We were lucky to catch up with Brandon Redenius recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As long as I remember honestly! I’ve been drawing since I was very young, Disney movies and comic books inspired me to pick up a pencil and start doodling. I really enjoyed creating in this way and made sure I had 4 years of art classes through high school before going to college for studio art and ultimately graphic design.

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

I’m a graphic designer / illustrator / business owner professionally, and my interests revolve around Disney, drag, Halloween, Tiki, movies, music and all things “Escapism”! I like pop culture with a dark edge, and I reflect that in my work.

I had been drawing and designing t-shirts since high school and college, while I was working with friend’s bands on a freelance basis. Even then I had played with the idea of starting a clothing brand as an outlet for my artwork, but didn’t yet have the full knowledge of how to make it happen. I often wore band and graphic tees, and liked the idea of literally wearing my interests on my sleeve. It’s a way to show what you’re into and connect with others that like the same!

It wasn’t until I moved to San Francisco that I really started feeling the drive to create my own business and pursue merchandise design more heavily. After discussing this with my friend Marie on a raucous night out in 2013, I started putting ideas to paper and started sourcing the shirts and materials to create my own merchandise. Marie helped me with the business thinking and continues to help me at events and planning!

10 years later, we still sell t-shirts, button-downs, dresses, enamel pins and more, but I think we’ve come to be known by our button-downs and all over patterns, all illustrated and designed by yours truly!

My designs are Bold. Spooky. Campy, and a little Glam. Black Mast creates unique alternative apparel for those that wear their dark side on their sleeve. It’s for the ones who never quite fit in a specific box, like me. The alt kids, the goth ghouls, the weirdos, the misfits; you are my people!

I’m most proud of my work when a customer tells me how much they loved wearing something I designed, whether it gave them confidence, made them feel beautiful, or just loved the design. Theres been more than a few occasions where someone approaches me at a convention with kind words and I can’t help but get a little teary eyed. It’s those moments when your work doesn’t feel like it’s just being thrown into the void of the internet but that your artwork is making an impact in someones life, even if its just to bring a little joy to their day-to-day.

I’d love people to know that I’m accomplishing this on my own. I have no investors, no trust funds. I still work a full time job to cover my living expenses. Black Mast was my own investment to get started and funds itself as it grows. Black Mast is my baby, and I get by with a little help from my boyfriend and close friends!

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

Shop small! For yourself and for gifts. You’re so much more likely to find something unique and aligned with niche interests. Not to mention, you’ll be supporting someones dream of working for themselves!

I think society as a whole should stop putting so much emphasis on big box stores, or the “cheap” sites like Temu and Shein. Not only do sites like that steal designs from artists and small businesses, it’s usually produced in a lower quality than what you’d get from an artist or small business. Beyond the business ethics, those companies create a ton of waste in their business models.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I mentioned previously how the response to my work has been moving, and I definitely want to continue connecting with people in that way.

Beyond connecting with others through my artwork, one of my main goals is to work for myself and be able to live comfortably off of my artwork and business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://black-mast.com/https://black-mast.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black_mast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackMast/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCI0rdtCxcHZ40R-TJ7UN7w

Image Credits
Bloody Valentine Images by Cash Danielsen. Creepy Cove & Tropigoth Images by Mackenzie Lenora. Snowgoth, Hallow Haunts, Headless Horseman and Doom+Bloom photos by Brandon Redenius.