We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dana Harrison. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dana below.
Dana, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you take us back in time to the first dollar you earned as a creative – how did it happen? What’s the story?
The first time I made money off of my creativity was about 7 years ago. I don’t know how they found me because I had just started my lettering account and probably had like 36 followers but I was commissioned to hand letter some large menu chalkboards for a conference at a hotel. I was extremely anxious and had mega imposter syndrome happening, but I showed up on-site to letter 4 very large chalkboards with only my box of chalk and a straight edge—I don’t even think I brought headphones! What is the most wild to me is that I didn’t have any prior knowledge of what the copy would be, what the style they wanted was, etc. I just showed up and made it up on the spot. I would never do that now, I always pre-plan everything and also prefer to take signs to my studio to work on privately rather than doing them on site. I remember I wasn’t doing digital invoices at the time and had to pick up an invoice sheet from an office supply company and wrote out my charges by hand. I charged them next to nothing…it probably ended up working out to maybe $4-5 per hour. I was so proud of myself at the time, but looking back—they were a big company and totally took advantage of an emerging artist! It happens, and I’ve learned a ton since then. I still have that check pasted in an old journal of mine that says “FIRST CHECK FROM A COMMISSION!!!!!!!!” all around it. So clearly I was pumped.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My company is called Dear Alphabet, LLC and I paint signs and murals, mainly for restaurants, retail, apartment complexes, gyms, schools and hotels, but occasionally there’s a residential project or two! I am a lover of all things lettering and super enjoy drawing and painting letterforms, but I do also do imagery. My sign painting work includes exterior signage for businesses as well as A-frames or menu boards. So if you have a logo I can paint it on your building, or if you have a menu board that you’ve been getting one of your employees to do, I can make it look pretty. My mural work is large and small, I can add a fun pop of color, set a moody vibe for a space, or encourage creativity through uplifting messages. It really all comes down to what you want to achieve.
The problem that I most often solve for clients is making them known. Maybe you already have a sign, but it’s faded from the sun or it’s made of vinyl and is cracking or it’s hard to see from the road! I am here to help you figure out how to get your business seen by people. Hand painted signs are the tried and true way to advertise your business.
In my personal work I like to explore feelings in a tongue-in-cheek manner through word play, however I haven’t had as much time lately for personal work. When you turn your passion into your job that happens a lot!
I got into this work by being obsessed with letters from a young age. I’ve been drawing letters since I was in elementary school, but never realized it could be a career until my mid twenties.
I am super proud to be a queer woman in a cishet male-dominated industry. Sign painting has for so long been a “boy’s club” and I am excited to be carving out space for other people to shine in this industry. I also overcame heroin addiction in my early twenties and am a fierce advocate for harm reduction and mental health. I am super proud of myself for where I’m at now.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Buy local art!! If you’re looking to purchase art for your home and you’re going on Etsy or eBay or to HomeGoods you’re doing it wrong! Even if you feel like you don’t have the budget to do it, many artists offer prints of their work at affordable prices or can offer payment plans on original works. It often comes ready to hang and is so much cooler and more unique than just buying from somewhere random, where the original artist is getting next to nothing from the sale. Buying local art supports your community and means so much to the artist! And if you are in a space of financial insecurity and cannot buy local art, liking, commenting, saving, and reposting work is huge! It really does help and takes no time out of your day.
Also, tagging artists when you share their work on social media is crucial! It may seem insignificant but it’s how we get found by other people and generate more commissions or sales for ourselves.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
That creative work is work! I think often people who aren’t in this field think creatives are just sitting around drawing all day, but there’s SO much that goes into this work. The administrative work can really be a drag—writing up contracts and invoices and all that—but the real work is murals! We bust our asses on ladders and lifts in extreme temperatures. I have painted in 100°F weather with no cover as well as below freezing—and you can’t wear gloves because it negatively impacts your dexterity. Murals are extremely physical work, but it’s so rewarding when you see the piece come together that it’s super worth all the blood, sweat, and tears that go into them.
Yes, being your own boss is super cool! But it’s also super stressful! I don’t have anyone to go to if I have a question, I just have to figure it out myself. And if I’m having an issue with a client there is no upper management to handle the problem, I have to wear all the hats! I am never not working. Even when I lay down at night I am composing difficult emails in my head or making a mental list of what I need from Lowe’s. I don’t feel like I ever have a separation from my work, it’s always around me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dearalphabet.com
- Instagram: @dearalphabet
- Other: TikTok: @dearalphabet