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Where
the Art is...
by Leslie Estrada,
Editor in Chief
Nicholas John Chieppa, better known as Nick, can be easily
considered El Segundo's diamond in the rough. Since the tender age
of 11, Chieppa has been drawing, "My family is into art and
painting. They bought me supplies for Christmas and for my birthday
and I got into it". He had started out by drawing his dog, Misty and
his family members and his friends skateboarding. The most
influential person in his life is his mother, "She's the artistic
one. She gives me constructive criticism, but I like it when people
criticize my work. It makes me think, 'what can I do to make it
better?'".
Chieppa's art is more interlaced
within the apparel industry; he was handed Arora Appeals when El
Segundo Alumni Ryan Boyles retired from it not too long ago and has
been involved with Arora since the summer of 2004. The type of
drawing and sketches he makes are intriguing and bizarre, "I try to
use colors in my work that are unique, not all the time, but I just
think people like what isn't normal. A lot of my stuff is very 'out
there'. Nothing is realistic. I guess the appropriate word is trippy.
Flying outlets, biking toasters, giant robots; I try to think of
unthinkable things". When he puts his art on his shirts, he thinks
of the type of audience he's targeting and how it will be affected
in the long run, "If my company were to become a large company, it
will definitely be targeted to the younger crowd, people that are 13
- 25, but there's always life-changing situations". He has supported
himself financially at the moment from the revenue he collects by
selling his shirts, "I recycle the money and put it into future
orders. I have a lot of support from my parents and friends".
Chieppa has kept all his work together as a way to view his pieces
of art, "I keep it all in a binder, so I can present them to shops
to see if they are interested".
Along with designing shirts, Chieppa
also paints and take pictures and surfs, "I love to surf and
skateboard, and it occupies my time. Surfing is just one of those
things you can go do, and all your cares disappear; it's fun".
Chieppa's really into art and thinks that there are severeal
different people that influence his life, "My favorite artist is
Andy Warhol because, his art is unique and different from the
majority of artists. My favorite clothing designer is Valentino; he
has innovative designs and just beats everyone in that". Arora
appeals and its designer will indeed exceed its set goals and will
strive forth in the fashion industry.
With Chieppa's magnetic personality
and his ability to communicate well with others, he will mark his
territory in the world of appealing clothing. "Buy my shirts! I'm
trying to expand the clothing I'm making, and soon there will be a
line for the feminine person as well. I spread the word about my
line with stickers and MySpace is a big help, too". Look out for our
Nick Chieppa, he is bound to make it as a designer on fashion
market.
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