Meet Claire Morales | Musician, Artist & Graphic Designer

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

Hi Claire, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my own business because I wanted to do more of the work I loved, I wanted to work from home, and I wanted to be able to tour with my band. Before I branched off on my own, I was working and commuting 50-60+ hours a week, and my life was getting consumed by work. I wasn’t passionate about the projects I was doing, and I felt like I had little time to do personal projects. Starting my business felt like the only option in a lot of ways, and it changed my life in a huge way.

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.
Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved to make art. It’s always been a way to express myself and a way to connect with other people. When I was younger, I was painfully shy and had a hard time making friends. I remember kids in elementary school asking me to draw them something, and those little interactions made me feel useful and connected to the world around me. Flashing forward to college, drawing wasn’t something I did for fun anymore. I was drawing hundreds of logo thumbnails a week, and by the time I graduated I was burnt out and had no love for art. It took years to get back to a place of wanting to draw and wanting to create visually. During the pandemic, my design business was struggling. I ended up starting an art instagram to drum up business and keep my hands busy. The account really took up and it sparked something in me. I felt this renewed passion for art and I started drawing for fun again. It brought me to a place where I’m doing more of the work I love and working with the kinds of businesses that inspire me. The pandemic has been one of the worst times ever, but I’m grateful that it rekindled my love for art and helped me to make big changes for myself and for my business. It showed me that art is something that can lighten our spirits and help us through the darkness of life. I feel so much more purpose and responsibility in my work now, and it’s so rewarding to be able to help people through my work.

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?
If I was going to show a friend around Denton, I would take them on a bike ride around town. Being on a bike is such a great way to experience the city. I would want to take them to Recycled Books, Spiral Diner, a live show at Rubber Gloves or Dan’s, the Chairy Orchard, and on a walk around Northlakes Park or a rollerskate session at Denia Park. Honestly I also just love going on walks with friends and seeing where we end up too. Denton isn’t the busiest or most bustling town, but there’s lots of quiet beauty to be seen if you’re paying attention.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people have helped me in my journey. A few that come to mind are my family, my friends, my teachers, my bandmates, my fellow musicians, artists and makers who support me daily, and everyone who has ever come to a show or listened to a song or sent me a kind word about my art or music. Also all of the people in my life who told me that I couldn’t reach my goals (which made me want to fight for them all the harder).

Website: clairemoralesdesign.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairemoralesdesign

Facebook: facebook.com/clairemoralesmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/claireines8

Other: https://www.instagram.com/clairemoralesmusic/

Image Credits
All photographs by Ellie Alonzo