‘I work less than 2 hours a day on it’
At the get started of the pandemic, I was placing in 80-hour workweeks for two entire-time advertising and marketing jobs. I attained a mixed wage of $129,000 a yr.
But a component of me felt anything was missing. I always experienced a passion for earning art, and I needed time to pursue it. So in April 2020, I give up just one of my employment to get started a facet hustle. I desired to see if I could genuinely make it as an artist.
I named my brand name DomoINK, which is a perform on my identify and the products I use. I generate unique artwork working with crayons and markers, and print my styles on everything from socks to laptop computer cases to sneakers.
“Black Hair is Dope”: I designed this portrait to obstacle stereotypes about Black men and women putting on durags. It serves to humanize and normalize that this headpiece is an vital element of our tradition.
Photo: Domonique Brown
There had been a ton of sleepless nights, but investing in my talent has compensated off. I have gotten the likelihood to collaborate with massive firms like Disney, Samsung, Lowe’s and the L.A. Lakers.
Today, I make $22,000 a month providing art on the web by way of my site, my Etsy and Society6 retailers, and retail stores like Focus on and Dwelling Goods.
Creating artwork that shines a light-weight on crucial subjects
Escalating up, I was typically the only Black child in my class, and I found it hard to locate things that represented my qualifications.
My father and I would go out of our way to obtain greeting playing cards that had illustrations or photos of Black families on it. We might buy them from personal sellers mainly because numerous suppliers failed to carry them.
I created this piece for Bath & Physique Will work to commemorate Juneteenth.
Artwork: Domonique Brown
I under no circumstances limit myself when it arrives to experimenting with tips.
For instance, I established a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. with crayons. My Tik Tok demonstrating my process went viral and led to a collaboration with Bleacher Report to attract UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis in the identical style.
And this year, I was hired by Tub & Entire body Works as an illustrator to produce an image of what Juneteenth signifies.
I get the job done less than 2 several hours a day on my aspect hustle
All through the weekdays, from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., I operate from household as a promoting manager.
Following I log off from my working day occupation, I swap gears and develop artwork. I shell out about 10 hrs through the 7 days, like weekends, on DomoINK.
For about an hour, I am going to go on TikTok or Instagram hoping to locate trending movies, and then set my personal spin on individuals tendencies to advertise my shop.
I developed this piece using Adobe Illustrator.
Picture: Domonique Brown
Developing my business artwork business enterprise
When I initial started off out, just about every portray and item was made to order. Because I in no way worked on any initiatives unless of course I had a fee, I didn’t have to stress about highly-priced inventory.
My price ranges assortment from $18 socks to a $5,000 portray called “Reflection” that sold just a couple of times after I put it up for sale on my web-site.
“Reflection” is a person of my greatest-promoting parts.
Picture: Domonique Brown
To preserve fees down by not investing in advertisements, I am at present focused on doing organic and natural get to by way of social media.
In addition to my Etsy profits, I gain funds by licensing my artwork non-completely on platforms like Modern society6, which I established up for absolutely free. The drawback is that I only get a 10% fee on the solutions I market.
This piece, which features components of Black record, was motivated by Beyonce’s visual album, “Black Is King.”
Photo: Domonique Brown
My ultimate intention is to make DomoINK a life-style retailer that can be a resource of representation for all those who are underrepresented.
The feedback I have gotten from individuals who sense witnessed by my work has been incredibly gratifying, and it inspires me to expand my business enterprise even more.
Domonique Brown is an artist and the founder of DomoINK, a lifestyle brand that contributes artwork, clothing, and home decor in celebration of variety and empowerment. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
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