Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brandi Miller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brandi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had some entrepreneurial tendencies. A lot of kids set up a lemonade stand or something similar. What I did was set up an “art stand” on my grandparents’ front lawn and tried to sell my drawings. I ended up making a single sale, but at the time I didn’t feel like it counted because it was to my grandmother.

I have always been drawn to art and creativity, but I had heard it was nearly impossible to make a living as an artist unless it was something commercial. That led me to the happy middle ground of pursuing a degree in graphic design, with a minor in photography. It wasn’t until I went to university that I started officially selling my work and doing art commissions. I found myself wanting to do more creative work.

In my senior year, I had to do a big elective project for my Honors degree, and the university would fund up to $1000 in supplies for it. It was a really great opportunity! As I was brainstorming what to do I had this idea, “What if I can use that to start something where I can make more money?” So I decided my project would be to start a business. I designed my branding, wrote a business plan, and designed my first 8 products. With my funding from the university, I was able to order business cards, envelopes, letterhead, a banner, and my first stocking of products. In June of 2011, Dorky Dino was born! Ever since then, I have been selling online at dorkydino.com and in-person at conventions and art shows.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Dorky Dino is my small art business where I sell my original creations. In my shop at dorkydino.com, you can find original paintings, art prints, handmade jewelry, height charts, patches, stickers, and more! I love applying my designs to different types of products, and I hope to expand to even more products soon.

I make artwork for people who love cute things, with a sprinkling of geekery. I want to show people they can celebrate their dorkiness. I started Dorky Dino because I wanted to do something big with my art: I want to spread happiness. I love using bright colors and cute animals to bring nostalgic memories of childhood. I want people to realize they should celebrate their dorkiness, instead of hiding it. Dorky Dino is a place where you can find art that feels personal to you, and display it, wear it, or accessorize with it to show your dorkiness off to the world.

What makes me the most proud is when people see my work and smile or feel moved. That is the best feeling I could ask for! I’ve had young artists reach out and tell me I inspired them to do more art. I’ve had adults tell me they were having a bad day and receiving one of my products turned it around. I’ve had customers gift products to their Dungeons and Dragons parties, students, and even Girl Scout troops! Hearing these stories fills me with joy every single time.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission has always been to spread joy and happiness. When I’m feeling down, or stuck creatively, it helps to focus on why I do this in the first place. Creating brings me joy, and sharing what I create can bring others joy. I think this can take many forms. My cute and colorful art can provide a childlike sense of happiness and nostalgia. My geeky art can provide a sense of belonging and community. My more serious and emotional art can make people feel seen, heard, and less alone. Even the act of creating can inspire others to create, and I think the world needs more of that! As humans in our current society, we get so caught up in work and being productive that we sometimes forget to take a moment observe the beauty around us, or to create just for the sake of creativity. If my art can make someone stop and smile, reflect, or be inspired, I think I’ve accomplished my mission.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Shopping small and supporting artists, crafters, and makers of all kind is incredibly important! This directly supports people rather than huge corporations, and funnels funds back into communities. Every time you spend money you are voting with your dollars.

You can monetarily support creatives by doing your holiday shopping with small businesses, attend art and craft fairs, buy your books directly from authors or local bookstores instead of Amazon, and buy necessities (soap, clothes) from small makers. Realistically, it’s not always possible to choose the most ethical option every time, but you can make small choices to funnel money back into the hands of the people.

When you don’t have the money to financially support creatives, there are still ways you can help! Word of mouth has the biggest marketing impact on a small business, so tell your friends about creators you love! Share their social media posts, or engage with them by commenting and liking. A supportive or kind comment will not only make a creator’s day, you’ll help boost them in the algorithm.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dorkydino.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dorkydino/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorkydino
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/DorkyDinoGifts

Image Credits
Dorky Dino