Meet D Trickta | Graphic Designer

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

Hi D, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I think art and risk taking correspond closely with one another on several levels. Creating and putting art out there is a risk that needs to be taken as an artist. If you don’t share your art, it is more challenging to progress with your craft. My first real experience with this was in school at Columbia College Chicago, where critiques were both nerve-racking yet beneficial to the final design. Ultimately, it allowed me to create something that I would have not arrived at on my own had I not had the input of fellow artists. Putting art on display is also putting yourself on display; vulnerability and confidence are both tested. At this point in my career, I am less focused on critique and more about what satisfies my creative flow. However, risk is still prevalent.

In recent years I have started showing my art at various events. To me, this display to the public is taking a bigger chance than with classroom critiques. I am trying to sell final artworks and the result is purchase or non-purchase. Conversely, I get to interact with an audience and receive positive feedback regardless of profit which is very rewarding in itself. With the risk of setting up art booths I was able to better price my work and see which of my products sell best, both of which helped hone my design business.

On a literal note, pertaining to risk, one of my passions in recent years has been sticker graffiti. A public and mostly illegal form of displaying art. The risk here is obvious as you are subject to fines and the destruction of your art pieces. To me, the thrill of tagging and beautifying your local signs and walls outweighs this risk. The anonymous aspect is refreshing as well. You don’t have to assign your name to your creation, and you can slap it and forget it. There is also an unknown expiration assigned to it which adds to the excitement, where it is there one day, gone the next or remains as a lasting stamp of your art that you can revisit.

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 bounces back and forth between digital and physical pieces. I depend heavily on the computer for most of my designing whether that be branding, logos or websites. I started working with computer design programs in high school and was pretty familiar with how to navigate them by the time I entered college. I’ve put in a lot of hours creating on the computer and I am still learning new skills as the technology progresses. To avoid burning out behind a computer screen I found other mediums to satisfy my crafty side. I dabbled in screen printing for awhile; I found that this was a happy balance between working with the computer and physically creating using ink and paper. Now I enjoy collage as an outlet for my physical creativity. Collage is different every time and produces one of a kind pieces. I like to have a variety of digital design, photography and handmade art in my portfolio. I’m proud of the range I have achieved over the years and I look forward to expanding it further. My brand is uniquely me and I am always making pieces that I enjoy, I think that is why I continue to create.

Over the years, I began to understand my strengths and weaknesses with my art and I have tried different mediums to test my skill set. I challenged myself with internship opportunities and tried to gain as much “real world” knowledge as possible. To me, adaptability is essential to keeping interest with your own artwork. Creative blocks are a natural process in an art career and I have learned that these periods of “blockage” are actually a phase of rest and reset that can pave the way for a new artistic endeavor or strengthen your upcoming art. Be kind to your artist self, we can’t always be creating, it is important to challenge yourself but also passively find inspiration in everyday life. My experience becoming a mom forced me into a creative hiatus which was quite the challenge. I wasn’t sure when I would be able to focus on art again. I learned that there is no expiration to your creativity and can be picked back up at a time when you are ready.

My most rewarding projects I have worked on are Free Art Drop boxes. These work like Little Free Libraries but are aimed to connect local artists and art enthusiasts. I rescued three old Chicago Tribune newspaper boxes from the junk and had them brought to Colorado. The first art drop is currently displayed at Denver Art Society. I enjoy these projects because they help artists and the community acquire art and/or art supplies for free. It also enables the public to discover new artists or develop a new creative outlet. The art drops are also a fun challenge to design in collaboration with my art friends; there are many ways to approach art on these large functional pieces. I have two more art drop boxes that I am working on for placement in Denver and one for Colorado Springs. I’m hoping to accomplish having these established by the end of summer. It is great to see free art drops thrive and the art that comes and goes throughout our community! The current art drop box at Denver Art Society has its own social media page (@freeartdropbox) and I plan to continue this with the other art drops so people are able to locate, share and connect even further.

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?
Anytime I have a visitor here I like to take them to get a delicious sandwich at Cheba Hut. It has a great atmosphere; 420 themed, LGBTQ+ friendly and most have a bar and patio to hang out at. There are over 10 locations in Colorado state so I consider it a tourist hot spot. I would then take them to a classic CO Springs destination; Garden of the Gods. The picturesque views are perfect for visitors and the walking paths are low key if you aren’t an experienced hiker. A short drive from Garden of the Gods is Old Colorado City, the downtown strip includes local shops and restaurants to explore and always makes for a fun stop after seeing nature. For the evening, I would set up my friend with some smoking supplies at Session Supply Co. where they have an impressive collection of glass from local artists and from there head over to a painting class at the 420 friendly art studio, The Painter’s Pot. This is always a unique experience for out of town people who enjoy cannabis and are always impressed when they are able to consume their favorite flower in a social setting. They also get to create a piece of artwork to take home as a souvenir from this memorable event!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am super grateful to have a solid support system especially when it comes to my passion as an artist. My parents encouraged my creativity from an early age, through my teens, into my college years, and now. They were never the parents that insisted I pursue a more “solid” career and facilitated my move to Chicago when I was 18. My husband has also been supportive of my career and provides many opportunities to expand my portfolio. He is an excellent art director to me and challenges me to take on projects even if it pushes me out of my comfort zone.

The Painter’s Pot in Colorado Springs has been an excellent creative space for me to work and socialize with skilled artists in a range of art mediums. The monthly “Makers Market” shows offered me a chance to showcase my art to the public. This space allowed me to find a talented group of local artists that all motivate me to create more and provide a sense of community and inspiration. I highly recommend the weekly Thursday night “Open Studio” where you can design and collaborate with like-minded artists.

Website: dtricktadesign.com

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