Philadelphia-based artist Angela Rio makes original pieces that are a mixture of collage art and illustration. Graphic, vibrant, and all-around joyful, her unique pieces are made of contrasting patterns and shapes. Her creative approach to illustration was actually a result of an accident, quite literally.
Originally an acrylic painter, a bicycle accident forced her to find a way to make art that didn’t rely on just one hand and a brush. Now working primarily with scraps of paper, she makes complicated collages that have attracted clients like Philadelphia Magazine, Manifest, and The New York Times, proving that her change of direction was worthwhile.
Explaining her creative process with Ape on the Moon, Rio relayed: “I try to keep a variety of large colored paper that I tape against the wall as a backdrop. The perspective of my shot depends on the sketch, so there’s always a period of readjusting paper pieces, lights, and umbrella defusers to find the predetermined angle and focal point. Once I’ve found the sweet spot, I’ll shoot with my Canon Rebel T3. Then for curiosity’s sake, I’ll shoot with the lights hitting a different angle.”
“It may seem like a lot of time and energy for one illustration but it feels like play” she admitted. “There’s so much opportunity to get your mind off of things and forget about your surroundings.” Take a look at some of her playful creations in the gallery below.
