Meet Dakota Drake | Artist and Illustrator

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

Hi Dakota, what’s your definition for success?
I used to define success with vague images in my head of myself smiling smugly in a well tailored business suit, delegating tasks to others, running my own business that was turning a higher profit year after year. I also used to think it was something about making clear goals, a plan to meet them, and then exceeding them over and over. Now I have moved away from what I realize was other peoples’ ideas of success and realized that it is much more subjective and personal than that. It’s still about achieving goals, but now my goals are a lot different than the usual “I’m going to make x dollars this year.” For me, success is spending time with people that matter to me, doing things that interest me, in a time frame that works for my life. It’s about achieving a lifestyle that makes me, and only me, happy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I got where I am today because friends and family encouraged me when I was very skeptical that I could make art into a career at all. A few friends commissioned art from me, and that gave me enough confidence to keep going. I’m entirely self taught outside of some high school art classes, so I’ve just had to fumble through it and try to learn something from every step along the way. I’ve found that it’s far better for me to struggle while working for myself, rather than be unhappy working at a stable job for someone else. It’s a lot scarier though!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Goldfield is a great campy, touristy old gold mine near Apache Junction that’s a lot of fun. Republic Empanada in Mesa has the best empanadas I’ve ever had. Wandering around the shops and galleries in Old Town Scottsdale is a great way to spend an afternoon. Going to the skill share and acro jam at Vertical Fix is a wonderful way to spend an active saturday afternoon.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family and friends, who actually believed that I could do this weird artist career thing, even when I didn’t.

Website: www.dakotadrake.com

Instagram: @artbydakotadrake

Twitter: @deekoter1

Facebook: @ArtByDakotaDrake