Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Dinh
Hi Anna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I have been drawing all my life. I was always known as the art kid in school and drawing was the only hobby I never stirred away from. I have many other hobbies but drawing was always something that I always turn back to. It wasn’t until COVID that I decided to turn my passion into a business. I had no idea going into turning art into a business but it was the best thing that could’ve happened in my creative career. In 2023, I attended my first Anime convention in Atlanta called “Momocon,” and that experience changed how I viewed my business. I started participating in more in-person events focusing on catering to the Anime fans. My art consists of and comes from a lot of inspiration from Anime and the little joys in life, and being in the community has brought my art a lot of attention from the Anime-loving locals in Georgia.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting a business without knowing how to start a business is tough. I used to solely sell my illustrations online so the struggles of learning how to ship different types of items, how to take product pictures, and how to market your creation has been a learning curve for me and still is. There were a lot of boundaries that I had to make for myself in order not to burn out. Because I need to draw for all of my merchandise and accessories, sometimes the art block gets to the best of me and I would be unable to create as much as I would like. It is always important to take inspiration everywhere I go even if the inspiration is minuscule.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Being an illustrator is not my full-time job. I am a Board Certified Behavioral Analyst full time and have been studying and researching human behavior for almost 4 years. At my day job, I service children on the Autism spectrum and create positive routines and habits to get them ready for the real world. I use my knowledge and expertise in the field and apply it to my art business. Something as simple as coherent branding makes someone more likely to visit you at a local market, for example, or the way to present yourself as a merchant is also very important in how people perceive you and your brand. As I attend Artist Alley in Anime conventions and local events, I am working around the clock to ensure that I can interact with others in a way that makes them feel comfortable or make their shopping experience more enjoyable. Something as little as the way I word my sentences as well as how I display my merchandise at in-person events all stem from different kinds of research on human behavior.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The best type of resource are the artists around me. I know many artists from around the world and being able to connect with them allows me to learn a lot more about how to be a better business owner, how to be a better illustrator, and how to be a better person in general. I have learned a lot from my colleagues and I believe that that human connection, whether it be business-related or personal can have a long-lasting impact on how you can present yourself professionally and personally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lycheesago.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lychee.sago
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lycheesagoart
