In 2020, I was working two marketing jobs and putting in grueling 80-hour workweeks. But my real passion was creating art.
So in April 2020, I started DomoINK as a side hustle. It has since blossomed into a successful art and home decor brand. I make $22,000 a month in passive income from online sales through my website, Etsy, Society6, and retailers like Target and Home Goods. I’ve also collaborated with major brands like Disney, Samsung, Lowe’s and Dr. Martens.
The best part is that I spend an average of just two hours a day on DomoINK. The rest of the time is spent on my remote job as an interactive designer.
Here’s a look at my typical week:
My schedule is very flexible
The schedule for my full-time job is typically 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Since I work from home and don’t have to commute, I’m able to wake up at 8:00 a.m. and spend an hour answering emails about customer orders.
I created this vibrant piece for a refrigerator collaboration with Samsung.
Photo: Domonique Brown
I switch up my tasks to avoid burnout
On Mondays, I set aside time to create social media content for DomoINK, like decorating my home to showcase my product line.
On Tuesdays, I knock out more granular tasks like editing footage. On Wednesdays, I typically work on a new art piece and film the entire process to post online.
This piece is called “Rodeo Queen Dreams.”
Photo: Domonique Brown
On Thursdays, I try to learn a new art or business skill. I might watch a Youtube video about Adobe Illustrator, for example, or listen to a podcast about what makes a social post go viral.
If I can, I take Saturdays and Sundays to unwind. Sometimes I’ll go on a date with my fiancé, or I’ll hang out with family and friends. If I stay home, I love browsing for eclectic decor inspiration online.
I spend time brainstorming what comes next
On Fridays, I often update my website and come up with new product ideas. I’m always looking to give my customers more options like puzzles, kitchenware, art prints and apparel.
Over the last year, I’ve taken on more freelance projects. Two of my favorite jobs were collaborating with Dr. Martens for their Santa Monica location and partnering with NASCAR for Women’s History Month to honor female track presidents in their organization.
My finished collaboration with Dr. Martens, hanging in their Santa Monica, California location.
Photo: Domonique Brown
My work was featured in Target’s 2023 Black History Month collection. In 2024, my collaboration with hair accessory line Goody Tru will be sold at Walmart. My artwork will also be featured on stationary for Walmart’s Black History Month collection.
I want my artwork to inspire other creatives
I’m always trying to do better than the last work I did, which can sometimes lead to artist’s block.
If I’m having a really hard time getting a drawing done, I’ll visit a local art gallery. Two of my favorite spots are the Broad Museum and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
I love creating joy with my art, like with these Fleur Sunpremes throw pillows. It’s impossible to not smile when you see them.
Photo: Domonique Brown
My goal is to have my art hanging in museums one day. When I would visit galleries growing up, seeing work from Black artists was so rare. I want to achieve this dream to inspire other young Black creatives, too.
Domonique Brown is an artist and the founder of DomoINK, a lifestyle brand that contributes art, apparel, and home decor in celebration of diversity and empowerment. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Don’t miss:
Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter here
Get CNBC’s free Warren Buffett Guide to Investing, which distills the billionaire’s No. 1 best piece of advice for regular investors, do’s and don’ts, and three key investing principles into a clear and simple guidebook.
Read the full article here