clairemoralesdesign.com | clairemoralesmusic.com
- Instagram: @clairemoralesdesign | @clairemoralesmusic
Image Credits
Live shots: David Wilson Green shots: Ellie Alonzo
