Meet Ava Q. Rodriguez-Smith | Motion Designer/Artist/Multi-Instrumentalist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ava Q. Rodriguez-Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ava Q., why did you pursue a creative career?
Getting my B.F.A. in Fine Arts, I had no clear path as to what I was going to do after graduating college. I began working in the skateboard industry. Learning on the job I started in the warehouse silk screening graphics onto skateboards and tees. Given more responsibilities I started designing clothing and footwear, then art director, eventually working my way up to brand manager, helping establish one of the first BIPOC premiere street/urban skate brands of its time with pro skateboarder Kareem Campbell, called Axion Footwear. It was part of World Industries, during the golden era of skateboarding in the 90’s that saw explosive growth.

I was basically surrounded by artists, musicians, designers, photographers and skateboarders on an every day basis, doing exactly what they love and being extremely successful doing it. It was an early life lesson in the beginning of my career that if I pursued what I’m passionate about, through perseverance I too could find that same success. I believe in never saying no to new opportunities. It was also there that I taught myself to make motion graphics for our skateboard videos, with my first project being “Street Cinema” for the City Stars team led by Kareem.

I instantly loved the process, mixing video footage with graphic design, 2D animation, timed to music, taking these different elements of media to combine it into one theme… it felt very familiar to what I was exploring in my art making, combining different mediums together to blur the lines of what I was trying to achieve in my own painting and photography. That skate video opened the door for me to crossover into entertainment, working on the first season graphics packages for MTV’s Viva La Bam, Wildboyz, and Punk’d. Combined with the experience I learned in building a skateboard brand from scratch, bringing together community and culture and turning it into a worldwide phenomenon, I haven’t looked back since…

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I see all of my creative endeavors as being connected to my identity as an artist, it’s not really bound by any particular medium. I complete a painting, I write a song or produce a record, I design and animate commercial motion graphics, I see it all as extensions of my art and the boundaries blur together for me, it’s a self feeding cycle of creativity… I’ve always stayed true to my skateboarding roots and try to think outside the box in my creative approach in everything I work on. I push my own limits to work outside of my comfort zone, continuously honing my craft and taking every opportunity to learn something new. It has all helped give me longevity in my career working as a motion designer and art director in the entertainment industry.

Having freelanced and worked for most of the creative agencies in Los Angeles, trailer houses, broadcast networks, streamers and movie studios, on highly visible campaigns covering AV, theatrical, billboards, buses/bus benches, digital billboards, social media, it’s guaranteed that you have seen my creative work at some point. I recently worked with a director in the making of a documentary, “The Life Of Sean DeLear”, that has been showcased in international film festivals and has won 2 awards that I’m extremely proud to be a part of, and that has really inspired me to approach making my own stories.

I’ve started writing for the first time, and I’m really excited about using my professional experience in telling and making my own stories, composing original music for them, and making these animated short films that I see as a multi-media art project. I’ve really been thinking about themes revolving around transcendence, healing and transformation. I’m also really excited to release a new song/single in the immediate future from a shoegaze music project I started called Molino; as well as, learning to DJ and getting into making electronic dance music on my own, these are things I find joy in that keep me creatively inspired. But I see it all as making art!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well I’m a nature girl, and if it’s wintertime we’d start the morning snowboarding in the local mountains! It’s only an hour and a half drive to get from DTLA to literally getting on the chairlift riding to the top of the mountain. There is such a sense of freedom carving down the slopes (I absolutely love it), away from the hustle and bustle of the city, being in nature surrounded by snow covered trees, fresh air, blue skies (yes, in Southern California), and we could still make it back home to catch the sunset in a jacuzzi after a great day of riding!

If it’s any other season I love the beach, it’s my home away from home! If we’re going for easy I always like Zuma (there is always parking), but if we’re feeling a little adventurous I really love El Matador, and the beaches near there are my absolute favorites. After a day of basking in the sun and swimming, we’d go to a restaurant on the beach to enjoy some fish tacos and margaritas, while again watching the sunset (I’m a cali girl so I love the sun)! There is always something fun to do in my neighborhood in Highland Park, but for nightlife, I would bring them out with me to the underground warehouse dance/party scene! I truly love dancing and the freedom it brings me moving my body. I go out to afters often, with DJs playing house and techno music in abandoned warehouses scattered throughout the industrial areas of downtown LA, and dance until the sun rises the next morning!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Firstly, I have to give a shoutout to my son, Milan. Since the day he was born, I’ve strived to be the best version of myself, in being the best mom I can be for him. Parenting has helped me grow immensely to be a better human, learning as much from him witnessing his own growth and maturity, and I’m so proud of the young man he has grown up to be.

Secondly, I’d like to give a shoutout to my trans community. I am continually inspired by the creativity, resilience, love, courage and ability of my trans siblings to shine through adversity on a daily basis when it feels like everything is working against us. Since coming out as a trans woman, I realized the energy it takes to hide oneself from the world, from everyone around you takes a serious toll. No longer carrying that weight, I’ve never felt more free! I’ve redirected that same energy back into my creativity that now feels limitless. I believe authenticity is more important than ever, and as I’ve learned from my trans family, our existence is resistance!

Website: http://avadigitaldesign.com

Instagram: @ava_satinluxe

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ava-rodriguez-smith-30494a47/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ava-402346268

Image Credits
Christine Mai Nguyen