Meet Angie Lopez | Graphic Designer & Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Angie Lopez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Angie, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.

The arts and establishing meaningful relationships with the people around me have always brought me joy! Ever since I was young, I always loved creating through art. Painting, illustration, and design have become a positive outlet for me. The joy that I feel when creating art is indescribable! It is not a loud joy, but a deep, nuanced happiness that brings warmth to my heart. It gives me comfort in times where things seem uncertain, and I am able to exercise my imagination through fun colors and shapes. I can create new worlds and stories through what I do.

Due to the traditional Latino culture that I was exposed to, I was always very close to my family so I have always found myself cultivating similar or close relationships with friends and those around me. It gives me a sense of community. The encouragement and support that is brought about through those relationships allow me the courage to explore the world and enjoy what it has to offer in new lights. Each relationship can be a wonderful adventure, and through my personal experience they also inspire.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

My art is influenced by the various facets of my life, such as my physical environment and social relationships. Currently, for personal works, I am enjoying playing with bright colors and subtle textures. I like creating playful pieces that bring joy to people of all ages. At the moment, I am excited for the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s new mobile STEM bus, of which I designed the exterior for! It was an honor creating the design and helping bring life to the upcoming program. It is expected to launch soon and I hope that fun design invites children’s curiosity in all things air and space.

I was able to get to where I am today through the people that I have met and networked with. I was able to get my first freelancing experience through my professor, Max Hulburt, who referred me to my first freelance project! This opportunity allowed to build my portfolio and I was able to use that, as well as the resources at my university, to enter the City of Escondido as a Graphics Intern. Beyond the internships that I had, however, it was difficult getting a job in the industry. Despite everything that I was doing at the time, I still lacked the years of experience in the industry that most companies were looking for, even for an entry level position. Not only that but the industry was/is competitive. It was disappointing and often very saddening. I was only able to overcome this through stubbornness! I did not want to give up. I love the craft too much to leave it. I have a lot of care for the creative industry, especially illustration and design. I could not leave it behind!

Throughout this journey, I have learned to never loose sight of the people who care and especially who you are. Because in a saturated and competitive industry, its easy to loose yourself in all the hustle, and it can negatively impact your mental health and by proxy, your art. Although, arguably, some great pieces can be born out of the saddest emotions, I believe the artist deserves joy. I simply want other people to know that I love what I do, and I want to share this love with you. I want people to encourage eachother and uplift eachother through art and outside of art. Be creative and explore the world through art!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

San Diego is a melting pot of cultures, cuisine, and it is brimming with different spots!

If your looking for a good brunch spot, my personal favorite places include Farmer’s Table, Morning Glory, Flap Your Jacks, and Cafe Madeleine. All of them have very different atmospheres but they all have really great food! Other great dining spots include Casa de Guadalajara, The Henry, Il Fornaio, Yoshino’s, and 356 Korean BBQ & Bar. These places are my favorite at the moment, but San Diego has so much more; the variety is incredible! If your looking for something unique and quaint the Grand Tea Room in Escondido is a wonderful place to have relaxing teas. Or if your looking for something fun with a more modern atmosphere Harumama Noodles + Buns is another option. Or if you are feeling indecisive, check out the Liberty Station food market! You can also see a movie with dinner at the LOT!

In terms of activities I recommend a day at Old Town! It has rich history as well as many shops and restaurants within walking distance. Maybe take a visit to the Whaley House! La Jolla is also a great spot with its parks, coves, and Birch’s Aquarium. And who can forget Balboa Park? Balboa park is home to plenty of fun museums such as the San Diego Air and Space Museum, the San Diego Museum of Art, and The Museum of Us! It is pleasant to walk around, with its botanical garden, cactus garden, and Japanese Friendship Garden. If you are a lover design and art, Cedro’s Avenue is a fun place to visit as well. You can explore the design district and shop at the thrift/boutique stores. My personal favorite shop is Solo!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would first like to give a special shoutout to my husband, family, and friends. Their continued support encourage my growth as an artist and as a person. Without them I may not be here today. There were and continue to be many moments in my life of self-doubt, and periods of my life where I feel like I have made a mistake; but knowing that I have such a wonderful community of loving people around me gives me the drive to reach higher.

I would also like to shout out two other people that have also impacted me artistically: Max Hulburt and Adrian Bauer. Max Hulburt was my professor at John Paul the Great Catholic University. During my time there, he encouraged me to push my skills to the next level and taught me about the creative industry. His care for the creative industry was contagious and it further solidified my desire to continue in the field. Adrian Bauer is a talented German freelance art director and illustrator. His designs and illustrations are beautiful and they inspire me. In the few moments I have had contact with him he has always been wonderful and you can tell that he has a lot of love for what he does!

Website: angie-lopez.webflow.io

Instagram: angie_illustration_

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angie-lopez-illustrator-and-graphic-designer

Image Credits
For the photo of the Mission Control Bus from behind – Diana Garcia