We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Carmody. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Alright, Nicole thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I wanted to take my art career seriously, I realized I had to change the name of my Instagram/starting business name “Nicole Carmody Art & Design” to “Evil Eye Design Inc.” I felt the new title had a distinct bold characteristic.

It all started in 2018 when I decided to randomly make a instagram account for my artwork. Shortly and sure enough, RAW Artists contacted me to showcase my work with them at a nightclub in Hollywood – the AcademyLA. Over the years I have slowly learned what it’s like to start a business and I am still learning. As of today I have a shop located at Crafted at the Port of LA in San Pedro, CA. My shop is called Evil Eye Design Inc. The story behind the business name change Evil Eye came from a song by the rock band Franz Ferdinand. From their song “Evil Eye”. I was listening to it and thought “a-ha! I am changing my business name to Evil Eye Design. I added the INC to make the title sound “fancy” haha. Long story short, I changed the name of my business from “Nicole Carmody Art & Design” to “Evil Eye Design Inc.” in 2024.

Nicole, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those who do not know about my business – I create bold & beautiful works of art and designs on canvas paintings, mixed media on canvas, having my designs on tote bags, t-shirts, mugs & accessory bags. I am proud of myself for overcoming many obstacles to get to where I am now. My inspiration of art come from artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Frida Khalo, Picasso, Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dali and more contemporary-abstract, modern artists.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal and mission is to one day open a boutique shop in the South Bay-Los Angeles area! One day I will get there!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I have been naturally creating art since age four. Ever since age four, I have doodled and created many works of mediums of art. As for a story regarding resilience – one of my high school art teachers gave me a hard time. They would belittle my work every single day in class. But one day in particular changed. This high school art teacher says to me, “You aren’t going anywhere with your art!” I yelled at them in front of the whole class and they thought i was embarrassing. Sure enough I got kicked out and I was forced to work on the art assignments in the library. I was fine with it. I said “Good I don’t want to see you again!”

I continued to keep working on my art over the years. And was granted a scholarship for one class at OTIS College Art & Design by another high school art teacher because they had faith in my work.

Now, I work along side with the Gallery of Hermosa located in Hermosa Beach, CA and have a shop located at Crafted at the Port of LA in San Pedro, CA. My point is, don’t give up on your dreams!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.evileyedesigninc-shop.com
• Instagram: @evileye_designinc
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@evileye_designinc?si=CLLwI_71ZN_ZmhdM