Today we’d like to introduce you to August DeMarea.
Hi August, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I would say my story is still a work in progress, haha! Hey, I’m only 24 and have had a variety of experiences under my belt. Which now looking back on is just amazing to look at.
I was born right here in Kansas City and raised within the metro area with my parents based in the suburbs of Overland Park. I would say as a child I was fairly quiet and observed my surroundings, sometimes even shy when I was very young. However, I was always curious. Something that still sticks with me to this day is wanting to learn and know more about my surroundings, the community I’m in, and of course the world! I felt like I juggled a lot of interests as a kid, most of trial and error to find my passions and help carve that path that leads into my story.
After trying things like sports and dance, I found that creating was my passion. Which definitely stems from reading fantastical books and comics to watching my favorite animated shows and movies. I found reality to be boring as a kid so I predominately watched cartoons. It was such a treat looking back to enjoy the variety of styles, voices, and narratives that were being told. I drew my favorite characters and illustrated comics in my sketchbook that evolved to taking as many classes as I could in school and even local programs!
I’m very fortunate that my parents helped water my creative seed to where it’s blossomed now, there were hard moments as I learned more about myself and who I was. But looking back I know my parents wanted me to be safe and happy in the everyday world after high school. My dad would boast about having a back up plan when I was younger but I had to find a way to make art work for me as a career. I enrolled into the Kansas City Art Institute in 2015 and graduated in 2019 with my Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Illustration. During my time there, I was at first scared. I didn’t know how people would like me or how I would grow, heck I walked into the Institute wanting to animate and work at Disney! Haha! That changed completely as I integrated with an amazing community of peers and instructors.
The connections I made at KCAI are dear to my heart, I was able to make a name for myself within the arts community and wanted to have a well-rounded experience under my belt before I left. Once I graduated I continued to work for the school as an Admissions Recruiter for two years while juggling side hustles of freelancing. I just recently left to take on a role as a full time graphic designer for a new place, I’m pretty stoked about where I’m at now creatively and am just getting started on this new chapter!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Never a smooth road, there have been plenty of obstacles. Coming out when I was a teen as trans, exploring my gender/sexuality, dealing with mental health, loss, and heartache along the road. I had a hard time exploring my emotions for a while as a teenager and learning to unravel myself to be vulnerable is still difficult. I’ve been told it’s odd to see me in a down mood, but in reality, it’s more exhausting to act like you’re happy all the time.
Life is stressful and those obstacles can feel like a 10-ton boulder or something you’re trying to push. It was extremely helpful to have compassion, love, and support from the community and peers along the way. I kept pushing this boulder and it got lighter as the folks in my life really made a difference and influence me how I want to be as a human being.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m specialized in conceptual development, branding, design, and print-based media! I like to think in an abstract/whimsical like manner in order to tell my clients stories, it sets me apart from most peers as I really want to push the envelope and make some funky stuff! I fell in love with integrating design with my illustrations to help challenge the foundation of my technical skills, compositions, and even processes!
I’d say I’m most integrated with the music scene now, my full time job is where I get to work with musical clientele and a variety of entertainers. Wasn’t the first avenue of the creative world I thought I would be in, I really wanted to do freelance and editorial Illustration more. But local opportunities to make posters for events and shows like Wrestle Yr Friends KC, a Queer wrestling organization based here in Kansas City. To rising country star Orville Peck for his tours, making a poster for his Down Under Tour in 2020 is defiantly something I’m proud of so far. Yeehaw!
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My humility and compassion for others. Those are the qualities that I have that I think would lead to my success. I never used to think that highly of my skills or talent, I know I make good art that I feel good about. The relations I build from others is important, seeing my friends and mentors success just fills me with joy and even my creative drive.
Support your community and don’t bring others down, we’re all just creating ideas to share with the world.
Contact Info:
- Email: augustdemarea@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.augustdemarea.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/augustdemarea/?hl=en
