We recently connected with Lewis Hwang and have shared our conversation below.

Lewis, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

Before 2023, I had never sold my art face-to-face. Most of my work lived online, separated from the people who bought it. At my first in-person market, a cultural festival hosted by the Tufts Asian American Center, I nervously arranged my dinosaur-themed stickers and pins. When the doors opened, people trickled past my table without stopping. I tried to smile, but I felt invisible.

Then, a student, “Sue,” paused at my pin board, her eyes lighting up at the sight. I asked if she liked dinosaurs, and she laughed, telling me her dad was a paleontologist. She was heading home after finals and wanted to bring him something. As she told me about his latest paper on a prehistoric marine reptile, Mosasaurus, I showed her the designs I had of the reptile. Her excitement was so infectious that I couldn’t help but give her the order for free. While it was not the first sale I had imagined, it was precisely the first connection I needed.

She messaged me a month later with a photo of her dad smiling, holding the pins and stickers in his hands. I hadn’t expected her to send a picture, but I was glad she did. That moment stuck with me because I got to share something I loved, and it landed somewhere it mattered.

Lewis, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Jurassic Park had a significant impact on me growing up and sparked my interest in biology. I launched an account in 2018 for fun to draw dinosaurs, which evolved into a small art business during the pandemic. I gained over 4,200 followers and fulfilled more than 500 orders of prehistoric-themed merchandise. I collaborated with content creators, completed commissions for university organizations, and managed the entire production pipeline from illustration and inventory to fulfillment. Running this business strengthened my visual communication, client outreach, and marketing skills, while allowing me to explore a creative interest alongside my academic pursuits.

How did you build your audience on social media?

When I started my Instagram account, it was simply a space to share my Jurassic Park-themed fan art—something I have loved since I was a kid. I leaned into that niche, which gave me direction and a sense of community, especially as I began turning my art into merchandise.

That said, I am now working on branching out into broader paleoart, exploring lesser-known species and more scientifically grounded reconstructions. It’s a balance: staying true to what brought people in while also evolving creatively.

Start by finding what excites you and post consistently within that niche. Let your personality shine through. Once you build trust with your audience, you can explore new creative directions.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is that art provides a way for me to connect with people who share similar niche interests. When someone tells me a piece reminded them of the first time they sat with their parents to watch Jurassic Park or taught them something new, that’s the best kind of payoff. Creativity is not just about self-expression; it is a means to initiate conversations and foster community.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/paleodoodle
• Other: https://etsy.com/shop/DinoPinsShop