ANGIE DURBIN ART
Hi, I'm Angie!
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My mission is to ignite your creative spark, inspiring and empowering you to unlock your own unique and distinctive artistic voice.
As a New York-based abstract artist, calligraphy geek, art instructor, and creative director, I have dedicated over two decades to honing my crafts and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression.
Through my art, I strive to harness an energy of pure expressionism to create captivating visuals. Each artwork serves as an invitation to you the viewer to feel, interpret, and experience your own unique connection with the art.
Whether you are a creator yearning to unleash your artistic potential or a seeker of one-of-a-kind artwork to grace your home, I hope you find inspiration here for your creative journey!
Let's Connect
Art studio in Brooklyn, New York
Background
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Growing up in Kansas City, Missouri with four siblings, we were raised in a creative household where self-expression was fostered and encouraged by our artistic, musically talented parents.
I've been drawing and making art for as long as I can remember, and my obsession with calligraphy started in high school when my mom was taking a class. She taught it to me and before long I was lettering the band certificates.
I pursued my artistic education at The Kansas City Art Institute and other colleges; immersing myself in the studies of calligraphy, art, and graphic design. I landed at the renowned Hallmark Cards where I began my career and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio to work with American Greetings.
Mom
Dad, Mom
Marlene, Carrie, Angie, Melody, Glen
The design studio was in a renovated auto-mechanic shop in full view of Pikes Peak mountain.
The huge 6-car garage space was perfect for teaching art and calligraphy workshops. It also doubled as our video and photography studio and we used one section for band practice!
Creative Career
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Eventually I expanded into commercial branding and multimedia design which led to the co-founding of Copilot Creative, a boutique branding and web design agency in Colorado where I served as Creative Director.
Our team's exceptional work earned us numerous awards and a reputation as the most innovative design agency in the area. It was during this phase that I refined my skills in video production and product photography.
While at Copilot, I continued to evolve my personal art style and taught art workshops during my downtime from the hectic agency schedule.
After nine successful years, we sold the studio and I was recruited into the audio/video industry as a creative manager and multimedia designer.
New York
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A transformative visit to New York City captivated me, and I made it my home in 2012.
I reside in Brooklyn and work as the Design Manager for a prominent Manhattan-based PR firm, where I collaborate with a variety of clients to help them with branding, marketing collaterals, and video production.
When I’m not at work, I spend off-hours showing my art around at local galleries and teaching art workshops.
I feel incredibly fortunate to live a creative life in a city that brims with energy, diversity, and boundless inspiration.
Outside of my Manhattan office in February 2020.
NYC art show preparation with one of my artworks titled "Mom's Inspiration".
Select Commercial Clients
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These are some of the organizations that I've had the opportunity to work with over the years. My commercial design portfolio can be found here.
Commercial Lettering
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Examples of commercial hand-lettering and icon illustration work.
Font Design: Angelina®
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Angelina Font is one of my original hand-drawn font designs, and to date it has been downloaded over 5 million times around the world.
Angelina Font sightings include: Dunkin' Donuts, BuzzFeed, Walmart, books and magazines, signage, retail packaging, and even in the NYC subway!
Calligraphy Kit Author
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Published by Accord Publishing for 4 years, my calligraphy and lettering art kit included 14 different original alphabets, instructions, and weekly word themes for the year.
Although the kit is now out of print, I am creating new lettering practice sheets that are free to download.
Art Inspiration
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My artwork is inspired by music, self-expression, letterforms, and subconscious energy.
Art is an important part of our lives and is essential for expressing our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It's not only balancing for the soul, but also a fun and relaxing way of releasing stress with a healthy dopamine hit!
For me, making art is a profound way of connecting the subconscious mind with the conscious, and then turning that into a tangible visual.
I am drawn to abstract art that comes from imagination and self-expression. I find it intriguing because it's something from pure energy. Sometimes something recognizable shows up and gives you a glimpse from your subconscious.
Art is also a powerful form of communication, allowing us to share our stories and perspectives with others.
Time-lapse video of my brush lettering practice with a famous Picasso quote that sums it up perfectly and is a sentiment echoed by many artists.
"
ART WASHES AWAY
FROM THE SOUL
THE DUST OF
EVERYDAY LIFE."
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PABLO PICASSO
Why Make Abstract Art?
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What's great about abstract art and subconscious drawing or doodling is that it removes the pressure of replicating something that already exists.
With my abstract calligraphy art, I intentionally try to obliterate any actual "readable text" which forces me into making different types of marks instead of automatically clicking into handwriting.
I love the balance it gives me between creating art simply for fun and expression versus my work in creating visual communications for clients and their goals within specific brand guides, timelines, and budget parameters.
I find it supremely fun, challenging, and relaxing to fill up a page with calligraphic marks but not actually spell anything out. Original music by Valerie Romanoff.
Art Process
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My art process is to make marks at a brisk pace without thinking about the outcome, while letting go of my stresses and ruminating thoughts.
The quick decisions of where each paint stroke goes are based off of where the last one landed and how I'm feeling. Then I keep diving in deeper with details to create connections between the marks.
It ends up as a kind of kinetic harmony between all the visual marks, colors and gestures living together in a cohesive habitat.
Pandemic lockdown project: Being stuck at home with my art supplies and video gear, I figured I'd film my art process. Then I integrated random video clips of pre-pandemic life that I missed, which was very cathartic.
The fun and focus of painting, filming, and video editing was a positive way to distract and de-stress myself from the anxiety and uncertainty we were all dealing with.
For big paintings, I work in my studio on a flat, makeshift podium bungeed to a furniture dolly so that I can spin it and move around while I paint.
Abstract watercolor painting made an airplane from Florida to New York in 2015.
Abstract watercolor painting made at WNYC Transmitter Park in Brooklyn, NY in 2021.
For small paintings, I use my tiny "travel art studio" anywhere from the New York subway to parks, airplanes, cafes, or anywhere that I have a moment to make marks.
Abstract Art Workshop
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I’ve coined my painting methods and art workshop as Subconscious Abstraction™ which is a unique, switch-thinking way of making art and doodling which can tap into your subconscious creative flow state.
The expressive art development exercises tap into the subconscious and are simple, fun, and stimulating.
They help you "get out of your head" and develop your own unique art style, even if you've never picked up a brush!
