Meet Brian Reedy | Artist and Illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Reedy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success has been from being prolific and consistent. There are a lot of talented artists out there, and the best way to stand out is with a style that is unique or unusual. Using block prints as my medium gives my brand a specific look that is easily identifiable. I also believe that a strong work ethic is slightly more important than talent. Many outstanding artists have difficulty reaching levels of success due to a lack of moxie. I feel like the combination of hard work and developing a specific artistic style can yield amazing results. Keeping a positive attitude is also advantageous to keep oneself motivated. Sometimes our failures and setbacks can be extremely discouraging, but optimism can bring you out of those slumps quickly and get you back on track. Utilizing social media is a powerful tool for any artist who is looking to expand their reach. Also, there’s nothing wrong with throwing spaghetti at the wall when you are unsure of what path to take when starting as a working artist. However when you find a method an and audience that works best for you,I think it’s a good practice to reduce how many pies to put your fingers in and focus on the ones that will yield the best results. Finding that niche that is true to your individual creative leanings can lead to your work becoming more ubiquitous and well-recieved.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been working as an artist for nearly 30 years. However until 10 years ago I was strictly a gallery artist, meaning that I exhibited and sold my work exclusively in art galleries rather than attempting to build a brand on my own. The benefits of having gallery representation is that the owners help promote and manage your work. The flip side to that advantage is they also take at least 50% of all art sales. At the time, I felt that I was doing well as an artist but over time I a seed of doubt began to grow about the sustainability of such a lifestyle. Also, my love of comics, anime, movies and pop culture got me thinking that perhaps my talents would be better suited in other ways. I opened my first online shop on Etsy and began setting up booths in Artist Alleys at comic book conventions. Through a lot of trial and error I learned how to be more efficient and make more profits. At the time I didn’t fully understand the value of formulating strategies to promote oneself as an artist, and many times my success was from pure dumb luck. By learning from my mistakes and working hard, my brand began to grow and I realized that almost any obstacle or setback can be overcome with perseverance. As I mentioned before, the block printing technique has a unique quality that sets it apart from other art styles. At the time, so few people were using block prints in this way, and so the novelty of that style helped to set me apart from the others. Even now, when you walk into a Hot Topic store, my shirts are easily identifiable simply because of the block print aesthetic. I’m proud of how far I’ve taken my artwork and built a successful career from making block prints, but I’m also constantly thinking of ways that I can improve and make things run more smoothly. Because I have to print each block by hand, I know that it make better business sense to focus ventures that can generate passive income such as working with companies that pay royalties for using my designs on apparel or products.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is a fun and vibrant city with so many things to see and do. The funny thing is that I rarely take advantage of the unique aspects of this city unless someone is visiting from elsewhere. During those moments I feel like a tourist in my own town. Truth be told, I am so content to spend my spare time at home with my wife and daughter, that I am hardly an expert to give advice on what restaurant to eat or hip place to visit. Also, my tastes may differ from someone coming to Miami for the first time looking for a memorable experience. Most likely you would have better luck getting tips from the Conde Nast Traveler magazine in the airplane seat pocket on you way to Miami than to put your faith in my suggestions!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wife Simone has been my constant source of guidance and support. She is an amazing artist who has a good eye, extraordinary instincts and a treasure trove of good advice.

Website: brianreedy.bigcartel.com

Instagram: @brianreedy

Facebook: brianreedy

Other: Hottopic.com/creators/artist/brian-reedy