Love is a superpower.
We partnered with handbag line Dagne Dover to create three hand painted totes with that theme. Here, we interview artists Tessa Forest, Steph DeAngelis and Megan Galante about their designs and about how love has touched each and every one of their lives.
Love the bags? Enter here to win one!
Tell us a little about yourself and your artistic process.
I lived in Brooklyn for 13 years but recently found that I needed more space to create more work. I live in the Hudson Valley now, which is a beautiful, quiet place to work. Although, I don’t have the hustle of the city around me, I still hold the New York sense of urgency and stick to a strict routine. I wake up with the sun and go straight to the studio with a beaker of coffee and turn on NPR to get the brain moving. I will warm up by mixing colors and finding new palettes to use that day and then turn my attention to the internet or magazines to find inspiration for subject matter. The work Ive been doing recently has a strong focus on color and form. This particular print was playing with blush and earth tones mixed with pops of red and yellow—the form is my way of trying to relay a sense of togetherness and support, which to me is the act of lending a hand.
The theme for this project is “Love Is A Superpower”—how has the power of love affected your life in a positive way?
The support from friends, especially fellow makers and thinkers, has been an amazing source of love and motivation for me! Im especially inspired by the strong, smart, kind women in my life.
What inspired your artwork and how do you hope it influences others?
I think the hand is a universal symbol of help. Sometimes its important to be bold and direct when you are sending a message through art. That’s what I was trying to do here. I want the print to reiterate the positivity that resonates through unity, fortitude, and kindness.
Tell us a little about yourself and your artistic process.
I’m a graphic designer with a huge obsession with color. Bold, retro type is my favorite, so this project was right up my alley. I tend to play around with different styles of typography to make the text match the message, and it was so fun to do that here.
The theme for this project is “Love Is A Superpower”—how has the power of love affected your life in a positive way?
The power of love has affected my life in so many wonderful ways! Through the ups and downs of relationships, I’ve learned to grow as an individual and take everything in stride. Not only that, but those ups and downs help you to appreciate those in your life where true, unconditional love is present.
What inspired your artwork and how do you hope it influences others?
I was inspired by the concept of self love on this one — I didn’t want the art to read “I Love Me” or “Love Yourself”. I realize my design may read as a command, but I wanted it to be a vague yet bold and minimalist approach on loving oneself, which I feel like is the most important aspect of love.
Tell us a little about yourself and your artistic process:
I am a designer and illustrator from Los Angeles. I do a little bit of everything, but a lot of editorial illustrations and some other cool stuff that is coming out soon BUT I signed multiple NDAs—so, you know how it is. My process varies by project but I will come up with ideas from girls I see, either IRL or on Instagram. My work is really influenced by observation. I work digitally but will often sketch out thumbnails of ideas, especially if I don’t have time to dedicate to working or am not at home to get behind a screen and draw.
The theme for this project is “Love Is A Superpower”—how has the power of love affected your life in a positive way?
I think love, both self love and love for others, is synonymous with respect. I think if you have both of those it creates a space to work on your craft.
What inspired your artwork and how do you hope it influences others?
I am inspired by what’s around me, who I see walking, people I meet. I hope to strike a familiarity with my work, and that someone can look at the girls I draw and see themselves.
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