Hi! I’m Anabelle and I’m from Pittsburgh PA. I just recently moved to New York which was a goal of mine for a while. I am a graphic designer/illustrator and a lover of all things creative. I love admiring art as well as making it myself. Other than digital art, in my free time I like to paint, embroider and make things out of clay (basically anything crafty). The year after I graduated college, I decided to work as an English language assistant in Madrid. I already knew I loved to travel but getting to visit new places regularly was truly amazing. I absolutely loved getting to meet and connect with new people from all over the world. Currently, I do some freelancing and my favorite work I’ve made is for a magazine called ‘Pleaser,’ a music related publication with a team of majority women and 100% incredibly talented people.
HOW DO YOU EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND/OR UNCONVENTIONALITY?
I am definitely drawn to things and/or people that don’t shy away from unconventionality. One way I embrace this is by being a huge fan and supporter of drag queens because they express the purest form of individuality and artistry. I truly admire how much confidence and bravery they possess and project in all aspects. I believe everyone deserves to feel completely comfortable in their own skin as they move about the world, and it breaks my heart that this isn’t always the case. I really do aim to be a person who everyone feels they can fully be themselves around, especially in a society that often tries to ostracize those that don’t fit the mold. I also graduated with a degree in sociology which means I learned even more about how incredibly important/beneficial prioritizing diversity is.
HOW DO YOU EXPRESS YOURSELF CREATIVELY?
I have multiple outlets to express myself creatively. Luckily, this is often through my work as a designer, but not always. I love to shut my brain off by engaging in really any sort of artistic endeavor like painting, embroidery, pottery etc. I also love getting lost in a captivating story whether it's through movies/TV, books or music. Connecting to another art form in this way helps drive my inspiration.
HOW DO YOU THINK YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY? WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE AN EXPERT IN AND COULD GIVE ADVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ON?
I would like to uplift and be uplifted by other women and make real connections. I also want to build confidence in myself as a creative because I'm really good at inspiring confidence in others, but sometimes I lack self-assurance.
SHARE A VERY VALUABLE INSIGHT YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD: