Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsey Bell.
Hi Lindsey, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as the youngest of an artistic family in Orlando, Florida. My father is a watercolor artist, my mother is a graphic designer, and my sister is an interior designer. Growing up, our home was always stocked with different arts and crafts supplies, giving us endless ways to explore and play with all different kinds of mediums.
Over the years, my career has shifted more towards the Production side. But what lights up my soul, is still to this day, making art. Anything that feels crafty or messy, I’m all in. In 2020 I decided to start to selling and posting my art online, and have been doing more with my business, Design By LJ. I had so much inventory of national park photography, which was what led to my digital paintings. I am happiest when I’m traveling and out in nature. What I love so much about the parks is that they’re all so vastly different, and so many of them are this colossal beauty that just hits you out of nowhere. You’re driving along, and then all of the sudden you exit a tunnel, and bam! You’re in the valley of Yosemite surrounded by sheer rock cliff faces on all sides. Each national park painting is based off of my own photography from that visit, and when people purchase those prints, a portion of those proceeds goes directly to the donation of America’s national parks.
One day I had an idea that I could make stickers with my art. I thought it would be fun to make one of my Boxer dog that I rescued from LA Boxer Rescue, and then from there, I got this crazy pipe dream that I could make stickers for businesses that resonated with me. I didn’t want to make art for big companies with limits and rules. Instead, I wanted to help nonprofits, and other small businesses that had a good cause behind them. Around that time, I started the book The Artists Way, and one of the main concepts of the book is to think about a dream that you’re passionate about, and to just watch the miracles arrive to help get you there. And boy did they arrive. One of my goals was to make stickers for the Gentle Barn for them to sell in their gift shop. It’s an animal rescue near LA with a few locations across America, but they’re known for rescuing farm animals. What I love so much about them, is their program for cow hugging therapy. You can visit them, or have sessions with their rescued cows where you just love on them all day long. So I went to visit, not really thinking much would happen out of it. But a few days later, I got an offer that they’d like me to do designs of some of their animals for them to sell in their gift shop. And that’s when the magic started happening. A business or company would randomly show up in my life that I would resonate with, and then I’d decide I’d want to get involved with them. I would end up getting to work with them, and make art for them soon after. I had proof that I could control my future, and opportunities would show up if I just lived authentically.
When the LA fires happened in January, I wanted to help out in some way, and I kept hearing about how the animal shelters were overflowing with dogs. So I offered to foster, and picked up this young Staffordshire Bull Terrier that had been in the LA Animal Shelter for quite a bit. I had made a design of her into an “Adopt Annabelle” sticker with a QR code that would take you to a page with all of her information and photos. I would bring these stickers to her adoption events, and hand them out to anyone who would show interest in her, just to get her some extra exposure. They were a hit, and people loved them, and I was finally able to unite her with her family. I’ve also gotten the chance to make art for the Burbank Animal Shelter as well, for their Ruff-ly Drawn Fundraiser. Fostering is such a surreal experience. All you want is for someone to notice how great this dog is, and take them in, but then you’re heart broken once they do. But I believe that people and their pets are meant to find each other. Sometimes it happens naturally, and other times they get a little lost on the way— relying on us fosters to step in and guide them back together.
What I love so much about my art journey and my business is that it is always evolving. New magical things keep happening, and more and more opportunities keep entering my life. I had found out that my favorite band was playing in a benefits concert in Santa Barbara, Rescue Rhythms, which was put on by a dog rescue Farmer & the Flea. So of course I had to get involved. They’re doing this beautiful thing of trying to build a sanctuary for rescue animals and people to heal. I volunteered to do a few sticker designs for them, to help promote some of their dogs who might be having a hard time getting adopted. Creating art for this event had transformed into this big beautiful day that is made up of so many different things that light up my soul. All of it crashing together into this giant fated cosmic convergence of my art, dogs, stickers, and music.
And just when you think you’re at the top and have stepped into your power and living your life as authentically as you can, more opportunities continue to show up. I thought I was already at my peak, and then more and more abundance just flows in. Because of that, I’m excited to see what’s around the corner waiting for me, as I can’t imagine it could possibly get any better than all of this. Stay tuned for what’s next! I’m currently working on a children’s book that I’m writing and illustrating. Without giving too much of it away, it’s a story about my personal journey, and the discovery of finding your courage in the dark. All we have to do is take a big step, face our fears, and we will be reminded that our brightest light comes from within.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
My career journey hasn’t always been easy. I always knew I wanted to work for an animation studio since I was a child, and I was frustrated that it felt like it took me so long to get there. But when I finally got there after all those years of hustling and networking and attending conferences, when the Universe decided it was time, it was time. Out of nowhere I had interviews all within a week of each other with Pixar, DreamWorks, and Reel FX. The Universe flooded me with opportunities when the time was finally right.
I did realize afterwards that I had spent all those years working for other companies wishing I could be somewhere else rather than enjoying them for what they were. These little stops along my path were the reasons why I got to where I am today. I never would have gotten to DreamWorks if I hadn’t worked for Universal Creative. And I was hired for Universal Creative, because of my experience working for the WWE. It’s a much cooler story, and in hindsight I’m grateful for the path that I took to get here. Even though it’s something that I was definitely blind to in the moment, it taught me so much about not giving up. But for me, looking back, it’s all about surrendering to your journey, and just watching where the Universe takes you next. When I tried to control things, that’s when I got stuck. But when I just gave in and lived and showed up and witnessed each of these things enter my life at the exact moment that they were supposed to, that’s when I felt the most success and abundance enter in.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have always had a love for film that stemmed from watching Disney movies and cartoons as a kid. I spent summers with my friends filming and editing news videos on my computer. I ended up getting into the animation program at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, and studied film and 3D computer animation there.
I worked for a quick season on a WWE reality tv show. It was such a fun experience, but the long days and stress of airing completely new story lines every week was… exhausting and inorganic. I later got a job with the Universal Studios Creative design team, developing new theme parks for Universal Studios. I worked on Universal Studios Beijing, and then on Universals new Epic Universe that just opened in Florida. During all that entire time though, my heart was still set on working at an animation studio and my soul kept sending me little whispers to follow that path. After being able to wallpaper my room with rejection letters from animation studios’, I finally ended up getting my dream job at DreamWorks Animation to work on The Croods a New Age. I’ve gotten to work alongside so many different departments and amazing artists for The Bad Guys, Puss In Boots the Last Wish, the Wild Robot, and am now currently a Production Supervisor for an unannounced film.
For my Design By LJ business, I specialize in digital art. In working with non profits, and small businesses whose voice I want to help get noticed. I want to help expose good causes. Whether it’s national parks, different animal rescues, or words and illustrations that bring a little comfort on this journey back home to ourselves. I believe we all have such a beautiful story to tell, and as long as we listen to the little hints and whispers along the way, we can help others reach this level of awareness that helps to spread consciousness through love and light to the world. I try to pour love into everything that I create, and I think that’s my special ingredient. Just a little sprinkle of love to completely change the flavor is what sets me apart. And I’m hoping that when I finally get to finish and publish my children’s book, that kids can start to pick up on that theme as well. That’s why I love working on animated films so much too. To be able to reach a larger audience, and to help allow kids to feel that they can be anything, similar to the way I felt when I was a kid watching animated movies.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that this massive urban place is built around all the nature of Griffith Park. I love that you are surrounded by hills, and so many unique and original homes are just built on top of them and look like they are defying gravity and about to spill off the edges. It’s quite a stunning landscape. It feels like every one of these old homes and buildings each have their own story to tell. I also love how many opportunities and different communities you can get involved in out here. If you are open to it, there is a never ending river of communities to get involved in that flow to you, and each of the back stories of the people you meet along the way have all been so fascinating to hear.
What I like least? Because I’m so happy and grounded in nature, there is a bit about this city that breaks your heart, such as walking outside and seeing a smog filled sky day after day. Especially after the times when I go visit these stunning landscapes in other states, experiencing such clean air and greenery. I do believe that there is a balance to everything though. Seeing how the community comes together in times of tragedy has been so amazing to witness, it makes me grateful for the people here. After these recent fires and all of the people who were fortunate enough not to have been affected and volunteered their time and money to help those in need, it was similar to when I lived in Orlando and the Pulse tragedy happened. When something big and devastating happens in your town, everyone comes together in such a large impact that it is always quite inspiring to witness.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.designByLJ.com
- Instagram: @designByLJ
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseymbell30/
Image Credits
Image credits goes to Tiana Knights Photography. @tianaknightsphotography
