We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kevin Bohnenkamp a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kevin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar your business earns is always special and we’d love to hear how your brand made its first dollar of revenue.

The story of how I got my first client is pretty straightforward, but it meant a lot to me. Early on, I spent time going into local shops and talking directly with store owners, showing them my work and explaining what I was trying to build. Most conversations didn’t lead anywhere, but I kept at it. Eventually, one owner took a chance on me and agreed to carry prints of my work in his shop. Seeing my art on his shelves,and knowing someone was willing to invest real money in it made everything feel real for the first time. That first sale wasn’t flashy, but it was the moment I realized this could actually work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a professional illustrator based in the STL area. My work generally focuses on religious, mythological storytelling, often through detailed large and small scale illustrations and dioramas.
I got into this work by having an interest simply by doing it. I have always made art in varying mediums and over the last couple years, I began to focus more on these ideas.
Early on, I was experimenting across different styles and mediums, but over time I realized my strongest work came from leaning into narrative and detail instead of trying to make something that fit a trend. Once I committed to that, my work became more focused and more personal.
Today I create original artwork, prints, and detailed physical builds. A lot of my process is hands-on and research driven. I care about scale, structure, and intent.

What I’m most proud of is sticking with the work long enough to understand what I do well and trusting that. I want people to know that if they’re engaging with my work, they’re getting something thoughtful, intentional, and made with care.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Probably art festivals and shows that I have entered throughout the years.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Early on, I was making a little bit of everything—landscapes, portraits, architecture, pop culture, sports—anything I thought might catch someone’s eye. I was trying to be versatile, but over time I realized that approach was keeping the work from having a clear identity.
The pivot came when I started paying attention to the pieces that felt the most natural and meaningful to me. Over the last few years, I’ve narrowed my focus to religious and mythological illustration, working in both small and large-scale formats. That shift brought a lot more clarity to my work and my process, and the work became stronger because of it.
Around the same time, I also began building 1:12 scale dioramas, which let me tell stories in a physical, immersive way. More recently, I started creating a St. Louis–focused coloring book as a way to give back, helping support people who lost their homes or need assistance after last May’s storm. That combination of focus, storytelling, and community has really defined where my work is now.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohnenkampillustration?igsh=MXEycnJoNXo0ZmJjZQ==
• Other: https://bsky.app/profile/bohnkmpilustrtion.bsky.social

Image Credits

BohnenkampIllustration (me)