An Inspired Chat with Devon Bragg of Sunland

Devon Bragg shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Devon, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I used to think that I was walking a straight forward path, with many minor adjustments here and there. I grew up always having my eye on a goal and was extremely driven. I strove everyday to prove to others that I was worth something, often through work – and only then could you feel good about yourself and be complete. After all, that’s where your worth supposedly comes from – so I thought. So to stray from your path was a risky act; since I never wanted to disappoint anyone.

It wasn’t until the past few years where “wandering” felt like the best option to do. I used to think wandering was a bad thing, but as Tolkien said: “Not all who wander are lost.”

There’s beauty in wandering, you get to see more that way, and more importantly, you listen to yourself and get really in tune with what resonates with you. Letting yourself see different things and experience more than you thought possible is a gift to yourself, and that has been really amazing for not only my artwork, but for my mindset and mental health.

I think more people should “wander”, let themselves explore, give themselves permission to do something different and to pivot if they would like to. Explore the world with child-like enthusiasm and joy.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Devon Bragg, and I practically popped out of the womb with a pencil and paintbrush in my stubby little hands.

I have always loved creating and problem solving, so when I got the chance to work in animation seven years ago, I leapt for it. I’ve had the joy and privilege of doing character design, backgrounds, paint, props..you name it, I’ve probably done it. My goal is always to have the biggest “batman utility belt” I can, so I can bring various skills to my next team or job while being as adaptable as possible. Plus, I just love to learn. I guess that ties back into that “wander” mentality.

I was unfortunately though, hit with the layoffs that happened a couple years back and I have not been able to return fulltime to animation like I would like to do. In the past two years, I’ve had 2 short-term freelance jobs. Which is nuts to think about, but I’m grateful I got those; I know many people who haven’t had anything.

However, during the “down” time I’ve made it my mission to not let it stop me from creating – and some beautiful things have come from it.

I got back into wood painting, I took classes to learn video game concept art (Thank you so much Alexandria N. if you are reading this) , I learned how to leather work, I started sculpting again, I had some mini-art shows, and I started going to markets to sell artwork that I just felt like making and to meet other creatives.

Then recently, I got a job in video games. What a cool pivot! I get to explore a job that I’ve been wanting to do for years and I get to learn from people who know way more than i do! Which is INCREDIBLE. I love learning.

My time in animation definitely isn’t done, but while it’s put me on the bench so to speak while the industry begins to recover, I’ve made sure that I’m still going and that I’m still letting myself be excited to try out new things.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That in order to be worth something, or even be a person, you have to be good at your job, that you have to be useful and that you’re worth nothing. You have to achieve all the time and never stop – and once you do, you’re a failure (or even that you are a failure all the time).

Took me nearly three decades to rewrite that way of thinking, and I still have a ways to go. There are good days and bad days, and now I give myself permission to fail; that I don’t need to be perfect and that my best is going to look different every day. Some days I’ll be good at drawing but not painting. Some days I’ll be good at painting but not drawing. Some days I’ll just need to recover and decompress. Some days I’ll be bouncing off the walls and productive. So long as I try to do better than yesterday and let myself not be confined to what a “perfect productive person” is, I’m doing alright.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I love you.

I believe in you.

I’m sorry you have to carry so much.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have to suffer for your job and that if you’re not giving every ounce of your very being to animation, then you’re not deserving of that role. Also that sometimes its okay for the animation job to just be..a job; and it can help provide you means to blossom outside of work.

Animation is very cool, I am grateful for the opportunities and the people every single day, but theres also more out there.

You can let the job be a job if that feels right and explore your interests outside of work – that doesn’t make you any less deserving than anyone else. Please don’t hurt yourself for your job, any job. Make yourself a priority. Companies, especially big ones, thrive off of you breaking your bones to fund their bottom line; and that’s just not fair. It never was, and never will be.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Sitting at my desk so much and being afraid of being weird.

Bring on the weird and the wacky.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devonbraggart.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: @devonbraggart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-bragg-a5bb46274/