‘I work lower than 2 hours a day on it’
In the beginning of the pandemic, I used to be placing in 80-hour workweeks for 2 full-time advertising and marketing jobs. I earned a mixed wage of $129,000 a yr.
However part of me felt one thing was lacking. I all the time had a ardour for making artwork, and I needed time to pursue it. So in April 2020, I give up one among my jobs to start out a facet hustle. I needed to see if I may actually make it as an artist.
I referred to as my model DomoINK, which is a play on my title and the supplies I take advantage of. I create authentic art work utilizing crayons and markers, and print my designs on every part from socks to laptop computer instances to sneakers.
“Black Hair is Dope”: I created this portrait to problem stereotypes about Black individuals sporting durags. It serves to humanize and normalize that this headpiece is an important side of our tradition.
Photograph: Domonique Brown
There have been loads of sleepless nights, however investing in my expertise has paid off. I’ve gotten the prospect to collaborate with huge firms like Disney, Samsung, Lowe’s and the L.A. Lakers.
Immediately, I make $22,000 a month promoting artwork on-line by means of my web site, my Etsy and Society6 retailers, and retail shops like Goal and House Items.
Creating art work that shines a lightweight on vital matters
Rising up, I used to be typically the one Black child in my class, and I discovered it exhausting to seek out issues that represented my background.
My father and I’d exit of our technique to discover greeting playing cards that had photographs of Black households on it. We might purchase them from particular person sellers as a result of many retailers did not carry them.
I created this piece for Bathtub & Physique Works to commemorate Juneteenth.
Paintings: Domonique Brown
I by no means restrict myself relating to experimenting with concepts.
For instance, I created a portrait of Martin Luther King Jr. with crayons. My Tik Tok exhibiting my course of went viral and led to a collaboration with Bleacher Report to attract UNC basketball coach Hubert Davis in the identical fashion.
And this yr, I used to be employed by Bathtub & Physique Works as an illustrator to create a picture of what Juneteenth means.
I work lower than 2 hours a day on my facet hustle
Throughout the weekdays, from 8:00 a.m. to five p.m., I earn a living from home as a advertising and marketing supervisor.
After I sign off from my day job, I change gears and create art work. I spend about 10 hours throughout the week, together with weekends, on DomoINK.
For about an hour, I am going to go on TikTok or Instagram looking for trending movies, after which put my very own spin on these tendencies to promote my store.
I created this piece utilizing Adobe Illustrator.
Photograph: Domonique Brown
Rising my industrial artwork enterprise
After I first began out, each portray and product was made to order. Since I by no means labored on any tasks except I had a fee, I did not have to fret about expensive stock.
My costs vary from $18 socks to a $5,000 portray referred to as “Reflection” that offered just some days after I put it up on the market on my web site.
“Reflection” is one among my highest-selling items.
Photograph: Domonique Brown
To maintain prices down by not investing in advertisements, I am presently targeted on doing natural attain by means of social media.
Along with my Etsy gross sales, I earn cash by licensing my art work non-exclusively on platforms like Society6, which I arrange at no cost. The downside is that I solely get a ten% fee on the merchandise I promote.
This piece, which options components of Black historical past, was impressed by Beyonce’s visible album, “Black Is King.”
Photograph: Domonique Brown
My final purpose is to make DomoINK a way of life retailer that may be a supply of illustration for many who are underrepresented.
The suggestions I’ve gotten from individuals who really feel seen by my work has been extremely gratifying, and it conjures up me to develop my enterprise much more.
Domonique Brown is an artist and the founding father of DomoINK, a way of life model that contributes artwork, attire, and residential decor in celebration of variety and empowerment. Comply with her on Instagram and TikTok.
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