Nicole Daddona is our Illustrator of the Week!
In case you didn’t know, our very own Nicole Daddona — along with being one of our amazing writers at HG — is an incredibly talented illustrator. The LA-based artist, cartoonist, and puppet maker is queen of making stuff that makes us smile, and we just can’t get enough of her bold and graphic illustrations. Her work is tongue-in-cheek and delightfully odd in the best way, and we like to think it’s the perfect match for the rad lady herself. Nicole’s style of art is unique and colorful and so much fun — and that’s why she’s our Illustrator of the Week!
Find out more about Nicole and her art below, and buy some of her exclusive-to-HelloGiggles phone cases by clicking right here.
No pressure, but describe your art: I’d describe my art as bright, nostalgic, familiar, quirky, friendly, and off-beat.
What inspires you to make things: It’s a gut instinct. Making things is like breathing or blinking or eating pizza for me — it’s just something that happens for me automatically. If I’m not making something either physically or in my mind then something isn’t right. Someone call a doctor!
Your favorite thing(s) to draw: People and dog people and skateboarding hamburgers and cats and full pages of weird shapes, text, and designs.
Medium of choice: Sharpie and computer paper with finishing touches done in Adobe Illustrator.
The first time you knew you wanted to be an artist: I knew that I wanted to be an artist from the time that I knew what an artist was. I LOVED drawing when I was little and I drew with gusto whenever I could. Not much has changed in that department since!
Proudest achievement so far: I was very honored to have my illustration work featured The Los Angeles Times and BUST Magazine this past year. I am also so excited that HelloGiggles featured a weekly illustrated quote by me on their Instagram page for #motivationalmonday!
Music you listen to while you work: Oh boy, so much music and it always changes. I love a lot of different artists. Lately I’ve been into Talking Heads, Donovan, Bob Dylan, She & Him (naturally…), with a drop of Gary Glitter.
Your most prized possession: My autographed Dr. Seuss book that I bought for $3 at a Goodwill.
Your personal hero: I have a few! My parents, Jim Henson, Andy Kaufman.
The last thing to make you giggle: My boyfriend. He’s a weird and funny guy — always making me laugh.
Current project(s): I’m currently working on a comic book called Brilliant Weirdos that I co-wrote with my creative partner and I just finished up a comic zine called Adventures In Drag about four drag queen roommates. I’m always working on something — sometimes for work and sometimes just for fun.
Check out Nicole’s amazing phone cases via Casetify — they’re an exclusive partnership with HelloGiggles — and her previous work with us here!
For more of her work, check out her Twitter, Instagram, illustration website, puppetry and film website (with her creative partner and boyfriend, Adam), Vine, and Etsy.
