Meet Evan Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Brown.

Hi Evan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have always been artistically inclined, but it wasn’t until high school that I really started to take a more serious interest in pursuing it as a career path.

In high school, my art teacher picked up on my desire to grow as an artist and helped me apply to the school of design at the University of Kansas. I quickly found a place for myself within the Illustration and Animation department there and spent every waking hour honing in on my craft. I was originally interested in going into either editorial illustration or concept art for a company like Pixar, but after interning for Street Sense, a poverty awareness newspaper in Washington D.C., I refocused my concentration on developing colorful art that spreads joy and positivity to those of all ages. As I began my shift in stylistic pursuit, I started listening to business-related content and got heavily into the marketing side of things. So much so that I actually started my own art-based business my senior year of college. I essentially spent my senior thesis year building a body of work and products that I could launch immediately following college.

At the same time, I started selling drawings and apparel at First Fridays in the Kansas City Crossroads. With the firm foundation for my brand already laid, I quickly found myself landing consistent mural and commission jobs after graduating. As my brand continued to grow, I started to expand my apparel line into stores like Hallmark, Halls, and the Bunker in Westport. Beginning mostly with local projects, I managed to grow a substantial local following that has now led to national expansion with projects for some of the biggest brands in the world including Bud Light among others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, it really has been for the most part. Because I did so much of the leg work before graduating, I faced very little opposition when it came time to perform. That being said, I have undergone a ton of learning curves along the way. While they can appear to be setbacks at first, I have always viewed obstacles as opportunities to learn and grow. This mindset has made it really easy to absorb the blows as they come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a traditional acrylic painter and illustrator for the most part. However, as a single member business owner I have to wear several administrative hats. I have two primary approaches when it comes to the actual application of medium. The first is more of a black and white doodle art approach, and the second approach would be my vibrant acrylic paintings. When it comes to the art side of things, I love to use my wacky surrealistic style to evoke joy and wonder in viewers of all ages. I primarily paint and do mural work, but over the years I have moved into doing an array of things including hand-pressed apparel, coloring books, and stickers among others. That said, my main goal has always been to write and illustrate my own line of children’s books. I am actually currently in the illustration phase of my first book. Regarding what sets my brand apart, I’d like to think it’s my bizarre yet inviting visual language.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I would say that the more people you meet and the more you just completely absorb yourself in your industry, the better your chances are of finding yourself in front of the right people at the right time. To do this kind of work full time, it needs to be an obsession of sorts, otherwise your drive can fizzle quick. With that, I’d say find a way to make it an obsession. The more you dig in and work through the hard times, the greater the reward is at the end of the tunnel and the easier things get along the way.

Contact Info:

• Email: evan@doodledood.com
• Website: www.doodledood.com
• Instagram: @doodledoodart
• Facebook: Doodle Dood LLC