Claire Morales ('12) finds that her dual careers as a graphic artist and musician often intersect.

For example, a mural she designed adorns the wall of an outdoor stage at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio in Denton, where she and her band have performed numerous times.

Her work can also be found at the UNT CoLab -- the downtown Denton art gallery, boutique and event venue that's run through the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism -- for which she designed a graphic T-shirt and, most recently, a pair of Denton-themed graphic socks that are available for purchase.

"That was really a fun project," says Morales, who earned a bachelors of degree in communication design at UNT's College of Visual Arts and Design.

The brightly colored socks -- adorned with images of music notes, film reels, paintbrushes and beer steins, to name a few -- pay homage to Denton's vibrant arts and cultural scene.

"I tried to incorporate a lot of elements that are unique to Denton," she says. "What makes Denton so special is how much we care about and foster the arts."

Life on the Road

A longtime Denton resident, Morales has been entrenched in the local arts scene for years.

Her musician father helped her learn to play guitar early in life. She began singing and performing for audiences as a young teen after her mother made the rounds of Denton coffee shops in search of unpaid gigs for her daughter.

She formed her first band during high school and had the support of friends and others as she built what she describes as a "DIY" music career. "I'd look up bands and clubs and talk to people and figure it out. We'd stay in our van or on floors of people's homes. Breaking into the business felt like a slow progress."

Morales' 2015 debut album, "Amaranthine," was followed later that year by the Halloween-themed album "Harmony in Hell," which she wrote and recorded with fellow Denton musician Daniel Markham. In 2018, she released the album "All That Wanting." With her band, she has toured and performed nationwide, including at the 2019 SXSW Music Festival in Austin.

Being on the road "is really a bonding experience," she says. "We end up meeting so many kind people and other bands. It helps me believe in humanity a little more because there are a lot of really creative, wonderful people who are willing to open their homes and help you."

Her next album, scheduled for release in 2025, is inspired "by making music in the way that we do -- traveling with friends and just seeing the world and making art." She also created a book of illustrations to accompany its release.

"I feel like it's the same whether you're making a song or art -- you're balancing elements and contrasts and hierarchy and dynamics. It's all expression," she says.

A Ripple Effect

Morales has been creating art since she was a young child.

"I've always been drawn to really colorful work," she says -- describing everything from warm 1970s earth tones to the psychedelic hues and designs of 1990s artist Lisa Frank. "I love the idea that color can affect your mood and change the way you feel."

She credits CVAD's communication design program for providing structure and discipline while challenging her as an artist. "It definitely changed who I am and how I work," Morales says. "It's had ripples -- not just with design, but of having this mentality of you can do what you want to do and it can be creative, but you have to work really hard."

Morales worked for four years at a design studio before establishing her own company, Claire Morales Design, which allowed her more creative control over her work while also freeing up time to devote to her music career.

Although she has worked with large clients, including the Los Angeles Times and subscription sock company Foot Cardigan, Morales is especially fond of collaborating with small business owners on projects -- especially in and around Denton.

Among her local clients are Goldenroot Gingerbeer, Old Bear Vintage, Recycled Books & Records and the UNT-bred, Grammy-winning band Snarky Puppy. Others in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have included the Red Zeppelin Records in McKinney, radio station KXT 91.7 and Punchbowl Social restaurant.

Morales interviews her clients before getting to work. "I don't know how many times a meeting for a logo or a mural has ended with us talking about their childhood or what dreams they've had their whole life. Usually, if you listen, the inspiration is right there."

Establishing an independent design business was challenging, and Morales has advice for others who wish to wield more control over their work. "Don't be afraid -- when the moment comes, and you feel confident that you have the skills to stand on your own two feet -- to take some agency and let it direct what you do," she says.