Bryn Dougherty

I’m Bryn Dougherty (they/them), a nonbinary illustrator and designer originally from the Midwest, now operating out of the PNW! 

In a sentence, how would you describe your work?

My work is based in a love of people, whether that's representing a diverse array of characters for them to relate to or creating objects that accompany them every day at home, so I try to make things that are approachable and charming, even when they’re a little weird, too. 

Do you have any favorite themes you enjoy working with? 

I enjoy anything emotive, but I especially play with themes of nostalgia, in that weird “Oh, woah, that reminds me of something I maybe can’t place” way. Using that idea as a baseline, and plugging it into subject matter I like from my hobbies, it’s really fun to see what feelings you can get out of it, whether it’s funny or sad or whatever! 

What mediums do you like to work in? 

For my professional work I use digital illustration and design tools (mainly Procreate on iPad, but vector programs as well when needed). Personally, I play around a lot with stuff like fiber arts, 3D modeling, and do a lot of pencil drawings in my sketchbook. I find messing around in other mediums helps inform my practice and keeps things fresh. 

As an artist, are there any tools that you would perish if you left the house without them? 

Okay, don’t let my old art school professors hear this, but you can take a .5mm mechanical pencil and spiral bound sketchbook out of my cold, dead hands. The ease, the efficiency with which you can record thoughts and doodles- unmatched, literally unbeatable, nothing better. 

If you were an environmental storytelling skeleton, how do you think you'd be found?

Apartment building filled with skeletons, locked bedroom you can only get into through a cracked window on a balcony, I am cuddled up so cozy in bed surrounded by stuffed animals and blankets and pillows. Zzz.

What drew you to the imagery of quilting for the sock? 

I like playing with material and processes, and I get a chuckle out of putting something like quilting, a sewing process, on a sock, which is a knit process.

Can you talk a little about your design process? Where do you draw your inspiration from, and how do you work shop your design from draft to final? 

For most designs I start with a list of things off the top of my head that I think are funny or would be fun to draw, then explore those ideas. Past that, I look at a lot of inspiration material! It’s hard to come up with something from nothing so I like to keep books, images, keepsakes, and such that inspire me around to help me find what I’m passionate about for any particular project.

Do you have a favorite feature of the sock design? 

The colors on the design are really fun! I’m a sucker for some good color contrast.

Ankle or crew socks for preference? 

Ankle socks! Easier to show off and better for not getting blisters.

 

For more of Bryn's art, visit their portfolio!