Welcome to Meet a Dork, a feature on Dorkaholics where we get to know a fellow dork somewhere in the world. Through Meet a Dork, we hope to not only establish new friendships with other fans but showcase the vastness of our community, the diversity of backgrounds, and the unique stories of each person. This week, we have Megan Luu, a digital illustrator slash stationery art seller.
Neil Bui (NB): How would you describe what you do for a living?
Megan Luu (ML): I’m a digital illustrator! I draw a lot and then I turn some of that art into various stationery products, primarily stickers, but also memo pads and greeting cards.
NB: How did you get started with Etsy?
ML: I originally had an offer to stay on with my internship company after graduation. Due to the pandemic, it ended up not working out, and I was unemployed after graduating with my MBA.
I started seriously learning how to draw back in mid-July. I had been interested in digital illustrating on and off over the years, but since we were in lockdown and I was finally finished with school, I had the time to really learn.
Drawing became a coping mechanism for dealing with the effects of the pandemic. I would draw from the moment I woke up, until I went to bed. I would send my illustrations to close friends every day, and then I figured I should be sharing them somewhere so that’s when I started my art Instagram page. Eventually, it got to a point where close friends applauded my progress and suggested I try to sell my art online. Having always been one of those people who has collected and loved stickers obsessively, I thought it’d be fun to try to make and sell some. I’d also always been a fan of Etsy as a handmade goods platform.
It turned out to be a great way to utilize my MBA degree, despite being unemployed – as I get to work on things like product design, managing social media and marketing, pricing strategy and accounting!
NB: What topics or sources of inspiration do you work with?
ML: I love drawing Corgis. I have a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Cheddar (yes, after Captain Holt’s ‘Cheddar’ from Brooklyn 99). I get inspired to draw just by looking at him. I love drawing Corgis as food, or in fun outfits. Currently, I have a character that I refer to as the ‘Chonk Corgi’ who is basically a Corgi with a Snorlax-esque body.
I also draw fan art. I am a big Animal Crossing fan (since 2001) – a lot of my first illustrations were of Animal Crossing villagers. I tend to draw characters from any game that I’m obsessed with, including Stardew Valley, Legend of Zelda and Super Mario.
Most importantly, I’m an even bigger Disney fan. I would consider myself a mega Disney Parks fan. I draw inspiration from the magic and optimism of the parks and the brand, and I try to bring that feeling of positivity and happiness I get from them into my art.
NB: What are the tools of your trade?
ML: I draw using my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil (first gen) on the Procreate App. I sometimes utilize Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for certain aspects. I also use a Canon printer and most importantly, the Cricut Explore Air 2!
NB: What advice do you have for someone interested in selling their work on Etsy?
ML: Just do it! I’m a big proponent of learning as you go. You’re able to constantly fiddle around with the keywords, product name, pictures and price, so you’ll be able to find that sweet spot that eventually works for you. I would say that the most important part would be making sure your keywords are optimized so that people can find you when they search!
NB: What illustration are you most proud of and why?
ML: That’s a tough one. It would have to be one of my Luma illustrations! I drew both of those within a short period of time, and I really challenged myself with the art style.
More about Megan Luu:
The Instagram of her dog, Cheddar: @captaincheddarcorgi
Her Art Instagram: @thelolabar
Her Etsy Store: etsy.com/shop/TheLolaBar
