Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakota Homsey
Hi Dakota, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have always been a student of the arts. I studied from masters at the Arts Students League of New York, and later in college, lived in Paris pursuing my degree in Art History. I still spend my free time doing open sketch nights at the Illustrators Society and at any open sketch nights I can find. I had always brought my sketchbook with me everywhere I go. I worked at a non-profit supporting local government to develop public policy. I was craving more creative work, never sharing my artwork or doing it outside of my own personal time. I then started sharing my work for the first time. This rapidly turned into developing my own business, fulfilling artwork commissions consistently.
Even though I created primarily for myself, recently my work quickly began being well received by buyers, to which I discovered a newfound passion: creating for others. I love, giving a preserved, captured moment.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Knowing when to fully pursue my business was a challenge. For some time, I was growing it alongside my corporate job, not knowing how and when to take a plunge.
I think all artists feel a great imposter syndrome. It’s very intimidating to share your own work out into the public.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do bespoke, highly detailed pen and ink drawings of personal landmarks and streetscapes merge modern sketch style with classically trained execution. I gather much of my inspiration from cities. Architecture is my favourite inspiration and where my heart lies. My love for cities inspired my passion for drawing the unique, intangible beauty of a city street. In any of my travels, I’ve made sure to sketch the streets, attempting to capture that city’s experience, environment, and culture. In drawing a city, you can study line, form, depth, and emotion, all in one moment!
Beyond commissioned pieces, I have applied my technique to custom wallpaper, wedding invitations, menus, personalized maps, and more.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
When I was getting my illustration business up and running, the founders of I Have This Friend reached out to me about joining their talent community, which is basically a marketplace for creative talent and their unique offerings (kind of like Etsy, but for lifestyle services). Once I was up and running on the platform, I was booking jobs with new clients every single week. It made a huge difference in my discoverability and, in a fun turn of events, I’m now heading up all of their Talent Operations!! I have now found my dream job where I am pursuing my own business and also helping empower other emerging creatives. Working with one-on-one creatives who are just starting out is so fulfilling because at one point, that was me!
Pricing:
- Comission pieces start at $700
- Wedding Invitation Suites start at $2,000
- Live Sketching at events begin at $1,500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dakotadonovanillustrations.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dakota_donovan_illustrations/
