Dani Brews Interview | Respect the Artist
This interview was curated by KIR ART & START Shows
Dani Brews is a ‘jack-of-all-trades’ artist working primarily in digital illustration and animation. She creates bold, inviting work that often has more going on beneath the surface. Inspired by animated films, cartoons, music videos, and everyday life, she takes ordinary moments and adds a sense of whimsy and emotion to them. Each piece is an attempt to capture a feeling, something that makes the viewer pause and sit with it for a moment. At the core of her work is curiosity and finding joy in the process of creating, reflecting an intro-perspective view of the world.
How did you get your Artist name?
My artist name is Dani Brews. “Brews” comes from the English pronunciation of my last name, and also a nod to something I love, which is tea. The idea of brewing felt right because it reflects how I create. My work takes time, it develops, it sits, and it evolves like a good cup of tea.
How did you get into creating?
I’ve been creating since I was a kid. I was always drawing, on school projects, in the margins of my notebooks, wherever I could. I was a big daydreamer (still am), always kinda in my own world. Even during breaks, I’d listen to music and drift off into my thoughts. Looking back, I think creating started as a form of escape. It gave me a space that felt safe and inviting, especially during times when the world around me didn’t feel that way.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in the Bronx.
How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?
Being from the Bronx and being Dominican shape how I see the world and how I create. I want my work to reflect that kind of presence. Growing up there gave me a strong sense of energy, pride, and awareness of my people and my environment. I moved to Queens around 2021, which gave me new perspectives, but the Bronx still shows up in my attitude, my eye for things, and the energy I bring into my work.
What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?
I’m mostly self-taught. My main tools are my iPad and Procreate. That’s my bread and butter. I’ve learned by doing, honestly. Every time I create something, I try to push it a little further or try something new, then build on that through repetition.
I do struggle sometimes with feeling like my work looks flat (or maybe that’s just my inner critic talking) but I think that’s part of growing. There’s always room to improve. More than anything, what I really want to advance in now is just enjoying the process more each time I create.
What does your current setup look like?
Mannnn, I can create anywhere. On my bed, on the couch, at a Paris Baguette, even at work (oops). As long as I have my iPad and Procreate, I’m good. I always have music playing and it’s usually the same song or playlist on repeat. I tend to hyper-fixate on a song and stay in it until I’ve fully absorbed it. It helps me lock into the feeling I’m trying to create. I used to be super nocturnal, finishing pieces at like 2–4am, but having a 9–5 doesn’t really allow that anymore, at least not in a healthy way. Now it’s more about creating whenever I can fit it in but that energy is still there.
Who inspires you?
Hayao Miyazaki really inspires me by both his work and his process. There’s something powerful about how he can be this kinda grumpy, intense person and still create such beautiful, vibrant, emotional films. It reminds me that you don’t have to be one thing to make something soft or meaningful.
Gorillaz also had a huge impact on me. Just the concept of an animated band with that kind of sound, ugh. It’s so creative and different. That’s what really made me start leaning into combining art and music in my own work. That connection is something I come back to a lot.
And honestly, just being in New York inspires me. Seeing murals around the city, the scale of them, the stories they tell… It’s nice to be a part of that.
What is your goal when you create?
On a simple level, I want to see my ideas on paper and bring them to life. That’s really it.
Why do you create?
As for why I create, I don’t always have a deep or fixed answer other than I just like doing it. I used to feel a lot of pressure around needing my art to become something bigger or “successful” in a traditional sense, but that started to take the fun out of it. The idea of everything needing to be profitable or purposeful in that way just doesn’t sit right with me, and this is separate from the impact my work might have on others.
I have a job, and I’m okay with that being what supports my life. My art doesn’t have to carry that weight. Of course, I have bigger creative goals, like making a large mural or finishing my graphic novel, but those aren’t the reason I create day to day. I just like to draw, and I want to keep that part of it honest.
How has choosing your creative path affected your life?
As I’ve gotten older and my responsibilities became more demanding, I’ve become more aware about protecting my creativity. I want to keep the joy in it.
There are always priorities like work and family that come first, but creativity feels like something that’s just a part of me. It’s not something separate that I turn on and off. It comes in different forms. So, I don’t see myself ever fully stepping away from being creative. I just want to keep it present in my life in a way that feels natural and sustainable.
Did you have to overcome any obstacles along the way?
I’m still overcoming them day by day. My anxiety around a lot of things can sometimes slow down my creative process because I tend to overthink and worry.
But over time, I’ve learned to push through that and just do it anyway, even when it feels uncomfortable. I think one of the best compliments I’ve ever received was being called courageous, not because I was fearless and I looked brave, but because I did things while being completely scared.
What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?
I have soooo many. I’ll just shuffle my playlist and go with the first three that come up: “Joga” by Björk, “Jane!” by The Long Faces, and “Papercut” by Linkin Park. - that’s a perfect list.
I’ve already created pieces inspired by two of these songs. Maybe I’ll have a piece inspired by Linkin Park soon.
For me, music is the background, a guideline, and a world I step into when I draw. It sets the tone and helps me build the atmosphere of whatever I’m creating. I don’t really separate the two.
What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?
My dream as an artist now is to feel content with the balance of life and creativity to be able to create whenever I can, without pressure, and feel like the possibilities are limitless.
Right now, I’m working toward that by staying consistent with creating in the time I do have, even if it’s not always ideal. I’m building pieces when inspiration hits, experimenting more with animation, and slowly working on bigger ideas like prints and longer-form projects. I just want to make sure my creativity stays a steady part of my life.
What would you tell someone else with a dream?
I’d ask them: is the dream you’re living actually making you happy? If not, change something about it. Nothing changes if nothing changes.
That line really stuck with me—I heard it in a HIIT class, and I’ve been applying it to everything since. It sounds simple, but it’s true. You can want things all day, but if you don’t adjust your actions or your mindset, you stay in the same place.
Tell us about your most recent release
My most recent release was a trailer for Posting Axel’s next chapters. I added more movement and energy so it feels more alive and dynamic. I also used a Coldplay track, which helped set the mood and rhythm. It’s so cool.
I made it in Procreate Dreams, which is still new to me, so I was learning as I went. It felt exciting to try a new tool for a piece that means so much to me already.
These next chapters are what I’m preparing to release next—so stay tuned!
Share a link to your most recent release
http://www.instagram.com/reel/DVbNON7Dndj/
http://www.instagram.com/danibrewss/
Website
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